Master of Arts in Psychology

Edward S. Ageno School of Business

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Psychology

Undergraduate Proficiencies - 3-6 units

Advanced Program - 36-64 units

Counseling Concentration

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration

Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration

Combined Concentration in Counseling and Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Combined Concentration in Marriage & Family Therapy and Industrial/Organizational Psychology

We offer a master of arts degree in psychology with a concentration in counseling, industrial/organizational psychology, marriage and family therapy (MFT), a combined concentration in counseling and industrial/organizational psychology, and a combined concentration in industrial/organization psychology, and 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 types of students: 1) those seeking a master's qualification for entry into a professional practice, 2) those interested in psychology as a means of continuing career development, and 3) 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.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Psychology

These degrees require completion of 36-64 semester units in the graduate program, including Undergraduate Proficiencies, 12 units of Core Advanced Program Courses, and the Concentration of your choice. 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.

MATH PROFICIENCY
In addition to the courses listed below, students admitted to this program are expected to possess a level of mathematical skill adequate to complete the research requirements of this degree program.

Undergraduate Proficiencies - 3-6 units

Undergraduate proficiencies 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 entire undergraduate proficiencies program, but must complete the undergraduate proficiencies program by the time that twelve (12) units have been earned in the advanced program.

Counseling Concentration and Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration - 6 units
· PSYCH 100 Theories of Personality - 3 units
One of the following:
· MATH 40 Quantitative Research Methods or Social/Behavioral Science Research Methodology - 3 units

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration - 3 units
· MATH 40 Quantitative Research Methods or Social/Behavioral Science Research Methodology - 3 units

Combined Concentrations: Counseling and Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration; and Industrial/ Organizational Psychology and Marriage and Family Concentration - 6 units
· PSYCH 100 Theories of Personality - 3 units
One of the following:
· MATH 40 Quantitative Research Methods or Social/Behavioral Science Research Methodology (3 units)

Advanced Program - 36-64 units

Core Courses - 12 units
· 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

Counseling Concentration

24 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 of college counseling centers. It also prepares students for graduate study leading to the PhD or PsyD degree.

Concentration Objectives
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 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 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)

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration

21 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 Objectives
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 dgree, 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 hte 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 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)

Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration

37 Units

This curriculum meets the MFT licensure requirements as required by section 4680.38(a) of the Business and Professionals (B&P) code. The program satisfies all the educational requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners 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 Objectives 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 302 Individual and Family Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists
· 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 394 Practicum in Counseling Psychology (6 units)

Combined Concentration in Counseling and Industrial/Organizational Psychology

36 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.

Combined Concentration in Marriage & Family Therapy and Industrial/Organizational Psychology

52 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 board 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.