Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness
Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2026
The fully online PRC program critically considers the psychology of religious experience across a wide range of disciplines and examines the nature of religious consciousness as it arises both individually and collectively.
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M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness Online Program
M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness
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“It is that our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different…. How to regard them is the question.”
~ William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience
The study of human consciousness traverses a wide range of phenomena, including advances in the psychology of the unconscious, religious and spiritual experience, near-death experience and altered states of consciousness, the mind-matter problem, as well as the broad spectrum and phenomenology of consciousness itself. Pacifica Graduate Institute’s online MA/PhD program in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness rigorously and creatively engages with such diverse and wide-ranging phenomena, and dialogically synthesizes these vital areas of academic inquiry into a unique inter-disciplinary graduate-level education.
The emergence over the past fifty-plus years of a reinvigorated, pluralistic, and spiritually diverse culture has demonstrated increasing numbers of people eschewing traditional religious belief and practice in favor of experimental, individualistic, and highly syncretized spiritual paths. In response to the prevailing secularism of modern society and the decline of traditional religions, such people find themselves embarking on a quest for deeper life meaning, self-knowledge, and direct religious experience, often within the context of alternative or emerging communities. One need only consider the plethora of practices and perspectives now available—depth psychology, transpersonal psychology, integral theory, yoga, shamanism, psychedelics, mindfulness, esotericism, mysticism, global mythologies and nonwestern religions, creative arts, Indigenous practices, new-paradigm sciences, ecological consciousness, and more.
Contact the Admissions Advisor
- Michael Mirabella, Admissions Advisor
- Phone (call or text): 805-881-1311
- Email Address: mmirabella@pacifica.edu
This program seeks to critically consider the context in which this situation has arisen, to explore and examine the psychology of religious experiences and practices across a wide range of disciplines, and to consider the nature of religious consciousness as it arises both individually and communally. The approach is both theoretical – and to a certain extent – experiential, with students sampling certain practices or considering forms of spirituality as ways of life through the living examples of specific individuals, cultures, and emerging paradigms. An inter-disciplinary approach that integrates the tools and traditions of depth psychology, religious studies, and consciousness research serve as guiding paradigms within which to explore broader as well as more focused curricular topics, with disparate and often diverse disciplines juxtaposed and brought into dialogue, potentially yielding emergent creative syntheses and new knowledge. The program also considers the extent to which the areas and approaches studied here might form part of a holistic, integral vision of human spirituality in relation to nature and the planet. Throughout, the program will address the pressing problems and crises of our time, including the growing ecological crisis, post-patriarchal religion and spirituality, the violation and exploitation of nature, the restitution of Indigenous and marginalized psychologies and cosmologies, and the emergence of globalized consciousness.
PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Demonstrate ability to articulate and apply key concepts and approaches derived from relevant perspectives in psychology, religion, and consciousness studies.
- Critically analyze theoretical approaches in the study of psychology, religion, and consciousness.
- Conduct research that makes an original scholarly contribution.
- Demonstrate introspective capacities and a depth psychological or religious sensibility in the exploration and understanding of both personal and collective experience.
- Evaluate the study of psychology, religion, and consciousness in relation to other disciplines and to historical and cultural contexts.
- Demonstrate the capacity for structured thought, and the clear articulation and persuasive communication of theories and perspectives in the psychology of religion and consciousness studies.
- Analyze the significance and practice of psychology, religion, and consciousness studies to 21st century conditions, including globalization, ethical concerns, diversity, and multiple ways of knowing.
STUDENT CAREER PATHS & GOALS:
- Postdoctoral research in the psychology of religion, comparative religion or religious studies, consciousness studies, cultural studies, depth psychology, transdisciplinary studies, and cognate areas.
- College professor / university lecturer in the above areas.
- Government and non-profit think-tanks and research bodies dealing with complex problems and future trends, such as commentary on social patterns and practices.
- Psychotherapists and healers with a special interest in spirituality.
