School of Psychology
Programs Now Available 100% Online or In-Person
Modern Education With 100 Years of Experience.
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Welcome from the Dean
Helen Marlo, Ph.D, Dean of the School of Psychology, has served in NDNU’s graduate Clinical Psychology Department since 1999. She has over 30 years of experience in higher education including serving as Professor and Department Chair. A licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 15318) and psychoanalyst member of the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco, she has maintained a private psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and consultation practice for over 25 years.
School of Psychology
Preparing students for advancement in Psychology
NDNU’s School of Psychology offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs:
- Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology Degree Completion Program
- Graduate Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (M.S.) with emphases in Marriage and Family Therapy (MSCP/MFT) and Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (MSCP/MFT/LPCC).
We approach the study of psychology as a branch of science that studies human behavior and mental processes. Our School emphasizes applied psychology which also recognizes the influence of the arts, culture, and real-world experience. Our teaching values the development of the whole person throughout the lifespan.
The BA in Psychology Degree Completion program:
- Offers a strong general psychology curriculum with interdisciplinary perspectives that develops research and communication skills
- Fosters respect for diverse viewpoints, collaboration, and community engagement – hallmarks of the NDNU experience
- Culminates in producing an e-Portfolio that supports your professional and career development
- Is designed in accordance with the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines and meets pre-requisites for the majority of graduate programs in the field of psychology
The MS in Clinical Psychology programs:
- Are grounded in an integrative, depth-oriented, applied psychological approach, emphasizing the interdependence of psychological, developmental, relational, affective, cognitive, behavioral, cultural, social, neurobiological, and spiritual dimensions of human behavior
- Prepare highly trained, licensed marriage and family therapists (MFT) and professional clinical counselors (LPCC); unlicensed mental health professionals; and community leaders through our professional training programs that reflect contemporary practice
- Emphasize clinical training, community engagement, and diversity in our academic, theoretical, and learning approaches
- Offer tracks in Business, Organizational, and Consulting Psychology and Applied Psychology
- Qualify students to pursue careers in several fields, including clinical settings, private practice, community mental health, medical, allied health, administrative, business, industry, social service, educational, and research settings
- Prepare students for future doctoral studies in psychology or a related field
- Are approved by our professional licensing agency, the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
FAQs
The School of Psychology offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.
The undergraduate program is a B.A. in Psychology degree completion program that is offered in an asynchronous online format.
- Students earn a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology degree and choose from 3 graduate degree programs which are offered both in-person and fully online.
- Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MSCP): 37-unit program designed for unlicensed mental health professionals who work in business, consulting, and clinical settings and may choose between two tracks:
- Business, Organizational, and Consulting Psychology
- Consulting and Applied Psychology
- An asynchronous online format is launching. Pending sufficient enrollment, students may complete it as an asynchronous online program.
- Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with a track in Marriage and Family Therapy (MSCP/MFT): 60-unit program designed for licensed marriage and family therapists who work in private practice, schools, clinics, hospitals, community agencies, and businesses.
- Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with a track in Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (MSCP/MFT/LPCC): 67-unit program designed for practitioners to be dually licensed as marriage and family therapists and licensed professional clinical counselors (a more nationally recognized license) who work in private practice, schools, clinics, hospitals, community agencies, and businesses.
- Students in the MSCP/MFT and MSCP/MFT/LPCC programs may complete the program either fully in-person and/or online.
- They may take classes in the asynchronous online modality depending on course availability but not complete their degree through asynchronous online courses. Some synchronous online or in-person classes are required.
- The Undergraduate program may be completed in an asynchronous, online format.
- The Graduate programs may be completed both in-person and fully online (synchronous).
- The MSCP (non-license program) is launching in an asynchronous online format. Pending sufficient enrollment, students may complete it as an asynchronous online program.
- Our graduate programs are centered on supporting the mental health and holistic development of individuals across their lifespan.
- It emphasizes an integrative, depth-oriented approach to clinical psychology, that prepares students to become well-rounded mental health professionals who are highly trained to treat a range of mental health issues and problems.
- With our emphasis on personalized service, including individualized advising, we provide flexible scheduling and work with your
- Go at your own pace, given what is best for you.
