By developing a course sequence in collaboration with the department chair, students
pursue a course of study tailored to their professional interests. This certificate
can be taken independently or combined with other degree programs, such as the Master
of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Important Note:Graduate certificate admission is limited to domestic students. Students that plan
to study on an F or J Visa may apply to graduate programs only.
TOTAL UNITS — 15
Qualified students wishing to enroll in the program may earn the Graduate Certificate
in Counseling Skills by completing, with a B average or better, five graduate courses
(15 units) with the "PSYCH" prefix at Golden Gate University. These five courses are chosen in consultation
with the program director.
REQUIRED COURSE — 3 UNITS
- PSYCH 320
- Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills
ELECTIVE COURSES — 12 UNITS
Select four of the following:
- PSYCH 321
- Psychopathology
- PSYCH 322
- Psychological Assessment
- PSYCH 323
- Psychodynamic Models of Counseling
- 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
- The Neuroscience of Counseling and Psychopharmacology
- PSYCH 331
- Human Sexuality
- PSYCH 333
- Substance Use, Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction
- PSYCH 334
- Relational Abuse: Assessment, Treatment and Reporting
- PSYCH 335
- Special Issues in the Treatment of Families (2 units)
- PSYCH 337
- Community Mental Health
- PSYCH 339
- Cognitive-Behavioral and Short-Term Models of Counseling
- PSYCH 351
- Career Counseling and Development
Other courses, such as those in the MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology program,
may be selected instead of the elective courses listed above, in consultation with
the program director.
Applicability of Undergraduate Psychology Courses (Pathway Programs)
As a pathway to the graduate-level counseling programs, students who complete the
following undergraduate-level courses at Golden Gate University as a part of completing
either the Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Concentration in Psychology or Bachelor
of Science with a Concentration in Psychology may have the comparable graduate-level
required courses waived from their Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Graduate
Certificate in Counseling Skills, or Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution program
requirements: PSYCH 102 Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications satisfies
the PSYCH 302 Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists requirement.
PSYCH 120 Principles and Methods of Counseling satisfies the PSYCH 320 Therapeutic
Communication and Counseling Skills requirement. Note: Students who have not completed
(or are expected to complete) the Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Concentration
in Psychology or Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Psychology are not eligible
for this waiver. As a consequence of having these courses waived, the total number
of units required to complete the program will be reduced accordingly.
