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 of Professional Psychology, known as "The Chicago School," is a graduate university specializing in psychology. With nearly 3,000 students and 1,500 graduates, it is the nation’s largest not-for-profit graduate school dedicated to psychology and behavioral sciences...

 formally announced in fall 2008 that they were uniting. The merger was approved by The Chicago School’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), in October 2008. HLC joins the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...

 (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 The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. 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 offers both the Masters of Arts

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 and Doctor of Psychology

Doctor of Psychology

The Doctor of Psychology degree is a professional doctorate earned through one of two established training models for clinical psychology...

 (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.

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 is approved for continued education

Continuing education

Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum 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 - approves for GI Bill inclusion a wide range of educational programs (including graduate level education) .
• National Association of Social Workers
  National Association of Social Workers
  The National Association of Social Workers is a professional organization of social workers in the United States. It had over 150,000 members as of January 2008 and provides guidance, research, up to date information, advocacy, and other resources for its members and for social workers in general...
  
   (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 - 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  - 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
  American Psychological Association
  The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
  
   (APA) - approves sponsors of continuing education for psychologists. Graduates of unaccredited state-approved schools such as CGI are limited to associate membership in APA.

Affiliations

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

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

which accepts membership from institutes after review by an Institute Membership Committee. On approval, the institute becomes an accredited member of the corporation.