Since its inception in 1974, Pacifica Graduate Institute has been guided by the conviction that contemporary psychology is not only made up of researchers, practitioners, and teachers, but also a unique style of hosting which invites people to discover the depths of psyche in human beings and in the life field all around us.

Pacifica continually strives to provide a context for psychological research and education in which the exploration of psyche’s concerns in our world can occur. In fulfillment of this goal, the Institute offers three complementary, yet independent, graduate programs in psychology: a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Depth Psychology, a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology. All of these programs embrace a depth psychological perspective and integrate the study of mythology, literature, and interdisciplinary topics in their curricula. In addition, each program offers coursework that prepares students to provide original research that will contribute richly to the field of depth psychology.

Pacifica is an accredited institution, and each of these degrees is recognized and approved by the State of California. In addition, Ph.D. graduates in Clinical Psychology are eligible to apply for the California Clinical Psychology License. M.A. graduates in Counseling Psychology may apply for the California Marriage and Family Therapy (M.F.T.) License. Students commuting from other states need to check with their state boards for applicable licensing requirements.

"Urging all of us to open our minds and hearts so that we can know beyond the boundaries of what is acceptable, so that we can think and rethink, so that we can create new visions, I celebrate teaching that enables transgressions"—a movement against boundaries"—bell hooks