The California Graduate Institute (CGI) was founded in 1968 as an independent graduate school specializing in psychology, marital and family therapy, and psychoanalysis. CGI and

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (The Chicago School) is a private university with its main campus in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1979, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology was primarily focused on the professional app ...

formally announced in fall 2008 that they were uniting. The merger was approved by The Chicago School’s accrediting body, the

Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...

(HLC), in October 2008. HLC joins the

Western Association of Schools and Colleges The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) was an organization providing School accreditation, accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary school, secondary and elementary schools in California and Hawaii, ...

(WASC) as two of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States.

History

The California Graduate Institute was founded in 1968. In the year of its 40th anniversary, CGI merged with

. Its Westwood and Irvine locations joined The Chicago School’s Los Angeles Campus as part of the school’s regional expansion into Southern California. CGI’s co-founder, Dr. Marvin Koven, is no longer with CGI.

Degree programs

CGI offered both the

Masters of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

and

Doctor of Psychology The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D. or D.Psych.) is a professional doctoral degree intended to prepare graduates for careers that apply scientific knowledge of psychology and deliver empirically based service to individuals, groups and organization ...

(PsyD) degrees in Psychology (with the possibility to elect a Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) emphasis). Several certificate programs are also offered. The majority of CGI psychology graduates practice in California. CGI was a leading institute in the training psychoanalytic psychotherapists and the dissemination of psychoanalytic thought.

Licensure

Graduates completing psychology doctoral degree requirements will be eligible to sit for licensure before California’s Board of Psychology (BOP). Students earning the Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) credential will be eligible to sit for licensure by the California Board of Behavior Sciences (BBS).

CE programs

California Graduate Institute was approved for

continued education Continuing education (similar to further education in the United Kingdom and Ireland) is an all-encompassing term within a broad list of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada. ...

(CE) in various subjects by the following organizations: :*

Veteran Administration The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and ...

– approves for GI Bill inclusion a wide range of educational programs (including graduate level education) . :*

National Association of Social Workers The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is a professional organization of social workers in the United States. NASW has about 120,000 members. The NASW provides guidance, research, up to date information, advocacy, and other resources f ...

(NASW) – a member association that offers approval of social work programs in continuing education for its members. However, the association's approval program (NASW CE approval) is not approved by the official Social Work Licensure Boards in several states, including California. :* California Board of Registered Nursing – approves registered nursing and advanced practice nursing programs in California. :*

California Board of Behavioral Sciences California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the mo ...

– approves continuing education providers (such as schools, associations, health facilities, governmental entities, educational institutions, extension programs, individuals, etc) in behavioral science in California. :* Division of Allied Health Professions of the Medical Board of California – approves research programs in Psychoanalysis, the first such program approved by the Allied Health Professions is offered at CGI. :*

California Psychological Association California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the mo ...

– a professional association in California which approves sponsors for continuing education for psychologists. The individual courses are approved by the MCEP Accrediting Agency. :*

American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, with over 133,000 members, including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students. It ha ...

(APA) – approves sponsors of continuing education for psychologists. Graduates of unaccredited state-approved schools such as CGI are limited to associate membership in APA.Thomas, John
"Brouhaha brewing over nonaccredited programs in California"
. ''The National Psychologist'', Vol. 8, No. 2, March/April 1999.

Affiliations

California Graduate Institute is an accredited member in the Society of Modern Psychoanalysis, a corporation in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

which accepts membership from institutes after review by an Institute Membership Committee. On approval, the institute becomes an accredited member of the corporation.Society of Modern Psychoanalysis
Mission and Purpose, Section 3: Review Procedures
;

; an

. Retrieved 2 March 2007.

References

{{reflist Educational institutions established in 1968 1968 establishments in California Education in Los Angeles County, California Psychoanalysis in the United States