Pacifica Graduate Institute - Depth Psychology Program: Community, Liberation, Indigenous and Eco-Psychologies Specialization

About this program

Our coursework is a bold initiative to forge transdisciplinary and transformative approaches to some of the most critical personal, community, cultural, and ecological challenges of our time. This requires a radical engagement in re-conceiving psychology as a potentially liberatory and restorative force in society, one engaged in initiatives to promote social, economic, and environmental justice, peacebuilding, and ecological sustainability. We are committed to rebuilding fragmented cultural and ecological connections, and to co-creating democratic, dialogical, joyful, sustainable, equitable, and nonviolent living. To study community and ecopsychology in the light of liberation and indigenous psychologies commits us to deeply explore and address the profound effects of injustice, violence, and exploitation on psychological, communal, and ecological well-being. We place decolonial approaches to depth psychology in dynamic dialogue with ecopsychology, indigenous and liberation psychologies from diverse locations, and critical community psychology. Students gain an understanding of the interdependence of individual, community, cultural, ecological well-being.

• Year partnership began: 2015
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 4

Application requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited or state-approved institution of higher learning. Applicants must also demonstrate aptitude in the following areas: a background in psychology through formal coursework or personal study and experience; a background in interdisciplinary studies, such as the humanities and social sciences, with an emphasis in cultural studies, social justice, environmental studies; a demonstrated interest and ability in scholarly research; and an active commitment to community engagement around an area of their interest and concern.

Admissions process

Let the admissions counselor know that you are applying to be a Coverdell Fellow. Applying early makes your chance of receiving one of the four fellowships more likely.

Degrees awarded

Master's of Arts-Depth Psychology with specialization in Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies; Ph.D-Depth Psychology with specialization in Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies.

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $23,483

Cost savings details

$10,000 tuition waiver for first three years of coursework. This does not include the last two years of dissertation writing (an additional $29,800); application fee waiver; transfer credit for 5-unit practicum if Peace Corp was completed within last 4 years.

Internship

For the last twenty years the Depth Psychology Program has been committed to nourishing the public practice of psychology that arises through an understanding of the interdependence of psychological, familial, community, environmental, and cultural well-being. Students have externed in 100's of community settings, acting as bridges between the knowledge developed by ecological and cultural workers and the theories of depth psychology, community psychology, indigenous psychologies, liberation psychology, and ecopsychology. Students engage in 210 hours of community and ecological fieldwork and research practicum in each of their first two years of study. Coverdell Fellows do their practicum in underserved American communities. If they have completed their Peace Corp service within the last four years, they are given credit for one practicum. Explore our annual newsletters to see student fieldwork: 

C.L.E Annual Newsletter, Volume 7
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 6
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 5
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 4
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 3
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 2
C.L.E. Annual Newsletter, Volume 1

• Stories From Guinea (interview with Hilary Braseth)
• Stories From Jamaica (interview with Ross Dionne)
  
• Stories from Niger (interview with Stephanie Steiner)
• Stories from Romania (interview with Erin O'Halloran)

Other opportunities

Mentorship of Fellows in a small and ongoing group

Jobs for alumni

Homeless Policy Director for the Mayor of Los Angeles Community Programs Manager, Waterkeeper, Los Angeles CEO, New Earth Leadership and Arts Center, Los Angeles Productions Manager, La Pena Cultural Center, Berkeley Director, Indigenous Awakening Consulting, Santa Barbara, CA Case Manager, Urban Strategies, San Francisco Development, Prison Yoga Project, CA Executive Director, Conflict Solutions, Santa Barbara Executive Director, Prosper Rochester, Rochester, NY Organizer, United Nurses Association of CA/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Southern CA Dean of Educational Services, Hartnell College, King City, CA Project Manager, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA Communications, Santa Ana Building Healthy Communications Initiative, Santa Ana, CA Senior Facilitator, 25th International Black Summit Oureach and Communications Specialist, Society for Community Research and Action Facilitator, Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities workshops with Bhutanese Refugees, Manchester, NH School Impact Program Coordinator, International Institute, Manchester, NH Coordinator, Grants and Community Involvement, New American Africans, Manchester, NH

Nontraditional options

This program meets on three consecutive days, once a month for nine months a year. This enables students to remain living in their home and work location, if they desire. It is not a distance learning program. Classroom hours in a face-to-face format.