Golden Gate University Psychology Programs

Golden Gate University stands at the heart of state-of-the-art development in downtown San Francisco. Psychology students enjoy a unique urban campus setting. The university’s location between the legal and financial districts and the growing ‘South of Market’ corporate corridor puts students right in one of the world’s most dynamic professional environments.

GGU differs from traditional college campuses. You won’t find dormitories or dining halls here. Instead, the university provides a professional, urban learning environment that matches the real-life workplace where students will build their careers. The city itself becomes an extended learning space for psychology students.

The Bay Area location gives psychology students several key advantages:

• The campus has excellent public transportation access, making it easy to commute and explore San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods
• Students find exceptional internship and career opportunities thanks to nearby technology companies, healthcare facilities, and corporate headquarters
• The Bay Area’s incredible diversity and rich cultural mix prepares students for today’s global marketplace

The campus sits in a stunning regional setting that covers more than 7,100 square miles across nine counties, with major cities, coastlines, forests, and mountains. This varied landscape creates an enriching backdrop for your educational experience.

GGU psychology students can network with over 300 prominent business partners in the Bay Area and beyond. These connections are a great way to get internships, traineeships, or jobs after graduation.

The university’s strategic collaboration with the Psychotherapy Action Network shapes the psychology curriculum. This partnership helps create mental health policies that look beyond symptoms to understand each person’s complexity. Students get practical, relevant education.

After graduating with your psychology degree from GGU, you’ll become part of a thriving community of more than 70,000 alumni worldwide. This vast network supports your professional growth throughout your career.

GGU offers a vibrant and diverse student environment. Students get both rigorous academic training and practical preparation for actual challenges in psychology.

Programs offered

Golden Gate University’s Psychology Department helps students build successful careers through its undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Students can choose specialized education paths that match their professional goals, whether they want to become licensed therapists or organizational consultants.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program combines deep exploration of psychological concepts with liberal arts education. Students learn about biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology while developing their writing and critical thinking skills. The 120-unit curriculum lets students customize their education with 36 units of general education, 39 units for major courses, and 45 units of electives for potential minors.

GGU’s master’s programs cater to different career paths:

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology readies students to become licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) in California. The program’s mutually beneficial alliance with the Psychotherapy Action Network keeps the 60-unit curriculum at the forefront of mental health advocacy. Students gain practical experience through 300 supervised clinical hours. Full-time students typically finish in 2.5 years, with flexible options available for working professionals.

The Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology gives students the skills to lead organizational initiatives. Graduates can improve employee training, assess internal issues, conduct market research, and boost workplace productivity. The 42-unit program combines psychology fundamentals with business expertise. Job prospects look promising, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 6% growth for industrial-organizational psychologists through 2031.

GGU also offers these graduate certificates:

• Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution (18 units)
• Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills (15 units)
• Graduate Certificate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (15 units)

Psychology students can benefit from GGU’s accelerated pathway program. Students who complete their bachelor’s degree at GGU may skip certain graduate-level courses when pursuing advanced psychology degrees at the university.

Chinese students can enroll in the Global Master of Arts in Psychology with counseling concentration. This online 30-unit accelerated program runs in Mandarin through Beacon Education. The program does not prepare students for clinical practice or licensure.

GGU’s psychology programs blend practical experience with theoretical knowledge. Graduates leave ready to make their mark in their chosen fields.

Online options

Golden Gate University, now 120+ years old, leads the way in flexible education. The university’s online psychology programs showcase its greatest breakthroughs. GGU has spent nearly three decades fine-tuning distance education that works for busy professionals.

The MA in Counseling Psychology program lets students choose from three learning formats:

First, the live online format connects students through Zoom in real-time sessions. Weekly classes run for 2 hours and 40 minutes, starting at either 4:00 p.m. or 6:50 p.m. Students learn together without the hassle of commuting.

Second, the asynchronous format gives students pre-recorded lectures and discussions without live classroom sessions. Students can complete their work at times that fit their schedule best.

Third, the hybrid format blends both approaches. Students spend 20% of their time at GGU’s San Francisco campus during specific weeks. The rest of their learning happens through live online sessions.

GGU’s Psychology programs stand out because students don’t have to stick to just one format. They can switch between different styles based on their schedule and priorities. One course might work better asynchronously while another fits better with web conferences.

The same experienced faculty teach all courses, whether online or on campus. Students learn through engaging discussions, hands-on experiences, and cutting-edge technology.

While students can complete most work online, the Practicum course requires Zoom participation. Hybrid students attend their campus sessions in downtown San Francisco.

GGU’s online psychology programs work well for busy adults. Almost all counseling psychology students are at least 25 years old. These numbers show how well the university meets today’s educational needs.

Accreditation

GGU’s institutional recognition is a vital factor for students choosing a psychology program. The university has strong credentials with accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This is the same organization that accredits other prestigious schools like Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of San Francisco, and San Jose State University.

GGU’s relationship with WSCUC goes back many years. The university has held this accreditation continuously since 1959. Before that, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredited GGU from 1950. WSCUC recently reaffirmed GGU’s accreditation through Spring 2031, which proves the university met all required criteria.

