So, I’ve been digging into this whole “integral psychology” thing, and I thought, “Why not try to get a degree in it?” Seemed like a cool idea at the time, you know, exploring the mind in a more holistic way. So I started, like anyone would, by just Googling around.
I typed in “integral psychology degree” and, man, was I hit with a ton of stuff. Universities, online programs, certificates… it was a bit overwhelming, to be honest. I spent a good few hours just clicking through different websites, trying to figure out what was legit and what wasn’t.
Sorting Through the Options
I quickly realized there’s no single, straightforward “integral psychology degree.” It’s more like… finding programs that incorporate integral theory into their psychology curriculum. Some were clearly focused on clinical psychology, others on transpersonal psychology, and some were just general “human development” programs with an integral twist.
I made a list – a good old-fashioned pen-and-paper list – of the programs that caught my eye. I jotted down:
- The name of the school/program (obviously!)
- The type of degree (MA, PhD, certificate, etc.)
- Online or in-person? (Big factor for me.)
- Any specific focus? (Like, did they lean more towards therapy, research, or something else?)
- Cost? need to be careful!
Then came the real work: reading through course descriptions. Ugh. It’s like trying to decipher a secret code sometimes. But I powered through, looking for keywords like “integral theory,” “Ken Wilber” (he’s a big name in this field), “consciousness studies,” and “holistic approaches.”
After all that, I narrowed it down to a handful of programs that seemed like a good fit. I sent out a few emails, asking for more information and trying to get a feel for the program’s vibe. Some were super responsive and helpful, others… not so much. That in itself told me something, you know?
Finally, I applied to a couple of programs that really resonated with me. One was an online MA program in consciousness and transformative studies, and the other was a more traditional PhD program in psychology with a strong emphasis on integral theory.
The application process itself was a whole other beast. Essays, transcripts, letters of recommendation… the usual. It took a few weeks to get everything together, but I finally hit “submit” and crossed my fingers.
Now? I’m waiting. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but also exciting. I’m really hoping to dive deeper into this integral stuff and see where it takes me. Whether I get into these specific programs or not, I’ve definitely learned a lot just by going through this process. It’s shown me that there are a lot of different ways to approach this field, and it’s all about finding the path that feels right for you.
