Curriculum
Course Descriptions Note: More complete descriptions of these courses, including course prerequisites, are found in the Antioch University Los Angeles General Catalog. Courses required for all M.A. in Clinical Psychology students:PSY 500 Clinical Training Orientation
None
This meeting provides initial orientation to the Clinical Training process,
presenting AULA’s clinical training requirements, California Board of
Behavioral Sciences requirements for MFT licensure, and processes and
resources for finding a clinical training site. Students also meet with
representatives from AULA-approved clinical training sites to learn about the
variety and diversity of training opportunities that are available. Required for all
first quarter MFT students; a prerequisite for entering Clinical Training.
PSY 500A PERFECT (Pre-Enrollment Requirements for Clinical Training)
This meeting provides a detailed review of forms and procedures students must
follow in registering for AULA clinical training units, earning hours, and meeting
trainee requirements of the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. Required for
MFT Concentration students in or prior to the quarter before entering clinical
training; a prerequisite for entering clinical training.
PSY 501A Process of Interpersonal Psychotherapy I
2 Units
This course introduces principles and skills involved in providing relational
psychotherapy. Goals of therapy, initial contact, gaining rapport, the therapeutic
relationship, the therapist's own motives and personal issues, and the sources of
therapeutic change are topics of study. Students develop skills through role play
and dyadic work with classmates. Required for MFT Concentration students; a
prerequisite for entering clinical training.
PSY 501E Introduction to Clinical Processes
1 Unit
The therapist is a healing presence. He/she creates a feeling of safety and
openness that allows healing to take place. No matter what the therapist’s
theoretical orientation, the client will have the most success when he/she feels
safe and has the experience of being heard. The reading, discussions and
exercises in this workshop will explore what the therapist brings to his/her work
that fosters healing, growth and change. The focus is on the therapist rather than
the client. We will turn our attention to creating and maintaining a safe space and
learning the basics of active, reflective, compassionate listening as the foundation
for doing therapy.
PSY 509 Brief Therapy
2 Units
This course articulates some of the basic processes, principles and techniques of
doing brief therapy from cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused and narrative
perspectives. Focus is on understanding the premises and usefulness of each
approach and on developing brief therapy skills through role play and work with case material. This course may be elected to partly fulfill the Clinical Skill Development requirement in the MFT Concentration. Prerequisites: PSY 501A.
PSY 510 Introduction to Psychological Theory and Practice
This course, required for incoming students who do not have a recent bachelor’s
degree in psychology, provides an overview of psychology. Particular emphasis
is given to developmental, abnormal psychology and the history of psychology.
PSY 512A Field Study: Psychology and Society
2 Units
This course is designed to broaden students' awareness of the diverse people and
communities with which they will work as future professionals in psychology. A
further goal is broadening awareness of self in society. Students select
community settings of interest, carry out interviews and field visits, and share
learning with classmates and faculty instructor through classroom dialogue or on
Antioch University’s email network. Required for all MAP students; best taken in
the second or third quarter of study. Students must attend initial hour long face to
face meeting, generally held the first Saturday of the quarter. One may not take
the online course if they cannot attend the meeting.
PSY 512B Field Study in Applied Community Psychology
1 Unit
This course provides Applied Community Psychology students with the
opportunity to work directly with a community agency on a project involving
program development, evaluation, consultation, collaboration, psychoeducational
group and/or in-service training development. Prerequisites include
corresponding core courses (e.g., students engaged in field study involving
program development and evaluation must successfully complete PSY 545E prior
to enrolling in field study). Students in the Applied Community Psychology
Specialization are required to complete two units of field study but may enroll in
one unit at a time. Prerequisites: 545C and the appropriate one of the following:
545D, 545E, 575E. (1-2 units)
PSY 519A Gay and Lesbian Identity Issues
2 Units
This course provides a setting in which students and instructor can explore
together the thoughts and feelings that arise in response to historic, literary,
autobiographical and psychological readings on the experience of being gay or
lesbian. The course is open to anyone interested in gay and lesbian psychology
and presents an opportunity for students to examine personal and collectively
held notions about same-sex love.
PSY 519B Social Psychology of Biracial Identity
1 Unit
This workshop explores the idea of race as a social construction and its
psychological impact on individuals, particularly as it relates to the concept of a
biracial or multiracial identity in the U.S. Among other issues, we will
investigate how a bi- or multi-racial identity develops for individuals and how it
evolves historically. Students must have access to The AULA email system as
some online postings and readings are required.
