Prerequisites
General Admission Requirements
Prerequisite Course Requirements
ITP Prerequisite Fullfillment Course
Program Admission Requirements
Doctoral Program
Global Program
General Admission Requirements
Institute programs are designed to impart knowledge of transpersonal theory and encourage the development of strong therapeutic skills. Therefore, the Institute seeks students who have already developed a clear sense of their own capabilities and are prepared to make a strong commitment to intellectual, spiritual and emotional growth. Each of our students is expected to have had some experience in self exploration, either through therapy, spiritual practice or both.
Academic Experience
For admission to all degree programs, a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree is required, preferably in psychology or a related field. A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 in the major field of study is required.
Life & Work Experience
Potential students should have work experience beyond their formal schooling. Generally, students who have explored and possess life experience in the six areas of study gain more from work at the Institute. The six areas of study are:
Creative Expression - While prospective students are not expected to have particular artistic ability, applicants should be open to the release of inner processes through creative expression.
Emotional - Previous therapeutic experience is encouraged and applicants are expected to be familiar with inner psychological processes.
Spiritual - Applicants should have some involvement with a spiritual practice or tradition, and a familiarity with at least one spiritual philosophy.
Physical - Applicants are expected to have and apply a general awareness of health and experience in a sport or body discipline. Accommodation will be made for students with physical limitations.
Community - Prior exposure may include administrative experience, work in groups or communities, or volunteer work.
Intellectual - Prospective students are evaluated on their intellectual competence as evidenced by transcripts, clarity of writing on the application questions and pursuit of study beyond formal education.
Each program has prerequisite requirements listed below along with the program admission requirements for the Residential Master's or Doctoral degrees and the Global Master's and certificates.
Prerequisite Course Requirements
Prerequisites for the Global and Residential Programs
A Bachelor of Arts
or Bachelor of Science from an accredited college or university is required
for all Degree Programs and the Certificate Program. Also, at the recommendation of the program chair, some students will be asked to do specific course work to prepare for entrance into and success in our graduate programs. Students need to provide transcripts, proof of exam, or
ITP Prerequisite Fulfillment Course (see below) to the Admissions Office to fulfill prerequisite
requirements. All psychology course work must be completed with a passing
grade of a "B" or its equivalent (i.e., "Pass"), and completed
within the last 10 years. Applicants may also meet these course requirements
by passing a CLEP qualifying exam with a passing score of 60.
Timeframe to Complete Prerequisites
Due to the academic rigor of our programs, students are strongly
encouraged to complete most if not all of their prerequisites
prior to enrolling in their first year. Residential
and Global students must complete prerequisite courses,
tests or ITP fulfillment course sessions by the end of the student’s
first quarter.
Please Note: Prospective students may apply to any program prior to completing their prerequisites. Students may also be admitted into a degree program without having completed the required course work. However, their admission will be conditional, and all course work must be completed within the time frame specified in the admissions letter. For further information, please contact the Admissions office at 650.493.4430 ext. 237 or email itpinfo@itp.edu
ITP Prerequisite Fulfillment Course
ITP offers a 6-week intensive online prerequisite course called “Foundation in Psychology”. The course is designed to give incoming ITP students who have not studied psychology a foundation in theory and terminology. This course covers topics in Abnormal Psychology, History & Systems of Psychology, and Lifespan Development. It is offered several times each year:
- July 7 – August 15, 2008
- September 1 – October 10, 2008
- October 20 – December 5, 2008
- December 8, 2008 – January 30, 2009
- February 9 – March 20, 2009
- March 30- May 8, 2009
- May 18 – June 26, 2009
The cost of the prerequisite course, including registration and online fees, is $510. The fee does not include the cost for course materials (i.e. textbooks, etc.).
These courses are subject to cancellation if less than 5 students enroll. However, space does fill quickly and early registration is recommended.
Please note that you may also fulfill any needed prerequisites by taking undergraduate classes at an accredited university, community college, or distance learning program. Contact Admissions at itpinfo@itp.edu or 650-493-4430, ext. 216, for more information.
Registration for Prerequisite Sessions
To register for an ITP Prerequisite session, download the Prerequisite Registration
Form (a PDF document). Then submit the form
and payment to registrar@itp.edu, or mail to
1069 East Meadow Circle Palo Alto, CA 94303, or fax to
650.493.6835. The registrar will then register the student
for the course and send the student their username and
password. The student must have
online capability to enroll in this session and must allow
two weeks for the registration process to be completed.
