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The School of Psychology at Golden Gate University prepares students to become mental health professionals, organizational leaders, and applied psychology practitioners equipped to work within the complex human systems that define contemporary professional life. Built on more than two decades of psychology education at GGU, the School offers programs at every level of study—from undergraduate through doctoral training—in counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and related fields. Degree and certificate programs within the School include the BA in Psychology, MA in Counseling Psychology, MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, PsyD in Applied Counseling Psychology, and graduate certificates in Counseling Skills, Conflict Resolution and Coaching, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Programs within the School are organized around a single guiding framework: Human Systems in the Age of AI. Psychological work increasingly occurs inside systems shaped by technology, institutional constraint, and algorithmic decision tools. Clinicians practice within healthcare systems influenced by digital platforms and AI-assisted documentation. Organizational leaders make decisions with algorithmic analytics in the loop. Professionals across domains must navigate responsibility, authority, and ethical judgment in environments that are no longer purely human. Our curriculum equips graduates to meet these realities with clarity, depth, and sound professional judgment.
Relevant Education
Psychology evolves, and so do we. Our programs are continually updated to reflect current trends and practices, giving students the most relevant training available. The School offers programs designed to develop both clinical insight and applied leadership capacity: master’s degrees in counseling psychology and industrial-organizational psychology, a doctoral program in applied counseling psychology, an undergraduate foundation in psychology, and focused graduate certificates for professionals seeking targeted credentials.
The School is home to the Human Systems Lab, a collaborative space where students, faculty, and practitioners develop applied tools for real professional settings—including ethical AI guidance for clinical environments, psychological safety resources for data-driven teams, and human-centered leadership frameworks for organizations navigating technological change. Students have opportunities to contribute to these projects, translating coursework directly into professional impact.
Quality and Convenience
We recognize that for students juggling the responsibilities of work, family, and community, time is valuable. Courses are offered online and in hybrid formats, in multiple languages, at tuition rates designed to make graduate and doctoral education accessible. Students may complete most programs fully online or in a hybrid format that combines asynchronous online coursework with scheduled in-person or Zoom sessions during designated campus weeks.
Faculty are licensed clinicians, board-certified specialists, and active practitioners who bring current professional experience into every course. Students are encouraged to bring work and clinical experiences into the classroom and online discussion for in-depth analysis and exchange, drawing on the perspectives of peers across diverse professional and international backgrounds.
Benefits
- Faculty are licensed clinicians and practicing professionals who do what they teach.
- Programs at every level of study, from undergraduate through doctoral training.
- Flexible formats for working professionals: online, hybrid, and in multiple languages.
- A curriculum built around how psychology is actually practiced today, including the impact of AI on clinical and organizational work.
Contact
For further information about the School of Psychology, please contact:
School of Psychology
Golden Gate University
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
Phone: 415-442-7800
Psychology Programs
The School of Psychology offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs designed for working adults. With flexible delivery, applied focus, and faculty drawn from active clinical and organizational practice, each program connects classroom learning directly to the work students will do in the field.
Degrees
Psychology, BA. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides students with a foundation in the field of psychology and a deeper understanding of how psychological principles apply to personal, social, and organizational life. The curriculum introduces students to core areas of the discipline—human development, cognition, social behavior, personality, and applied psychology—while building the analytical, communication, and research skills essential for professional settings. Designed for working adults and career changers, the program is offered online and in hybrid formats, with graduate pathway options that allow students to begin taking graduate-level coursework during their senior year, accelerating progress toward an MA in Counseling Psychology or an MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Counseling Psychology, MA. The demand for mental health professionals is unprecedented, and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology prepares students to meet it. The program trains students to practice relationally informed psychotherapy and to pursue licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs). The curriculum satisfies the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences under sections 4980.36 and 4999.33 of the California Business and Professions Code, and meets licensure requirements in many other states. Coursework emphasizes systemic thinking and assessment, depth of clinical training, ethical judgment, and therapeutic presence, with growing attention to the realities of telehealth, digital tools, and AI-assisted documentation in contemporary practice. The program is offered online and in hybrid formats to accommodate the schedules of working students.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology, MA. The Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology equips graduates to lead initiatives in employee training, talent management, workforce analytics, organizational assessment, and leadership development. Students acquire the skills to take on roles in industrial-organizational psychology within organizations of every size and sector—technology, healthcare, financial services, consulting, and beyond. The curriculum emphasizes the ethical and psychologically informed use of people analytics, human judgment in AI-supported systems, and leadership in hybrid human–digital workplaces. As a STEM-designated degree, the program supports international student eligibility for OPT extensions and is ranked #2 nationally among online master’s programs by Forbes Advisor. The program is offered online and in hybrid formats.
Psychology, Global MA (Worldwide). The Global Master of Arts in Psychology is an accelerated, counseling-focused master’s degree designed for working professionals in international markets. The 30-unit curriculum covers lifespan development, cross-cultural psychology, psychopathology, applied psychological research, and core therapeutic models—including group, family and couple, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral approaches—with emphasis on foundational knowledge of counseling psychology and cultural humility. The program is not intended to prepare students for clinical practice or licensure. It is delivered online in Chinese through GGU’s partnership with Beacon Education using a 7.5-week term format, extending the School’s counseling psychology curriculum to students in China.
Applied Counseling Psychology, PsyD (Worldwide). The Doctor of Psychology in Applied Counseling Psychology is a professional doctorate designed for experienced practitioners who want to deepen their expertise in the application of psychology across professional settings. Unlike a licensure-focused clinical psychology degree, the PsyD emphasizes advanced psychological insight, consultation, supervision, and applied leadership in complex systems. Coursework addresses systemic thinking, advanced clinical formulation, ethics in technology-mediated practice, and the integration of psychological understanding into organizational and community contexts. The program is delivered online in Chinese through GGU’s partnership with Beacon Education, extending the School’s applied, professional model of psychology education to students in China.
Graduate Certificates
Counseling Skills. The Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills offers a focused introduction to the core clinical competencies of counseling practice, including therapeutic communication, assessment, case formulation, and ethical decision-making. Drawn from the curriculum of the MA in Counseling Psychology, the certificate serves professionals in adjacent fields—education, healthcare, human services, and ministry—who want to strengthen their ability to work effectively in supportive, interpersonal roles. Courses taken in the certificate may be applied toward the MA in Counseling Psychology for students who are later admitted to the degree program. The certificate is offered online and in hybrid formats.
Conflict Resolution and Coaching. The Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Coaching prepares professionals to manage conflict, facilitate difficult conversations, and coach individuals and teams through change. Drawing on psychological, relational, and organizational frameworks, the program builds practical skills in negotiation, mediation, and coaching methodology applicable across workplace, community, and clinical settings. The certificate is well suited for HR professionals, managers, consultants, and clinicians who want to expand their toolkit for working with interpersonal and organizational dynamics. Courses are offered online and in hybrid formats. Courses taken in the certificate may be applied toward the MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology for students who are later admitted to the degree program.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The Graduate Certificate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology introduces students to the core concepts and applied methods of I-O psychology, including employee selection, performance management, organizational development, and workforce analytics. Designed for HR practitioners, managers, and professionals considering a move into organizational consulting, the certificate offers a focused credential that can be completed independently or applied toward the MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The program is offered online and in hybrid formats.
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