Founded in 1968 as the California Institute of Asian Studies, CIIS grew out of an effort to bring Eastern and Western thought into one classroom. Today it is a private graduate-focused school on Mission Street in San Francisco. Most students come for counselling psychology, clinical psychology, expressive arts therapy or its unusual philosophy programmes. Community counselling clinics run by the institute give trainees supervised client hours.
San Francisco, California, United States
Official website: cca.edu
1968 in San Francisco
Private, mostly graduate
Mission Street, central San Francisco
Counselling psychology and East-West studies
$30,000 – $38,000
International students, graduate programmes, approximate
$26,000 – $34,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cca.edu before you apply.
MA Integral Counseling Psychology
Masters DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 83
MA Community Mental Health
Masters DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 83
MA Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 83
MA Asian Philosophies and Cultures
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 83
MA Expressive Arts Therapy
Masters DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 83
Counselling degrees that include supervised hours in the institute's own clinics.
Philosophy and religion taught across Asian and Western traditions.
Evening and weekend formats used by many working students.
Counselling graduates work toward California MFT or counsellor licensure in clinics and agencies.
Some alumni return home to set up private practice or community programmes.
Eligible F-1 graduates can use OPT for supervised clinical hours.
Undergrad
BA completion only
Postgrad
Early spring priority
Undergrad
Limited
Postgrad
Selected programmes
The main building sits on Mission Street near Civic Center, a short walk from BART and Muni lines. It is an urban campus with no lawns and no dorms.
San Francisco is expensive. Many students share flats in the Mission, the Sunset or across the bay in Oakland and ride BART in.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Most graduate programmes admit for fall and set a priority deadline in early spring, with later applications reviewed if places remain. International students should apply by the priority date.
Nearly all programmes start in the fall. A few accept spring entry. The BA completion programme also has more than one start.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from California Institute of Integral Studies after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Integral counselling psychology, community mental health, expressive arts therapy and the philosophy MAs are the main draws. You need a bachelor's degree, a statement of purpose, references and English at about IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 83.
CIIS offers some institutional scholarships and awards by programme. International students are not eligible for US federal aid, so plan to fund most costs yourself.