Global Certificate students are not
required to take prerequisite courses unless the student
plans to advance into an ITP degree program. Certificate
students who are interested in advancing into the Master's
program are advised to take their prerequisites prior to
starting their Certificate year.
For further information, please contact the Admissions office at 650.493.4430 ext. 216 or email itpinfo@itp.edu.
Online Education Related Requirements
The Global Program requires students to use technology for learning, researching, completing assignments, communicating regularly with Faculty, Mentors, and Staff and connecting with fellow students. Therefore the following computer hardware and software is required:
Windows:
ITP uses a Windows standard platform, therefore if you are
considering purchasing a new computer, purchasing a Windows
based PC may reduce cross-platform obstacles.
• Intel Pentium III MHz processor or equivalent
• Microsoft Office 2000 or equivalent
• Windows 2000 Professional or Equivalent
Apple:
. Apple Power PC G4 400 MHz
. OS9, OS X recommended
. Microsoft Office 2001 or equivalent
Common Elements:
. Printer highly recommended
. Dedicated email account (10MB storage recommended)
. 256 MB RAM, 512 MB recommended
. 10 GB hard drive
. 8 MB video RAM
. CD-RW drive (CD Rom for audio files and RW for data backup and storage of downloaded documents)
. 56 Kbps modem (dialup), Ethernet card (broadband) recommended
. 17" SVGA monitor recommended
. Internet Browser
. Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 (free download available on Internet)
. Flash MX plug-in
. Anti-virus software and personal firewall (e.g. McAfee, Symantec, etc.)
PDF creator software recommended
Program Admission Requirements
Residential Programs Students are admitted to the Residential programs based on an evaluation of academic qualifications in conjunction with a personal interview.
Master's Program
Unit Transfer Limits
Students may transfer up to nine (9) quarter units into the Residential Master's program. Classes for transfer must have been taken at the graduate level with a grade of "B" or better and have been completed within the last ten years. Transfer units have no effect on tuition charges.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have completed twenty-four to twenty-seven units through the Global Program may apply for Advanced Standing into the second year of the Residential Master's program. Two years of on-campus study will then be required to complete the MACP, and one year to complete the MATP.
Completion of some first year Residential Master's courses not offered by the Global Program may be required before the granting of a Master's degree.
The Chair of the Residential Master's Program has final authority for all advanced standing applications to the Master's Program.
Unit Transfer Limits
Students may transfer up to twelve (12) quarter units into the doctoral program. Classes for transfer must have been taken at the graduate level with a grade of "B" or better and have been completed within the last ten years. Transfer units have no effect on tuition charges.
Advanced Standing
The Institute maintains an advanced standing policy for entry into the doctoral program. It applies to students who meet one of the following requirements:
Students who are currently enrolled or have completed the Residential Master's program within the last five years.
Students who have completed a Global Master's program.
Students who have a Master's in transpersonal psychology (or a related field of study) within the last five years and who have taken the equivalent of the doctoral program first year curriculum.
If one of the preceding criteria is met, the applicant may submit an application for advanced standing to the Admissions Office. Entry into the program is contingent on the approval of the Ph.D. Chair.
A maximum of forty-five units of previous coursework may be transferred into the doctoral program (the equivalent of Phase I Year 1). Students entering with advanced standing will enter as Phase I Year 2 students.
Prior to applying for advanced standing, students may wish to consider the following scenarios:
A student pursuing a counseling emphasis who is currently enrolled in the Evening Master's program may wish to apply for advanced standing at the end of the second year. Coursework required for MFCC licensure may be completed during the following two years. Students following this track would receive their MACP after four years.
Students may complete the coursework for the MACP and then apply to the doctoral program. Only forty-five units of coursework will be transferred into the doctoral program. Students will still be required to complete all the coursework required for the doctorate (a total of 150 units).
Regardless of which path is taken in applying, each advanced standing student will be required to pay three years block tuition in the doctoral program, and complete Phases I, II, and III in order to receive a doctorate.
Students applying for acceptance into the Global Program must be sufficiently motivated and self-directed to function well within an independent study program, and must demonstrate sufficient maturity to remain self-directed throughout their course of study.
Certificate Programs
Prerequisite Requirements
A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science from an accredited college or university is required.
Please note that the Certificate program is the first year of the Global Master's degree.
Transfer of Units
Units may not be transferred into the Certificate programs.
Master of Transpersonal Psychology
Transfer of Units
A maximum of nine (9) quarter units may be transferred into the Global Master of Transpersonal Psychology (MTP). Prerequisite courses must have been taken in the last ten years.