Program

Curriculum in Depth Psychology

The M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology emphasis curriculum offers a strong, supportive small-group learning environment within a structured 36-unit two-year curriculum. Students take 9 units each semester of the program. In the first year, the 12-15 students take three year-long foundational courses. In the second year, students take a research methods course, complete an internship, take seminars in group leadership and depth psychology topics, and write a culminating paper that is submitted for publication.

Year 1

• Psychology 511 Theories of Depth Psychology (6 units)
• Psychology 542 Methods and Applications of Depth Psychology (6 units)
• Psychology 543 Cross-Cultural Mythology and Symbolism (6 units)

Year 2

• Psychology 575 Research Methods (2 units)
• Psychology 576 Seminar in Depth Psychology (8 units total)
• Psychology 530 Seminar in Interpersonal Process (2 units)
• Psychology 581 Internship (3 units)
• Psychology 597 Culminating Paper Tutorial (3 units)

Year 1

• Psychology 511, Theories of Depth Psychology, explores the basic concepts of Jungian psychology. Students read primary sources from Jung's work, as well as contemporary scholars and practitioners. This course provides the foundational language for understanding in depth the movements of the psyche. (3 units)
• Psychology 542, Methods and Applications of Depth Psychology, teaches the techniques of depth inquiry. This involves methods for accessing, exploring, and making meaning of, the hidden parts of one's self. Dreamwork, active imagination, art process, sandplay, symbolic process, body work, work in myth, mask work, ritual, movement, work with the earth, sound, and voice, are all depth inquiry techniques. (3 units)
• Psychology 543, Cross-Cultural Mythology and Symbolism, focuses on common archetypal motifs across cultures, as expressed in myths, fairy tales, folklore, and symbols. The course explores the deep feminine and masculine, rites of initiation, and descent myths; and incorporates earth-based healing techniques such as the medicine walk, council, rites of passage, and ritual. The cross-cultural material is taught through work with dreams, as well as with cross-cultural healing and visionary practices. (3 units)

Year 2

• Psychology 575, Research Methods, continues the exploration of depth inquiry methodologies as it introduces the students to qualitative, depth-oriented methods that explore subjective experience. This course builds on the skills learned in Year 1's Methods and Applications class. (2 units)
• Psychology 576, Seminar in Depth Psychology, provides 8 units of seminars in topics of the students' choosing. Past seminars have included the topics of Jungian psychology and neuroscience; Greek and Roman mythology; Hindu mythology; psyche and culture; object relations; typology; transformational teaching; alchemy and individuation; the dark feminine; masculine soul; mythos and soul; authentic movement; and advanced dreamwork. (3 units fall, 5 units spring)
  
• Psychology 530, Seminar in Interpersonal Process, deepens the exploration of interpersonal growth and development. Students learn skills in group work and group facilitation. (1 unit fall, 1 unit spring)
• Psychology 581, Internship, offers students community work experience in their field of interest. Community internships may involve work in the arts, teaching, mental health, ecopsychology, rites of passage work, sandplay, and other areas. Students may choose to teach an undergraduate course in their field of expertise in Sonoma State's Psychology Department. Past student-taught courses have included the topics of cross-cultural rites of passage; the archetypal feminine; Jung and tarot; and myth and narrative. The Program Coordinator assists students in developing curriculum and supervises the internship teaching experience. (3 units fall)
• Psychology 597, Culminating Paper Tutorial, provides guidance and feedback in the process of writing a publishable article in the student's field of expertise. Students choose a topic of passionate interest, design an inquiry and carry it out, or outline a path of inquiry and conduct the necessary research. Articles are submitted to a targeted journal for publication. (3 units spring)
• Psychology 582, Teaching College Psychology (1-4 units, optional)
• Psychology 584, Graduate Teaching Assistant (1-4 units, optional)
• Students also have the option, at additional expense, of enrolling in University courses that meet their specific learning needs.

The Culminating Paper

The culminating paper provides the opportunity for passionate inquiry into an area of deep interest to the student. Students may use depth inquiry methods involving dreamwork, active imagination, art, nature, sacred practices, case studies, and interviewing, to explore their area of passionate concern. The culminating paper may proceed from the internship work completed in the fall semester. Students design a study or line of inquiry, conduct the inquiry, write the paper, and after review and approval by the student's faculty committee, submit it to a targeted journal for publication.

The culminating paper may involve original research, personal process work, artistic inquiry, curriculum development and teaching, practical applications, and creative artistic productions.

An end-of-year Depth Evening in mid-May celebrates the culminating work of the students. The Thesis Evening held in the past is a public event in which students discuss their work, show slides of some of the artwork involved, and share their experience.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in coursework while enrolled in the Master's program. Falling below a 3.0 GPA places a student on Academic Probation, and the student must meet with the Program Coordinator to discuss the academic work. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in a second semester, the student is academically disqualified and is not able to enroll in graduate courses until academically reinstated. For further information see the University policy on Academic Probation and Disqualification.

If a student receives a grade of less than 3.0 in a Master's program course, the Coordinator meets with the student and reviews the student's coursework and capacity for academic achievement in the program.

Public Programs in Depth Psychology

The M.A. in Psychology, Depth Psychology concentration sponsors a monthly Public Programs in Depth Psychology lecture series which invites noted authors, Jungian analysts, therapists, and practitioners to come and discuss their work. Psychoterhapists, clinical psychologists, nurses, interns and mental health professionals may attend these lectures for Continuing Education units (registration for CEUs is at the door of the event). Past presentations have included discussions of emotion and the archetypal imagination; animal imagery in dreams; the Kabalah; images of enlightenment; dreams and violence; and long-term work with the psyche.

Sandplay Room

Sandplay is a symbolic modality that allows one to give form to the psyche through the placement of objects in sand. The Program has a sandtray room in Stevenson Hall with three sandtrays: two dry and one wet.

James L. Jarrett Award

The Depth Psychology concentration honors students who present at national and international conferences with the James L. Jarrett Award. This prize recognizes students who enter into the collegial dialogue with idea, warmth, and spirit. It's named in honor of James L. Jarrett, an Emeritus Professor of Education at UC Berkeley, a philosopher and inspired teacher of Jungian psychology, and the editor of Nietzsche's Zarathustra: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1934-1939.

Class Schedule

Classes are held Thursday evenings, all day Fridays, and some Saturdays. First-year students may also have one class which meets Thursday afternoon. In addition, there are first-year group meetings, monthly Public Programs in Depth Psychology lectures, an annual Career Day to explore livelihood in the field of depth psychology, occasional all-program meetings, and twice-yearly potlucks.

Academic Calendar

The Depth Psychology Program follows the University´s academic calendar. Classes generally begin the third week of August with an opening Orientation for all students and faculty, and continue to mid-December. Spring classes begin in mid-January and continue until mid-May. There are no Depth Psychology graduate classes held during the summer.