The Wright Institute

The Wright Institute is one of the premier educational institutions in the nation. Founded in 1968, the Wright Institute is dedicated to educating psychologists and holding them to the highest professional standards in the field.

The Wright Institute came to fruition through the hard work and dedication of Nevitt Sanford, a distinguished psychologist and true pioneer in the field of clinical psychology. Sanford believed that all adults are capable of learning and growing across the continuum of life. Driven by this notion, the Wright Institute provides educational courses that focus on this unique and diverse human learning process and strives to educate psychologists on an ever-changing cultural landscape.

The Wright Institute is located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area and is a hot spot for students looking to gain a unique educational and cultural experience. Located just a block away from the famed University of California, Berkeley, the Institute is housed in a newly-remodeled Tudor building that is perfectly equipped to host a wide range of activities, meetings and educational events. Outside of the Wright Institute, students can enjoy a variety of beaches, parks, coffee shops, restaurants, sporting events and a number of other social activities.

The Wright Institute provides a number of learning and teaching opportunities for students. It prides itself on delivering a unique educational experience that prepares psychologists for a challenging and very rewarding career in the field. The Institute’s mission is to provide students with the learning, teaching and research opportunities needed to grow in the field and to adjust to the diverse psychological needs of the surrounding community. Driven by five distinct learning objectives, the Institute aims to create a learning environment that is academically enriching and intellectually stimulating so that students reap the benefits of this distinctive experience.

The Wright Institute Accreditation Details

The Wright Institute maintains accreditation through the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Two programs are separately accredited, including the Doctor of Psychology Clinical Psychology Program and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. The Doctorate program is accredited through the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Accreditation and has maintained accreditation for the past seven years, a truly incredible feat. The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program is approved through the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

The Wright Institute Application Requirements

For over 40 years, the Wright Institute has trained and developed some of the leading clinicians in the field. The application process is specifically designed to identify the top candidates for each program.

In order to be accepted into the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program, students must first complete three pre-requisite courses, including Statistics, Human Development and Theories of Personality or Abnormal Psychology. Incoming students who have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree are exempt from the last two stated courses. For admission, students must also present GRE scores and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (undergraduate) and a 3.4 (graduate) on a 4.0 scale. Students who do not meet the minimum requirements at the time of admission may still be considered on a case by case basis.

To apply to the program, students must submit:

• A completed online application and non-refundable $50 application fee
• A copy of a CV or resume
• A statement of purpose – 4-6 double-spaced pages on why students are interested in pursuing this degree
• A one page statement of personal goals, skills and interests
• Three letters of professional recommendation
• Official transcripts from every school attended

Students are admitted into the program once every fall. Applications are due on or before January 15th. Students are notified of their status by April 1st. Students who apply after January 15th may be considered on a case by case basis where space is available.

The application process for the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology is similar to that of the Doctorate program. While the submission requirements are the same, students must present a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be considered. Similar to that of the Doctorate program, students are admitted once a year for the fall semester only. The application to the Master’s program opens October 15th. Students who are accepted to either program may be invited to interview, which is strongly encouraged in person.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For the 2015-2016 academic years, the tuition for the Doctor of Psychology program is $32,500 for the first three years. Once students complete three years in the program, they are bumped into a reduced tuition bracket. The tuition for this program is divided up each semester and includes fall, winter and spring which is $12,185, $12,185 and $8,130, respectively. Once students complete the full three years, the tuition drops to $4,750, $4,750 and $3,175 each semester, respectively.

For the 2015-2016 academic years, the tuition for the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program is $990 per unit.

Financial aid is available to students in both programs and includes both federal student loans and federal work study programs. Both programs are intended to help students fund their tuition and various living expenses.

Psychology and Counseling at the Wright Institute

Students who are interested in pursuing a rewarding career in the psychology field need look no further than the Wright Institute.

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program is unique in the fact that it is a two year program that provides students with the freedom and flexibility to maintain a solid work, life and school balance. The classes are kept small and students move through the program together. This creates a very intimate working experience where students can learn and grow in unity.

For those looking to pursue their Doctorate degree, the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology is truly one of a kind. The courses are designed to be academically and intellectually stimulating; exposing students to a number of different theories, practical application opportunities and clinical work. Students are exposed to a wide range of different learning and developmental theories and research where they are able to learn and grow in the best way possible.

Students who attend the Wright Institute to pursue their Master’s degree or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology can expect a very successful and fulfilling clinical career.