Program

Admission to the M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology Emphasis

Download an Application

You may download a complete pdf version of the application here. The application includes application to the University as well as to the Psychology Department's M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology emphasis. Mail the application and materials to:

M.A. in Psychology, Sonoma State University
Stevenson Hall 1012, School of Extended Education
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609

Request an Application

To have an application mailed to you, please email your name and mailing address, with your request, to Karen Fischer in Extended Education, or phone (707) 664-2682. You may also pick up an application in the department office in Stevenson Hall 3092. The application includes application to the University as well as to the Psychology Department's M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology emphasis.

Deadline for Application

We begin accepting applications for fall 2012 admission in the fall of 2011. We encourage you to submit your application by January 31, 2012, which is the priority deadline. While the cutoff date for applications for fall admission is June 30, 2012, we accept applications only until we reach our maximum enrollment.

Spring Admissions

We are not currently accepting applications for spring admission..

M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology Admission Requirements

The criteria for application and acceptance into the M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology program are the following:

• B.A. or B.S. from an accredited institution.
• Minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 in the last 60 units of coursework.
• Competency in written and oral expression, as demonstrated by the coherence of the personal statement, and an oral interview.
• Emotional maturity, as demonstrated in the personal written statement, life experiences, and oral interview.
• Readiness for graduate work, as evidenced through 3 letters of recommendation.
• Completion of specified prerequisite coursework in psychology. A maximum of 9 units may be lower division courses completed at a Community College. The courses must be completed before the first day of classes in late August.
• Minimum semester-long experience in symbolic process.
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Program Prerequisites

Psychology Course Prerequisites

• Development (this may include Child, Lifespan, or Adult, and could include Psychology of Aging; Jungian Psychology; or Psychology of Women)
• Abnormal Psychology (also known as Psychopathology)
• Personality Psychology
• Research Methods in Psychology (may include qualitative or narrative methods, as well as quantitative; qualitative methods are primarily used in the program)

Symbolic Process Prerequisite

Symbolic process involves personal expression in symbolic forms (art, dreamwork, poetry, myth, sandplay, for example) and reflection on that expression for personal growth. Undergraduate courses offered in Sonoma State's Psychology Department, such as Myth, Dream, and Symbol; Jungian Psychology; Introduction to Art Therapy; selected Psychology 490 seminars; and Art Therapy courses offered through Extended Education; meet the requirements for symbolic process. Therapeutic dreamwork also meets this requirement.

Enrolling at SSU or SRJC for Prerequisites

If you're planning to take prerequisite courses at a Junior College such as Santa Rosa Junior College, or at Sonoma State, check their websites for information on admission, application and semester schedules. This is especially important given the budget cuts that the California higher education system is experiencing. SSU courses may be taken through Open University. SSU offers a December-January Intersession as well as a Summer session, with enrollment through Extended Education; these do not require advance application.

On-line Coursework

Some students avail themselves of on-line Psychology courses to meet the academic prerequisites. UC Berkeley, Foothill College, and other colleges and universities offer on-line courses that accommodate distance learning.

Transcripts

Applicants should send one official copy of transcripts of all prior schools attended to Admissions and Records. Request official transcripts as soon as possible as they can take 3-8 weeks to arrive. If you have prior academic work at Sonoma State, it's not necessary to send an offical copy of these transcripts as Admissions and Records will pull your records from their files. Mail official transcripts to:

Office of Admissions and Records
Sonoma State University
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609

Applicants should also send one unofficial copy of transcripts of all prior schools attended, including Sonoma State, with their application. Unofficial transcripts can often be obtained from the school website.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation should be from those who know the applicant in a meaningful way. When possible, we ask for at least one recommendation from an academic teacher and one from a supervisor from the work setting. For undergraduates, three academic letters are fine. Mail letters of recommendation to:

M.A. in Psychology, Sonoma State University
Stevenson Hall 1012, School of Extended Education
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609

Financial Aid

Sonoma State offers loans and selected scholarships to Master's students. Students may be eligible for university scholarships, external scholarships through foundations and other sources, federal work-study, Perkins loans, and Direct Loans. Because M.A. in Psychology students are not charged state fees to attend the program, students are not eligible for funds from state university grants, Cal Grants or the state veterans fee waiver program.

The FAFSA is required for financial aid and should be completed early in the calendar year (January or February) for the best financial aid packages. In order to ensure timely processing for the fall semester, applications for financial aid should be completed at the time of application to the Master's program--if the applicant does not enroll in the fall semester, the package can be declined. On-line application is the fastest way to apply.

We welcome international students in the program. Students on F1 or J1 visas may apply for university scholarships which are offered on an annual basis, but international students are not eligible for U.S. Government or California state financial aid. If you plan to enter the U.S. on an F1 or J1 visa, certificates of eligibility (form I-20 or DS-2019) for obtaining the visa cannot be issued until you have proven the ability to provide full financial support for the first year of your stay at Sonoma State. See the University International Student website for more information.

Returning second year Master's students may apply to selected Psychology Department scholarships. For students presenting their work at national and international academic conferences, the James L. Jarrett Award is a competitive award providing monetary recognition for their accomplishments.

Students receiving financial aid must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, with no Incompletes carried into the next semester, to ensure continued financial aid. A course Incomplete places a student on Academic Probation; the Incomplete must be completed the semester following the course in order to qualify for future financial aid. See the Financial Aid website for more information on satisfactory academic progress, maximum units, and disqualification.

International Students

We welcome international students into the program. For information on visa requirements and financial support eligibility, visit the University International Student website.

Questions and Inquiries

Contact the Program Coordinator, Laurel McCabe, for questions about the program, prerequisites, competency equivalents for the prerequisite courses, as well as the symbolic process prerequisite. Potential applicants are sometimes advised to take psychology or art therapy courses offered at Sonoma State, either during the regular semester, or during January Intersession and Summer Session, through Open University. Prerequisites must be completed before the start of classes in August.

Application Deadlines

We begin accepting applications for fall 2013 admission in the fall of 2012. We encourage you to submit your application by January 31, 2013, which is the priority deadline for fall admission. All applications for Fall 2013 must be received by June 30, 2013; early application maximizes your chances for fall enrollment.

We are not currently accepting applications for spring admission.

It is up to the applicant to make timely inquiries about the status of their application regarding transcripts and letters of recommendation. We make initial evaluations and then schedule personal interviews. We notify applicants of acceptance by mail following the personal interviews.