Master of Arts in Psychology

Edward S. Ageno School of Business



We offer a master of arts degree in psychology with concentrations in the following areas:

• Counseling
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
• A combined concentration in Counseling and Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• A combined concentration in Industrial/Organization Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy

To be admitted to the master's program in psychology, you must have a 3.00 GPA, or the consent of the chair of the Psychology Department.

These graduate psychology degrees are professional degrees which provide training in the application of psychological principles and knowledge to a broad range of work settings and career tracks. This applied psychology curriculum is designed to service the following types of students:

• Those seeking a master's qualification for entry into a professional practice.
• Those interested in psychology as a means of continuing career development.
• Those intending to pursue graduate study in psychology at a doctoral level.

The Master of Arts in Psychology is offered at the Golden Gate University San Francisco campus.

These degrees require completion of 33-61 semester units in the advanced program in addition to satisfaction of the undergraduate proficiency requirement. Courses listed carry three (3) semester units of credit unless otherwise noted. Courses are held year-round in the evenings and on the weekends in a variety of weekly formats. Most classes average 18 students. The udergraduate proficiency requirement may be waived if the student has previously completed comparable courses at another accredited college or university, or passed the appropriate CLEP Exam or Challenge Exam with an acceptable score. Students may be admitted to advanced program courses before completion of the undergraduate proficiency requirement, but must complete the undergraduate proficiency requirement by the time that twelve (12) units have been earned in the advanced program.

· MATH 40 Statistics -3 units

36 Units

This curriculum prepares you for professional counseling work not requiring a license in organizational settings such as employee assistance programs, social service agencies, and school or college counseling centers. It also prepares students for graduate study leading to the PhD or PsyD degree.

Concentration Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

• Be able to assess and diagnose individuals suffering from emotional of life transition problems.
• Have a command of fundamental counseling skills such as empathy, listening, reflection, and boundaries.
• Be able to formulate a treatment plan based on scientific theories of psychology.
• Understand the legal, ethical, and cultural issues involved in counseling.
• Have the resources necessary to stay current in their discipline.

Required Courses
· PSYCH 300 Introduction to Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology
· PSYCH 306 Group Dynamics and Social Processes
· PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research and Independent Project
· PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills
· PSYCH 321 Psychopathology
· PSYCH 322 Psychological Assessment
· PSYCH 323 Alternative Methods of Therapeutic Intervention
· PSYCH 326 Legal and Ethical Responsibility for Counselors

Electives - Nine units of the following:
· PSYCH 302 Individual and Family Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists
· PSYCH 324 Child/Adolescent Psychology, Assessment and Treatment
· PSYCH 325 Principles of Couple and Family Counseling
· PSYCH 329 Psychopharmacology
· PSYCH 331 Human Sexuality (1 unit)
· PSYCH 333 Chemical Substance Dependency: Assessment and Treatment (1 unit)
· PSYCH 334 Relational Abuse: Assessment, Treatment and Reporting (2 units)
· PSYCH 348 The Business of Psychology
· PSYCH 351 Career Counseling and Development
· PSYCH 352 Structure, Theory and Ethics of Conflict Resolution
· PSYCH 353 Conflict Resolution: Skills and Techniques
· PSYCH 396 A-ZZ Selected Topics in Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 398 Internship: Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 399 Directed Study in Applied Psychology (1-3 units)
· Any other course approved by the program chair (3 units)


33 Units

This curriculum prepares you for work in organizational settings. Individuals trained in industrial and organizational psychology work in corporate human resource departments; consulting firms; government agencies at national, state, or local levels; nonprofit and social service agencies; educational and health care institutions; and as private consultants.

Concentration Student Learning Outcomes
This degree is designed to prepare students to assist groups and organizations to improve, develop, and manage change and conflict. The foundation is an understanding of groups, culture, and applied research. Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in these areas:

• Employee Selection: Effective matching of individual needs, preferences, knowledge, skills, and abilities to the needs and preferences of the organization.
• Performance Appraisal: Utilize methods of measuring and evaluating individuals in organizations.
• Training: Design, conduct, and evaluate instructional programs and conduct needs assessments, including organizational, job, and task analyses as they relate to the development of training programs.
• Organizational Development: Diagnose organizational units and facilitate planned change in individuals, groups, and organizations to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and/or health.
• Job and Task Analysis: Techniques used to evaluate the requirements and context of a job or task, and the attributes needed to perform that job.
• Tests and Measurement: The ability to select, administer, and interpret psychological instruments used in organizations.
• Work Motivation: Understanding of the conditions that influence the directions, strength, and persistence of an individual within an organization.