- Guides, coaches, and mentors in the areas of transpersonal psychology and spirituality.
- Workshop leaders and authors of popular books, articles, and blogs on spiritual matters.
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Scholarships
William James Scholarship
Offered to newly admitted students entering into the M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness online program. Average awards range from $2,000-$3,000. The number and amount of individual awards are contingent upon the number of eligible applications received. This scholarship is renewable provided recipients meet the required grade point average.
Education Assistance
The Education Assistance Scholarship is sponsored by Pacifica Graduate Institute and offered to new and returning students based on extreme financial hardship and strong academic excellence. Awards are made annually at the beginning of each academic year. The award is $1,000 to be equally divided over the academic year. This scholarship is not renewable, and students must apply each academic year. Students enrolled in the PhD and PsyD Dissertation phase of their programs are not eligible for scholarship consideration.
Yellow Ribbon Matching Scholarship Pacifica Graduate Institute is pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with the Veteran’s Administration in support of veterans continuing their education under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Pacifica has agreed to provide up to ten Yellow Ribbon Scholarships each year for qualifying veterans under the Post 9/11 GI Bill on a first-come first-serve basis. Students in the M.A. Counseling program will qualify for up to $6,500 per year, M.A. Engaged Humanities and Creative Life will qualify for up to $5,400 per year, and those in the doctoral programs will qualify for up to $7,800 per year.
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Learn MoreChair & Faculty
The faculty members of Pacifica’s M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness bring a passion for education and a wealth of real-world experience into the classroom. As leaders in their fields, the members of Pacifica’s faculty include academic authors of international acclaim, renowned lecturers, skilled classroom facilitators, depth psychologists, historians, psychologists, and philosophers of religion, and committed critical thinkers. All Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness faculty members share a passion for education and are dedicated to working with adult learners. To learn more about the faculty in the M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness, then read the individual descriptions below.
Curriculum Overview
The Master of Arts degree is awarded after the first two years of study and successful completion of the comprehensive examinations. Students seeking the doctorate degree engage in a third year of course work that includes a sequence of research courses and the development of a concept paper for the dissertation. The fourth and fifth years of study focus on dissertation writing and research. Continuing supervision is provided for the completion of the dissertation.
The live, online portion of PRC classes takes place twice per week during fall, winter, and spring quarters. There are no courses offered during the summer quarter.
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
*The curriculum may vary depending upon evolving academic needs. The required fourth and fifth years of study focus on reading, research, and dissertation writing.
Graduation Requirements
Degree Requirements For Graduation
- Students must complete 72 quarter units to fulfill the unit requirement for graduation.
- A minimum grade of “C” is required in each completed course. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained.
- Students must attend at least two-thirds of each course.
- Students must successfully pass a Comprehensive Examination during the second year of course work. Each exam essay must receive at least 80 points. The M.A. degree is awarded when the Comprehensive Exam is successfully completed along with 36 quarter units. To be eligible to continue coursework towards the Ph.D. degree, students must complete the Comprehensive Exam and 36 units of coursework.
- Students must pass an Oral Consultation pertaining to a concept paper for the dissertation.
- Students must submit and defend an original dissertation accepted by the faculty.
Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination is a written exam taken during the second year of the program that examines students’ understanding of theoretical perspectives pertaining to the core competencies of the three PRC program areas. In addition, an oral consultation takes place in the Dissertation Development course during the third year of the program. The purpose of this assessment is to raise critical questions pertaining to the proposed dissertation project. Students must successfully incorporate the critique of this consultation into their dissertation concept papers in order to advance to candidacy.Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation requirements include successful completion of the advanced research courses offered in the third year of the program. Students must produce an acceptable Dissertation Concept Paper before enrolling in Dissertation Writing. The Dissertation Committee is composed of a Chair, a Reader, and an External Reader. Each member must possess an earned doctorate degree based on a dissertation, unless this requirement is waived by the Research Coordinator of the PRC Program.Program FAQs
How does the online format work?
