Founded in 1959, California Lutheran University (CLU) is part of
a 500-year-old tradition of Lutheran higher education--a
tradition that expects you to ask the big questions--and find
your own answers. CLU is dedicated to excellence at the
undergraduate and graduate levels. Our intimate size and
beautiful location create the perfect setting for lively debate,
and a learning environment that values the individual.
The principles and applications of psychology have endless
possibilities. Whether you're considering a career in mental
health, gaining an understanding of human thought, emotion and
behavior to apply in everyday life, or thinking about continuing
on to graduate study--you will be well prepared with a bachelor's
degree in psychology from CLU.
You will acquire a practical foundation in psychology and will
apply theory and concepts to real-world problems, cases and
issues. In the process, you will develop excellent analytical,
communication and critical thinking skills. In addition, CLU's
faculty will encourage you to become actively engaged in the
learning process. In your capstone course you will work directly
in the mental health field so you can integrate theory and
concepts with ethical and practical concerns.
The field of psychology uses scientific methods and procedures to
study all aspects of behavior and cognitive processes. Knowledge
acquired about such topics as motivation, perception, learning,
memory, personality and social interaction will prove invaluable.
Through the applied focus of many of our course offerings, you
will learn practical skills and knowledge that are useful in a
wide variety of employment settings.
MS in Clinical Psychology
Back to top
The Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology is a 34-credit
program emphasizing both research and counseling skills. This
combination provides a strong foundation for the advanced study
of psychology. The development of research skills takes place
through completing advanced courses in statistics and research
methods. Students have the option of conducting their own
research study and completing a thesis (which involves an
additional 3 credits of course work, for a total of 37 credits).
Counseling skills are developed in many of the courses offered in
the clinical psychology program. Students gain an understanding
of psychological disorders and methods of treating those
disorders. They also develop skills in interviewing, group
therapy and applied behavior analysis.
Students are exposed to an overview of psychological testing, and
they learn how to effectively develop treatment plans and engage
in program evaluation. Legal and ethical issues related to both
research and counseling are emphasized in the program.
MS in Counseling Psychology – Marital/Family Therapy
Back to top
The Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology is a
50-credit program, which prepares the student to become a
professional marital and family therapist. It is designed to meet
all academic requirements for the California state license in
marital and family therapy. Licensing by the California Board of
Behavioral Science Examiners requires a master's degree with
specified content, supervised counseling experience, a
post-master's internship, and written and oral examinations.
The counseling psychology program is designed to prepare the
student for this undertaking from a perspective which takes into
account the human being as a whole person with physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual dimensions, and which focuses on the
family as an interactive system.
The focus of this program is on developing an integration of
academic knowledge and clinical skills so that, at the time of
graduation, students are well prepared as beginning marital and
family therapists. In addition, students develop personal
insights and communication skills to enable them to work
effectively in a wide variety of settings.
Over the years, graduates of the CLU program have an outstanding
record of obtaining internships, passing the state licensing
examinations, and establishing successful practices in both
private and institutional fields.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Back to top
California Lutheran University's Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology is a five-year program that integrates theoretical and practical approaches to prepare graduates for careers as licensed clinical psychologists.
A member of the National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology (NCSPP), the program provides students with a broad perspective of psychology and explores the role of research in clinical practice.
The curriculum includes six core courses that provide an in-depth developmental examination of major diagnostic categories, as well as areas of emphasis in research and practical skill development.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates of the program will gain diverse knowledge and expertise in:
- Interviewing
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Psychological Testing
- Professional Ethics
- Intervention Planning
- Research
- Evaluation