- You cycle through our program in loose cohorts with your peers.
- Whether attending part-time or full-time, students can choose courses offered conveniently in the late afternoon, evening, and weekends.
- This flexible scheduling structure helps support you with work-life demands and makes our program much more economical.
- Our department is dedicated to fostering clinical excellence, community engagement, and diversity in all aspects of learning and practice.
- We prioritize hands-on clinical training alongside theoretical understanding, ensuring our students are prepared to address diverse mental health needs.
- Our program is known as “the practitioner’s program,” and has been a leader in training California and Bay Area mental health professionals for nearly four decades.
- We are a scholar-practitioner program and emphasize integrative, depth-oriented training. Our graduates work in a variety of clinical, business, social service, community, and educational settings.
- We are a high-touch, close knit community that emphasizes personalized attention, learning, and relationships. Our community is collaborative.
- Students and faculty are diverse in age, ethnicity, culture, sexuality, religion, academic background, and more.
- We develop supportive relationships with one another. These bonds often continue as alumni where they become supportive professional colleagues, sources of information or referrals, and/or remain forever friends.
- Afternoon classes are 4:30-6:45 pm
- Evening classes are 7:00-9:15 pm
- Weekend classes are 9:30-3:30 pm
- Afternoon and evening classes are offered weekly for a full semester
- Weekend classes: Combination of Saturdays/Sundays: 3 units (6 days); 2 units (4 days); 1 unit (2 days)
- Asynchronous classes are done on your own time and at your own pace.
- They are offered in 8-week terms in the Fall and Spring (Term I and Term II) and all work must be completed by the end of the term.
- Some optional synchronous class meetings and partner work may be assigned.
In-person classes are on the Belmont campus. Professors may offer 30-40% of classes of an in-person course online at their discretion.
No, students are admitted into programs (MSCP, MSCP/MFT, MSCP/MFT/LPCC) rather than specific course formats (in-person; synchronous online; asynchronous online).
- Organizational Consultation & Evaluation for Mental Health Professionals
- Coaching for Psychotherapists and Mental Health Professionals
- Psychotherapy Interventions: Expressive Arts Therapy
- Innovations in Psychotherapy: Wellness, Spirituality, and Advanced Theories
- Students may take these classes in addition to their required courses in their 37-unit; 60-unit; or 67-unit degree programs for half off! Consult with our Advisor.
Distinctions of the Clinical Psychology Programs
- Yes, our program is accredited by WSCUC (WASC) and fulfills all California requirements with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for licensed marriage and family therapists (MFT) and licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC).
- It boasts high first-time pass rates for MFT/LPCC exams and provides rigorous preparation.
NDNU’s professors “practice what they teach.” They are experienced clinicians and mental health professionals who actively contribute to the community.
NDNU offers a range of innovative, integrative, depth-oriented clinical and psychotherapy courses tailored to clinical practice, social service, community, medical, business, and organizational settings.
We sponsor various programs supporting professional development, such as Building a Successful Private Practice, Professional Pathways, Diversity Discussions, and Community Connections.
Our program welcomes diverse students, including new graduates, career changers, parents, working adults, international students and those with varied academic backgrounds including having earned previous graduate degrees.
- NDNU’s Academic Success Center provides hands on help to support your success including tutoring, writing assistance, career services, and personalized support.
- Our student-centered program includes the Association of Student Leaders, offering opportunities for leadership, academic and professional growth, and peer networking.
- Our Academic Advisor and Success Coach provides personalized support for academic success.
NDNU hosts an annual Practicum and Associates Training Fair and Community Connections day, connecting students with agencies offering competitive placements, professional positions, and jobs.
The program has a dedicated Director of Clinical Training who ensures students’ clinical training needs are met, offering your choice of individualized practicum placements and supervised clinical field experience opportunities at a variety of competitive sites that count towards MFT licensure.
NDNU’s program has a holistic, values-based mission emphasizing professional training and community engagement, including providing over 20,000 hours of mental health services to California.
Helen Marlo, Dean
hmarlo@ndnu.edu
650-508-3557
Lorraine Cainia
Executive Assistant
lcainia@ndnu.edu
650-508-3557