Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Mental & Behavioral Health Education
Palo Alto University, a private non-profit institution founded in 1975, has been at the forefront of mental and behavioral health education for five decades. Located in Silicon Valley, our university combines rigorous academic training with hands-on clinical practice to prepare compassionate professionals who serve diverse communities. Our faculty consists of globally recognized researchers and practitioners who provide personalized mentorship, ensuring students develop expertise in evidence-based practices. With over 550 continuing education programs and partnerships with leading organizations like Stanford School of Medicine, we deliver both residential and online learning options to accommodate working professionals.Our commitment to cultural humility and social justice is reflected in our curriculum and community outreach initiatives, including low-cost mental health clinics that serve local populations while training future practitioners. As a WASC-accredited institution with APA-accredited psychology programs, we maintain the highest academic standards while fostering a supportive learning environment characterized by small cohorts and exceptional student-to-faculty ratios.
Services
BS Psychology
BS Business Psychology
MS Psychology
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling
PhD Clinical Psychology
PsyD Consortium Program
MSW Program
Continuing Education
Clinical Internships
Research Programs
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We offer 50 years of experience in behavioral health education
- Our 100% APA internship match rate ensures practical training opportunities
- We provide personalized mentorship with industry-leading faculty
- Our transfer-friendly policy accepts up to 135 credits
- We maintain 550+ continuing education programs for professional growth
Associations and certifications
- WASC Senior College and University Commission
- American Psychological Association
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
What people say
Strong internship placements
Great student-faculty ratio
Supportive community
Career preparation
Personalized mentorship
Services
BS Psychology
Our Bachelor of Science in Psychology program combines core psychological principles with practical experience through internships and fieldwork. Students develop expertise in community advocacy, research methods, and clinical applications while preparing for graduate study. The curriculum emphasizes cultural competence and social justice, with flexible online and in-person options available for working adults seeking career advancement in mental health fields.
PhD Clinical Psychology
APA-accredited residential PhD program integrating scientific research with clinical training. Graduates pursue careers in healthcare settings, academia, and private practice with strong placement rates. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practices, multicultural competence, and professional development through supervised clinical experiences and dissertation research.
Continuing Education
Over 550 self-paced continuing education programs taught by industry experts. Courses cover forensic psychology, digital mental health, and clinical specialties with CME/CE credits available. Programs emphasize practical skills development, best practices, and professional credibility enhancement through flexible online formats.
Clinical Internships
Supervised clinical training placements at 400+ partner organizations including Kaiser Permanente and Stanford Health. Students gain hands-on experience in diverse settings while earning academic credit. The program maintains 100% APA internship match rates with personalized placement assistance from faculty mentors.
Online Learning
Flexible online programs with live evening Zoom sessions for working professionals. Features include small class sizes, asynchronous content access, and personalized support services. Programs maintain the same academic rigor as on-campus offerings while accommodating diverse scheduling needs through hybrid and fully remote formats.
People
Farouk Dey
President
Dr. Farouk Dey brings strategic leadership experience to PAU, focusing on innovation in behavioral health education and institutional growth.
William H. Snow
Chair, Department of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Snow leads PAU's undergraduate programs with expertise in psychology education and student success initiatives.
Patricia Zapf
Continuing Education Director
Dr. Zapf curates PAU's 550+ continuing education programs, ensuring practical relevance and professional development value.
Questions
What mental health programs does PAU offer?
PAU offers BS, MS, MA, PhD, PsyD, and MSW programs in psychology, counseling, and social work with APA and CACREP accreditations.
Are PAU programs available online?
Yes, we offer fully online BS and MS programs with evening Zoom sessions and hybrid options for working professionals.
How does PAU support student success?
We provide personalized advising, small cohorts, 1:1 faculty mentorship, and career services including internship placement assistance.
What accreditation does PAU hold?
PAU is WASC accredited with APA-accredited psychology programs and CACREP-accredited counseling programs.
Can I transfer credits to PAU?
Yes, we accept up to 135 transfer credits and offer prior learning assessment options for professional experience.
What community services does PAU provide?
Our clinics offer low-cost mental health services while training students, serving over 15,000 client visits annually.
Videos
