Master in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis (Master's)

The deadline to apply for the Jan 2027 intake is Nov 1, 2026. Tuition is Tuition and fees information is available on the programme's website under the Costs section..

Students complete a training analysis with an approved analyst on a weekly or biweekly basis throughout their studies. They engage in interdisciplinary coursework that examines psychoanalysis in relation to culture, society, and critical social theory, applying theoretical knowledge to research and practical analysis. The programme emphasizes the interplay between unconscious processes and social systems through textual, ethnographic, and qualitative methods. Students develop critical and research skills to analyze cultural phenomena such as psychopathology, gender, race, and institutional dynamics.

Focus areas include psychoanalysis, cultural analysis, critical social theory, gender, race, psychopathology.

The MA programme requires 40 credits, including coursework in psychoanalysis, cultural analysis, integrative electives, and research methodology. Students complete a training analysis and a master’s paper as part of the degree requirements.

Graduates pursue roles in academic research, social service organizations, and applied settings where psychoanalytic and cultural analysis inform policy, practice, and institutional understanding.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and submit a 1200-word statement of academic and career interests in psychoanalysis and culture. The programme requires a statement outlining desired research interests and area of specialization. Admission to the doctoral programme is granted to those with a strong academic background and potential for scholarly work.

The programme totals about 40 credit hours. Remote, delivered via Zoom; full-time study takes two years; part-time options available. For international students, tuition is around the median for US programmes.

Located at 1581 Beacon St in Brookline, with additional locations in New York and New Jersey, BGSP gives students access to a school community centered on psychoanalysis and mental health. The campus welcomes visitors for tours and conversations with admissions staff. For more than 50 years, the School has developed an individualized approach to learning, allowing students to shape professional lives as clinical mental health counselors, scholars, and psychoanalysts. Its community also contributes through a Therapy Center, a School Outreach Program, and work in the wider community. Students apply psychoanalytic ideas in settings that include mental health clinics, public schools, coaching practices, and preschool classrooms.

Academic options include the two-year, full-time MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which provides training in psychodynamic methods and is license eligible. The post-master's Doctor of Psychoanalysis combines preparation for psychoanalytic practice with academic and research studies leading to a doctorate, alongside seminars, training analysis, and intensive clinical supervision. Certified analysts can pursue a low-residency Hybrid Accelerated PsyaD through distance learning, video conferencing, and weekend intensives in Boston. Programs in Psychoanalysis, Society and Culture offer MA and PsyaD study remotely. International students can apply from around the world. Those considering Boston should note that the admissions process includes an interview with three faculty members rather than a GRE score.