WSCUC is one of six regional associations that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes to accredit colleges and universities. Your psychology degree from GGU will be accessible to more people and respected by employers and educational institutions.

GGU currently holds an “Accredited with Notice of Concern” status. This shows that while the university meets WSCUC Standards, some areas need attention. The university remains fully accredited and can still distribute federal financial aid.

GGU’s psychology programs have earned excellent external recognition. Forbes Advisor named the Online Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology as the best online counseling psychology program of 2023. They noted that “Golden Gate University offers several online programs, including a master of arts in counseling psychology that arranges with the Psychotherapy Action Network’s guidelines”.

Future therapists will find it helpful that the counseling psychology program’s 60-credit curriculum meets California’s marriage and family therapy licensure requirements. This means your education will prepare you well for professional practice.

This detailed accreditation and recognition framework shows that your investment in a Golden Gate University psychology degree has a solid foundation of academic quality and professional relevance. So, graduates enter the workforce with credentials that employers respect in psychology fields of all sizes.

Admission Requirements

Golden Gate University Psychology programs have specific admission requirements that vary between undergraduate and graduate levels. The university looks at your academic history, work experience, and career goals when reviewing applications.

Students need a 2.0 or better cumulative GPA from a community college, college, or university cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better with 12 semester units of transferable credit to join undergraduate psychology programs. You’ll need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 ‘C’ or higher in all GGU courses that count toward program requirements. The university accepts up to 93 transfer units for undergraduate degrees, which gives you credit for your previous academic achievements.

New undergraduate students must complete English, mathematics, and critical thinking requirements in their first 27 units, unless they have equivalent credits from another school. Placement tests help determine the right course level if you haven’t met Math or English requirements yet.

Graduate psychology programs have stricter admission standards. You’ll need:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a recognized non-U.S. institution
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher, though some programs might accept a 2.5 GPA
• Strong quantitative, writing, and computing skills
• Statement of Purpose explaining why you want to pursue graduate studies

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology requires 60 units with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better. You don’t need a psychology background – GGU welcomes students from a variety of academic and professional fields.

Students interested in the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, along with a Statement of Purpose and resume. If your GPA falls below 3.0, your Statement of Purpose should explain what affected your grades and what’s different now.

International students have extra requirements. They must prove their English language skills through standardized tests if English isn’t their first language.

After acceptance, a non-refundable $250 commitment fee reserves your spot in the program. This amount later applies to your first-term tuition.

GGU takes an all-encompassing approach to review applications. The university looks at both your educational background and professional experience to assess your chances of success in your chosen program.

Tuition

Golden Gate University provides competitive tuition rates and many financial aid options to help you invest in your educational future. Your course load determines the payment structure since the university bases tuition on units.

Psychology undergraduates pay $462 per unit. A full-time load of 12 units per trimester costs about $11,088 for two trimesters. The Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and other graduate programs cost $1,090 per unit. The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology follows this same rate and requires 60 units to complete.

Your budget should include these mandatory fees:

• Technology fee: $85 per trimester
• Student activity fee: $30 per trimester
• International student fee (F-1 visa): $275

GGU offers several ways to manage these costs. The California Community College Transfer Grant stands out by providing $3,000 per trimester for full-time students. Military personnel on active duty get reduced rates – $250 per unit for undergraduate courses and $475 for graduate courses.

Public employees get special benefits too. California city, county, and state employees enrolled in graduate programs receive a 30% tuition reduction. Students with employers participating in GGU’s Enterprise Learning Agreement get a 10% tuition grant.

Veterans receive strong support through the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. GGU offers an additional grant that covers up to 50% of remaining tuition costs after these benefits run out.

The university’s interest-free monthly installment plan helps spread out payments. Different options become available throughout the academic year with various enrollment deadlines.

Psychology education is a major investment, but GGU’s financial aid counselors help create personalized plans. These plans combine scholarships, grants, loans, and employer assistance to make your degree achievable financially.

Additional Information

Golden Gate University goes beyond classroom learning with complete support systems to improve your psychology education. Students can access free tutoring in multiple subjects through video chat or the Online Writing Lab. Each student gets a dedicated advisor who helps create a completion path, explains university policies, and connects them with educational resources.

Internships are a vital component of psychology education at GGU. Students gain supervised work experience through PSYCH 197 and PSYCH 398 courses. The advanced course focuses on applied psychology and provides practical training with experienced practitioners.

The Career Center provides valuable resources for psychology students. Services include career consulting, workshops, networking events, and job search help. Students continue to access these services after graduation, which helps their professional growth.

GGU builds strong alumni relationships through networking sessions, coffee socials, and career workshops. Alumni can join the scholarship referral program. When they refer someone to GGU, their name gets linked to a scholarship that reduces the new student’s tuition.

The Helen Diller Center places GGU in the top 15% nationally for veteran education support. Students also have access to TimelyCare’s 24/7 virtual health services. These include mental health support through TalkNow and scheduled counseling sessions.