Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University (PAU) is a private university in Palo Alto, California that focuses on psychology and counseling. It was founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology and became Palo Alto University in 2009.

Palo Alto University offers two undergraduate degree programs: a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action and a Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology; four graduate programs: a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology as part of a consortium with Stanford University; an M.A. in Counseling and an M.S. in Psychology. PAU subscribes to the practitioner-scientist training model, which emphasizes clinical practice along with scientific training.

PAU has an interconnected relationship with Stanford University and the Stanford University School of Medicine. PAU maintains its doctoral program in conjunction with Stanford University, often employs its students in Stanford research laboratories, and houses faculty members who teach at both institutions. The chair of the Stanford Department of Psychiatry holds a membership on the PAU board of trustees.

History
Palo Alto University traces its origins back to 1975 when the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology was founded in Palo Alto. PGSP was established by a group of students and faculty seeking to enhance their knowledge of clinical psychology, with Robert Kantor serving as its first president.

In 1984, PGSP welcomed Allen Calvin as its president. Two years later, the institution achieved accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and in 1988 PGSP relocated its campus to East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto.

Also in 1988, the Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Clinic was established in Palo Alto to provide clinical services to the local community. PGSP's Ph.D. program received accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) in the same year.

In 2002, PGSP and Stanford University launched the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium program, an innovative doctoral program in psychology. In 2006, the consortium achieved APA accreditation as well.

In 2006, PGSP underwent a transformation and became Palo Alto University (PAU), broadening its scope and offerings. PAU introduced the Bachelor degree program in Psychology & Social Action (PSA) at De Anza College, followed by the approval of a major in Business Psychology (BP) at Foothill College in 2009. The MA Counseling program also commenced during this period.

PAU established the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic in 2009. This clinic provided specialized services to individuals exploring issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. PAU further expanded its programs to include hybrid programs in Business Psychology and Psychology Social Action.

Under the leadership of Maureen O'Connor, who assumed the presidency in 2016, PAU achieved significant milestones. In 2017, the MA in Counseling program received accreditation from The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), affirming the program's adherence to rigorous standards in marriage, family, child counseling, and clinical mental health counseling.

In late 2018, PAU acquired CONCEPT, a private organization dedicated to professional training in forensic psychology founded by renowned forensic psychologist Patricia Zapf. CONCEPT became the University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies, offering postgraduate professional training in specialty areas of psychology for continuing education credit.

In recognition of its commitment to serving the Hispanic community, PAU earned the designation as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) in 2022. The same year marked the opening of the Mountain View Campus, which became the new location for the Gronowski Center. This expansion enhanced PAU's capacity to provide comprehensive clinical services to the community.

Undergraduate and college transfer programs
The undergraduate programs at Palo Alto University are offered in partnership with Silicon Valley area community colleges like De Anza College, Foothill College, and the College of San Mateo. The bachelor's degree completion programs are created for community college students wishing to transfer to a Bachelor's program and for college graduates wishing to re-specialize in psychology or business psychology. PAU offers a psychology program with competitive tuition and fees, positioning it as a cost-effective choice among private universities in the Bay Area. The university also facilitates a streamlined transfer process for community college students and those who have completed their initial two years of college.

Master's programs
Palo Alto University offers two master's degree programs:

M.A. in Counseling MFT/LPCC (Online/On-Campus)
A terminal master's degree that prepares students to see clients as a licensed therapist or counselor. Areas of emphasis:


 * The Marriage, Family, and Child emphasis fulfills all requirements for MFT licensure in the State of California.
 * The Clinical Mental Health emphasis fulfills all requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure in California and select U.S. states and countries.

In January 2017, both emphases of Palo Alto University's M.A. in Counseling degree were awarded CACREP accreditation.

M.S. in Psychology (Online)
A degree designed to prepare students to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or careers in community college teaching, research, and related business and nonprofit fields. Taught through distance learning (with a one-week summer intensive).

The M.S. in Psychology is designed to prepare students to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or careers in community college teaching, research, and related business and nonprofit fields and is taught through distance learning (with the one-week summer intensive).

Ph.D. program
Palo Alto University's Ph.D. program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1988. The Ph.D. program consists of several emphasis areas including: Child & Family, Diversity & Community Mental Health, Forensic Psychology, LGBTQ Psychology, Meditation & Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Trauma.

Students have access to specialized research groups and clinical training opportunities through the Gronowski Center, a community-based psychology training clinic and treatment center providing clinical services to adults, older adults, adolescents, children, and families in the community.

PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium
The PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium program, in conjunction with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Stanford University's School of Medicine, was accredited by the American Psychological Association in 2006. According to U.S. News & World Report, the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium ranks 87th in the nation for best health schools by category of clinical psychology.

Clinical training
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program at PAU and the PAU-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium program gain valuable initial clinical practical training at the Gronowski Center. The Gronowski Center is a mental health clinic that operates with partial funding from Palo Alto University and offers subsidized services on a sliding scale to the local Bay Area community.

Continuing and Professional Studies
Through the Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS) division, PAU partners with leading experts to provide workshops, webinars, and online training programs in areas relevant to mental health professionals in psychology and related disciplines, such as social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, corrections, and law enforcement. CAPS is an approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists (American Psychological Association), social workers (Association of Social Workers Boards), and counselors (National Board of Certified Counselors).

Omar Siddiqui Research Library
The university's library is named for Omar Seddiqui, the former Director and President of the National Archives of Afghanistan and Public Library of Afghanistan (prior to the Saur Revolution).

Notable faculty

 * Larry E. Beutler, Ph.D., ABPP (Systematic Treatment Selection, Past President, Division 12, APA)
 * Kimberly Balsam, Ph.D. (Past President, Division 44, APA)
 * Christine Blasey Ford, Ph.D., publicly brought forth accusations of sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, now associate justice to the Supreme Court of the United States