California School of Professional Psychology
Educating Psychologists since 1969.
Transforming Experience into Expertise, and Expertise into Leadership
As the demand for psychology professionals remains steady, so too does the demand for qualified, accredited, hands-on, and multicultural-focused psychology education. At the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant University, our programs are awarded with top accreditation and elite faculty members, helping to give our graduate students the best education possible.
For more than 50 years, CSPP has responded to this demand by transforming students into working professionals providing services to their communities. Graduates from our psychology school are making a difference in people’s lives through their professions as:
- Clinical psychologists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Clinical counselors
- Organizational psychologists
- Organizational behavior psychologists
- Organizational development psychologists
- Social Workers
- Psychopharmacologists
Whether you’re looking for on-campus or online psychology programs, our graduate degree programs are the perfect place to start. As one of the leading California colleges in psychology, our experienced faculty members help each of our students gain valuable problem-solving skills and hands-on experience that can set them up for success in a career in the field of professional psychology.

Psychology Degree Programs Offered at CSPP
A graduate school of professional psychology is only as good as the students it trains. Founded in 1969, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant has educated over 16,000 psychology students as one of the nation’s first free-standing schools of professional psychology.
Today, our in-person and online graduate school of professional psychology in California continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals and advocates. Our dedication to ensuring every community’s access to quality mental health care extends from integrated care to inclusive family therapy, and our psychology students and alumni begin making an impact in the communities they serve from the moment they begin their programs.
CSPP is one of the top graduate school of professional psychology in California and understands the need for flexibility with today’s student needs. This is why we offer online programs, as well as hybrid programs that blend online and campus-based learning.
Why Study Psychology in California?
If you want to be a clinical psychologist, a family therapist, a licensed professional clinical counselor, or a licensed social worker in a promising job market, California should definitely be on your radar. Not only does the Golden State have a strong job market for psychologists, additionally, according to Projections Central, employment opportunities for clinical psychologists, clinical counselors, and social workers in California are expected to increase by 8.6% from 2020-2030.
To have access to the California job market and practice as a psychologist in California, you must be licensed by the California Board of Psychology. California’s job market makes it a great place to launch your psychology career. Consider attending one of the best graduate schools in professional psychology and top institutions among psychology colleges in California. Rooted in psychological science, Alliant emphasizes both theory and practice to help prepare graduates for impactful roles and valuable skills across the field.

Welcome from the Dean
Welcome to the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant University!
I was drawn to psychology because of my interest in adolescent mental health and substance use disorder, and I wanted to find a way to help. As well as being dean, I’m a professor and a clinical researcher, working towards a goal of improving community mental health and eliminating racial disparity and inequity.
When you join us at CSPP, you join the ranks of the many California mental health professionals who have graduated from Alliant. Our training is grounded in academic rigor with a focus on serving marginalized and underserved communities.
At CSPP you’ll dig deep into the specialty of your choice, with faculty who share your interests and the mission to prepare you to work in the field. Our campuses can be found across the state, each with its own focus, but all interconnected. We have a broad network of partners and associates, and each campus has a professional training office ready to tap into that network to assist in your internship placement.
Our faculty is varied and diverse in both culture and experience, and eager to guide you through the program, sharing their clinical and research expertise with you.
If you have a heart of service and a genuine desire to help others, you will find a home here at CSPP.
Sincerely,

David Stewart, PhD
Dean, California School of Professional Psychology
Get to Know Our Program Directors

Carolyn Allard
Distinguished Professor & Program Director
California School of Professional Psychology


Manijeh Daneshpour
Distinguished Professor & Systemwide Program Director
California School of Professional Psychology

Sandra Espinoza
Associate Professor & Branch Director, Los Angeles
California School of Professional Psychology





Clare Henn-Haase
Associate Professor and PhD Program Director
California School of Professional Psychology





David Paul
System-wide Program Director and Associate Professor
California School of Professional Psychology




Continuing a Legacy of Excellence
Each year, hundreds of students graduate from CSPP at Alliant, prepared, confident, and excited about their future in professional psychology. Here are ten reasons why:
The Alliant Choice
For a psychology university to thrive for more than 50 years, it requires an undeniable commitment from our administrators, professors, and especially from our graduate students. Choosing CSPP for your higher education degree means choosing quality from start to finish. We are proud of the CSPP tradition, but we are even more proud of our students’ success and the work they are doing across our country for people.
Alliant invites you to continue this legacy of impactful, professional practice, leadership, and service.
If you’d like to learn more, contact an Alliant admissions counselor today to ask a question, discuss your goals, learn more about the coursework, and take the next step to begin your education at Alliant University.
