Our Mission, History, and Faculty
Our Mission
To provide students with a mentor-based, individualized, nonresident and self-paced alternative learning system, with a primary goal to produce competent professionals rooted in deep self-awareness, sensitive to multi-cultural and global issues, and committed to serving humanity.
Our History
International University of Professional Studies traces its philosophy back to 1988, when the elementary and secondary departments in Harvard's School of Education and the Union for Research and Experimentation in Higher Education decided to move into alternative and more innovative programs.
Our Faculty
Professors and mentors are not only highly qualified, we are in the forefront of effective, innovative processes such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Alternative and Complementary Health, Somatic-Energetic Therapies, Multimedia Learning Environments, and Expressive Art Therapies.
IUPS Offers 8 Distance Learning Programs
Online Distance Education
Since 1988
Our Mission
To provide students with a mentor-based, individualized, nonresident and self-paced alternative learning system, with a primary goal to produce competent professionals rooted in deep self-awareness, sensitive to multi-cultural and global issues, and committed to serving humanity.
Our History
IUPS was founded in 1988 on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii. At that time we recognized the limitations of traditional brick and mortar universities and thus decided to develop a flexible, state of the art school that was highly relevant, mentor-based, time-flexible and individualized, with low tuition and an integrative body-mind-spirit approach.
We were pioneers in the development of online learning which was once referred to as “at a distance” education. We continue to use the saying, “our campus is wherever you are”, allowing students all over the world to earn graduate degrees while remaining in their places of employment and studying from the comfort of home.
Our Faculty
The heart of programs at IUPS is our faculty who serve as student mentors. Not only are they highly qualified leaders in their respective fields, they are also very skilled at utilizing their wisdom and expertise to direct and inspire students to reach their most valued goals. Since our mentors are distinctly familiar with the territory of their fields, they are able to guide their students effectively and expeditiously, tailoring assignments to meet both our university requirements and the needs of each specific student. One of our primary goals at IUPS is to integrate education with a student’s personal development.
Our Programs
Our programs are carefully crafted, time-tested (over 37 years), and are founded on a body–mind–spirit approach to higher learning. As a pioneer in holistic education and online psychology programs, we offer individualized pathways that blend academic rigor with personal growth and self-awareness.
IUPS provides both master’s and doctorate programs in psychology and related fields, designed for students seeking a meaningful education that integrates theory and practice.
Our programs mainly utilize virtual meetings, email communication, online resources, and traditional textbooks, in combination with optional conferences, workshops, and retreats. We believe that the integration of didactic and experiential learning creates an optimal educational experience—one that supports intellectual development while fostering personal and professional transformation.
IUPS Offers 9 Distance Learning Programs
Top 10 Reasons Students & Professionals Choose IUPS
Tailored Graduate Programs — M.A. and Ph.D. degrees shaped around your career and personal goals.
Transformative Education — Explore holistic psychology courses and spiritual psychology degree programs that deepen understanding of mind, body, and spirit.
100% Online & Flexible — Learn from anywhere, at your own pace, without putting your career or life on hold.
Affordable Excellence — Gain a respected holistic psychology degree at a fraction of the cost of traditional universities.
Credit for Prior Experience — Leverage previous education, training, or work to shorten your path and reduce tuition.
Personalized Support — Work closely with experienced faculty dedicated to guiding your growth.
Mentors Who Inspire — One-on-one mentoring ensures your program aligns with your ambitions.
Trusted & Established — A pioneering institution since 1988, recognized for innovative, mentor-based learning.
Holistic Learning Approach — Programs integrate experiential and academic learning for true personal transformation.
Self-Paced & Life-Friendly — Study on your own schedule, balancing education seamlessly with work and life.
We are proud members of the following organizations
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After completing my MA, I felt I needed a University where I could continue to explore Consciousness not only academically, but which also honoured insights into human consciousness based on the student’s inner experiences. IUPS not only allowed this, but encouraged me in my explorations. The open structure of the program also permitted me to undertake courses of my choice, including a course in embryology. Based on this, I was then able to really spread my wings during my thesis by investigating the connection between consciousness, soul, somatogenesis and the heart. I thank my mentor Dr. Inula Martinkat who stood beside me while I went through this “birthing process”. It was a wonderful and enriching experience. Unravelling the secrets of the heart is an ongoing process which I continue to explore today through journal articles based on my dissertation.
- Tina Lindhard, Ph.D. Consciousness Studies
President CCAEspaña, CICA: Chair of Consciousness Research