Emphasis in Jungian and Archetypal Studies
The M.A./PhD. Program in Depth Psychology with emphasis in Jungian and Archetypal Studies centers around the philosophy that the theories and practices within the Jungian tradition continue to offer valuable insights and tools into working with the psyche beyond the analytic encounter. For students who are called to work with the personal and/or collective psyche, but not within the clinical milieu, this specialization responds to Marie-Louise von Franz’s visionary idea: “The real psychology is a psychology that is for everybody. It naturally includes the problems of clinicians, but is not concentrated solely on that area.”
This specialization offers a container where students can explore, apply, and advance depth psychology both personally and vocationally, where the through-line in every course is the direct engagement with two basic questions: how is this material meaningful to me and my life, and how is it meaningful to the world within which I live and work? Because of its overt emphasis on the application and advancement of Jungian and archetypal studies into the vocational and occupational arena, it seeks to provide skills, tools, and practices to those who work directly with other people, truly becoming a psychology for everybody. In addition, those who work in any creative field will find that this specialization provides an understanding and experience of the personal and collective psyche that can inform their creative process and enhance their creative products.
Students in the Jungian and Archetypal Studies specialization
- Read deeply and broadly from the Collected Works of Jung and the newly published Red Book, as well as other core texts in the depth psychological tradition
- Engage with the creative, dynamic unconscious in both its personal and collective dimensions
- Deepen the capacity for imagistic, symbolic, mythic, and archetypal thinking and being in the world
- Hone the expression of a unique voice and vision through courses in research, writing, publication, and presentation
- Study side by side with Jungian scholars and analysts interested in envisioning new possibilities for extending Jungian theories and practices into the world
Pacifica Graduate Institute Online
This degree program takes advantage of online technology which allows students to work and learn in their home environments in conjunction with residential sessions on the tranquil Pacifica campus. Classes begin online and meet during four-day residential sessions (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) once a quarter. During these on-campus sessions, students have access to the Institute’s extensive resources and are able to engage with their classmates and instructors in face-to-face learning, combining lecture, discussion, and experiential and embodied learning. Residential sessions also allow time for community-building through shared meals, social events, film screenings, guest lectures, and circle councils.