Required Courses
· PSYCH 300 Introduction to Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology
· PSYCH 306 Group Dynamics and Social Processes
· PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research and Independent Project
· PSYCH 341 Organizational Behavior and Process
· PSYCH 342 Organizational Development, Assessment and Intervention
· PSYCH 343 Leadership and the Development of Managerial Excellence
· PSYCH 344 Tests and Measurements
· PSYCH 350 Applied Industrial Psychology

Electives - Six units of the following:
· MGT 300 Managerial Analysis and Team Dynamics
· MGT 305 Managing People in International Settings
· MGT 343 Labor-Management Relations
· MGT 346 Human Resource Management
· PSYCH 351 Career Counseling and Development
· PSYCH 352 Structure, Theory and Ethics of Conflict Resolution
· PSYCH 353 Conflict Resolution: Skills and Techniques
· PSYCH 395 Field Research in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
· PSYCH 396 A-ZZ Selected Topics in Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 398 Internship: Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 399 Directed Study in Applied Psychology (1-3 units)
· Any other course approved by the program chair (3 units)


49 Units

This curriculum meets the MFT licensure requirements as required by section 4980.38(a) of the Business and Professionals (B&P) code. The program satisfies all the educational requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and may provide some hours of supervised experience fulfilling part of the practical experience requirements. Licensed marriage and family therapists provide psychological services in community mental health agencies, private clinics, or in independent private practice.

Concentration Student Learning Outcomes This degree is designed to prepare students for their traineeships and post-graduate internships, and for the licensing exam. Upon completion of the degree, students will:

• Be able to assess and diagnose individuals suffering form emotional or life transition problems.
• Have a command of fundamental counseling skills such as empathy, listening, reflection, and boundaries.
• Be able to formulate a treatment plan based on the scientific theories of psychology.
• Understand the legal, ethical, and cultural issues involved in counseling.
• Have the resources necessary to stay current in their discipline.

Required Courses
· PSYCH 300 Introduction to Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 302 Individual and Family Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists
· PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology
· PSYCH 306 Group Dynamics and Social Processes
· PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research and Independent Project
· PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills
· PSYCH 321 Psychopathology
· PSYCH 322 Psychological Assessment
· PSYCH 323 Alternative Methods of Therapeutic Intervention
· PSYCH 324 Child/Adolescent Psychology, Assessment and Treatment
· PSYCH 325 Principles of Couple and Family Counseling
· PSYCH 326 Legal and Ethical Responsibility for Counselors
· PSYCH 329 Psychopharmacology
· PSYCH 331 Human Sexuality (1 unit)
· PSYCH 333 Chemical Substance Dependency: Assessment and Treatment (1 unit)
· PSYCH 334 Relational Abuse: Assessment, Treatment and Reporting (2 unit)
· PSYCH 394 Practicum in Counseling Psychology(6 units)


45 Units

This curriculum prepares you for work in organizational settings and counseling work not requiring licensure. The combined concentration is ideal for individuals interested in the broad spectrum of applied psychology and provides a maximum level of career flexibility in psychology. Graduates will find opportunities in business consulting, organizational psychology, school and career counseling, conflict resolution, coaching, teaching, interdisciplinary writing and research and preparation for doctoral studies.

Required Courses
· PSYCH 300 Introduction to Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology
· PSYCH 306 Group Dynamics and Social Processes
· PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research and Independent Project
· PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills
· PSYCH 321 Psychopathology
· PSYCH 323 Alternative Methods of Therapeutic Intervention
· PSYCH 326 Legal and Ethical Responsibility for Counselors
· PSYCH 341 Organizational Behavior and Process
· PSYCH 342 Organizational Development, Assessment and Intervention
· PSYCH 343 Leadership and the Development of Managerial Excellence
· PSYCH 350 Applied Industrial Psychology

One of the following:
· PSYCH 322 Psychological Assessment
· PSYCH 344 Tests and Measurements
Two additional courses with the PSYCH prefix from approved courses in any psychology degree concentration

61 Units

This curriculum prepares you for work in organizational settings, private practice licensed counseling and non-licensed counseling. The combined concentration is ideal for individuals interested in the broad spectrum of applied psychology and provides a maximum level of career flexibility in psychology. Graduates will find opportunities in private practice counseling, business consulting, school and career counseling, conflict resolution, coaching, teaching, interdisciplinary writing and research and preparation for doctoral studies.

Required Courses
· PSYCH 300 Introduction to Applied Psychology
· PSYCH 302 Individual and Family Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists
· PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology
· PSYCH 306 Group Dynamics and Social Processes
· PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research and Independent Project
· PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills
· PSYCH 321 Psychopathology
· PSYCH 322 Psychological Assessment
· PSYCH 323 Alternative Methods of Therapeutic Intervention
· PSYCH 324 Child/Adolescent Psychology, Assessment and Treatment
· PSYCH 325 Principles of Couple and Family Counseling
· PSYCH 326 Legal and Ethical Responsibility for Counselors
· PSYCH 329 Psychopharmacology
· PSYCH 331 Human Sexuality (1 unit)
· PSYCH 333 Chemical Substance Dependency: Assessment and Treatment (1 unit)
· PSYCH 334 Relational Abuse: Assessment, Treatment and Reporting (2 units)
· PSYCH 341 Organizational Behavior and Process
· PSYCH 342 Organizational Development, Assessment and Intervention
· PSYCH 343 Leadership and the Development of Managerial Excellence
· PSYCH 350 Applied Industrial Psychology
· PSYCH 394 Practicum in Counseling Psychology (6 units)

The table below has captured Fall 2004 starters to illustrate their success over a 5 year period.

Student Success Rates
	Graduation rate after 3 years	Graduation rate after 5 years	Continuing after 5 years	Stopped taking classes
MA PSYCH	85%	85%	0%	15%