Students have weekly 1.5-hour live Zoom classes for each course, supplemented by asynchronous engagement with course content, their instructors, and other students. This includes pre-recorded lectures, discussion posts, writing assignments, and/or multi-media viewing, depending on the course and its modalities and objectives.
What does a typical quarter look like?
Each quarter lasts approximately 13 weeks, though it may extend longer to accommodate holidays and other breaks. Students take two 3-unit courses each quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring) for the three years of coursework.
What do I do if I miss a session?
The Institute’s attendance policy requires all students to be present for 2/3 of all class sessions (three live class sessions total). Students are expected to follow up with their instructor in the event of missing a class session and there may be an alternative assignment offered.
How much time should I expect to be on the computer?
Students are expected to log in to our system Desire2Learn or D2L, each week that the course is live. D2L hosts the course syllabus including electronic course readings and writing assignments, so students can anticipate spending approximately three to four hours per week. This typically includes time spent watching the pre-recorded presentations, posting and responding to discussion boards, reading, or watching a video. For the remainder of hours of study, you will be attending live courses or reading offline.
We have several measures in place to protect our online students from burnout: We designate certain weeks “reflection weeks,” where students and faculty are not in live Zoom classes or using D2L, allowing students time to complete their final assignments. Periodic breaks are built into the academic calendar. In addition, we maintain clear guidelines around how much material there is to read, especially with discussion boards: Faculty typically restrict discussion posts on D2L to no more than 2 or 3 paragraphs, or 250-300 words. Even with these protective measures in place, however, students should be prepared for a rigorous course of study and should carefully assess whether they have the time to enter graduate school at this moment in their lives.
Pacifica requires that all students log into D2L on the first day of the quarter, and post something that indicates attendance. This is a Federal Financial Aid requirement, and it can be done anytime during the 24 hours of that first day. Other than this mandatory sign-in requirement, most assignments (if applicable) are due weekly.
Before the program starts, students will be invited to a tutorial to become familiar with D2L. You can also utilize our eLearning Support connections via phone, or chat on D2L. The Program Administrator will also be available to answer your questions and provide support.
Besides participating in D2L, what other sorts of work should I expect?
As with any graduate program, there are assigned readings for each week of the program. The number of books and articles varies by instructor, but in general expect approximately 100-150 pages of reading per week. Other assignments may include journal reflections, written responses on D2L, term paper research, and paper-writing. In general, you should expect to spend approximately 20 hours a week completing your studies.
How did you come up with 20 hours?
In higher education, time is measured by credit hours. A credit hour is a measure of the amount of work required of graduate students as established by federal regulations to determine equivalency among accredited institutions of higher learning. It is represented in terms of the number of hours in the classroom or direct faculty instruction, as well as the minimum number of hours of out-of-class work needed for students to achieve the learning outcomes identified for a course. At Pacifica, we remain aligned with federal standards that define a credit hour as the equivalent of ten hours of classroom or direct faculty instruction plus a minimum of three hours of out-of-class student work for each week of every quarter, a 1:3 ratio between instruction and independent work.
How does an online program lend itself to a sense of community?
Students enrolled in the PRC program will tell you that community builds quickly in an online environment. The use of breakout rooms in the Zoom classroom is particularly effective in allowing all students to share their voices. Students who normally may be more introverted in a traditional classroom may be more comfortable in a breakout group. The intention behind the PRC program is to create a community of scholars, researchers, and writers. In addition to the discipline of writing and reading other students’ posts in D2L, students are encouraged early on to form writing groups, to read each other’s work, to provide supportive feedback and offer constructive commentary on those papers, and to seek venues for publication for their papers in order to reach an even larger community.
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For information regarding this program please contact the Office of Admissions at 805.879.7305, or at applicant@pacifica.edu.
All of Pacifica Graduate lnstitute’s degree programs are accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC) and federal financial aid is available for those who qualify.
All of Pacifica Graduate lnstitute’s degree programs are accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC) and federal financial aid is available for those who qualify.
