Program Overview

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Program at a Glance

Program

Counseling Psychology, MA

Format

Online, Hybrid

Total Units

60

Requirements

No GMAT or GRE Required

Fall '25 Early Application Deadline

July 13

Program Overview

Golden Gate University's Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program offers a holistic approach to mental health education that prepares students for real-world practice. Our program is uniquely positioned through its strategic partnership with the Psychotherapy Action Network, aligning our curriculum with cutting-edge advocacy for mental health policy that recognizes the complexity of individuals beyond their symptoms. This partnership, combined with our intensive traineeship program requiring 300 face-to-face clinical hours, provides students with a rare blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Additionally, our program offers unparalleled flexibility and support for students pursuing licensure in California or other states, with personalized guidance from dedicated faculty and staff. The combination of a license-eligible curriculum, holistic philosophy, intensive practical experience, and individualized support makes GGU's program a distinctive choice for aspiring psychotherapists seeking a comprehensive and adaptable counseling psychology education.

Our cutting-edge curriculum ensures students are well-prepared for the evolving landscape of mental health care, with a unique blend of academic rigor and practical preparation. The program stands out for its personalized support, from comprehensive traineeship assistance, and its holistic approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes individual complexity beyond symptoms and diagnoses. With options like the Undergraduate Psychology Pathway Program and a flexible personal psychotherapy requirement, GGU offers a balanced, accelerated path to becoming a skilled, licensed therapist. At GGU, students invest in a program that not only provides comprehensive academic knowledge but also emphasizes practical skills and personal growth, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the field of counseling psychology.

Message from the Program Director

Welcome to Golden Gate University's Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. We are delighted that you are considering joining our community of aspiring mental health professionals. Our program is designed to provide you with a comprehensive education that blends academic rigor with practical, hands-on experience, preparing you for a fulfilling career as a licensed psychotherapist.

One of the hallmarks of our program is our intensive traineeship requirement. This practical component typically results in our graduates accumulating more than the required hours for MFT licensure in California and many other states, giving you a significant advantage as you launch your professional career. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide comprehensive support throughout your journey, from traineeship placement to guidance for out-of-state licensure, ensuring that you are well-equipped to meet your specific career goals.

We are committed to fostering not just your academic and professional growth, but your personal development as well. Our program emphasizes a holistic approach to psychotherapy, recognizing the complexity of individuals beyond symptoms and diagnoses. As you embark on this transformative journey with us, you'll not only gain the knowledge and skills to become an effective therapist but also experience personal growth that will enrich your practice and your life. We look forward to welcoming you to our program and supporting you as you take the next step towards a rewarding career in counseling psychology.

Degree Highlights

• Online or Hybrid Courses
• 60 Credits
• No GRE/GMAT Required
• Top Ranked Master's Program
• Attend Full-Time or Part-Time
• Graduate in as Few as 2.5 Years

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology will possess the skills and knowledge to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive and integrative knowledge of the field of counseling psychology relevant to mental health professionals, including human development, psychopathology, and group, family, couple, and individual dynamics.
• Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and best practice standards that exist for professionals in their field.
• Demonstrate the capacity and willingness to practice psychotherapy from a stance of cultural humility.
• Demonstrate the capacity to practice individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy from a relational and systemic lens.
• Demonstrate knowledge of research designs and parameters of psychological research, particularly within the field of counseling psychology, and the capacity to critically assess psychological research.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution (outside the United States), and provide official transcripts.
• All applicants will need to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
• For applicants with a GPA under 3.0, the Statement of Purpose should address the circumstances that led to the applicant's academic performance, what has changed, and why they think they'll be more successful now.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements.

Curriculum

Course Format

While this program is available fully online, please note that the Practicum course near the end of the degree program is conducted in a synchronous format via Zoom, requiring real-time participation. This allows for enhanced interaction and collaboration with instructors and peers.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement

Students entering the counseling profession benefit professionally, personally, and academically from personal psychotherapy. During the program, students must complete 50 hours of psychotherapy with a licensed clinician or therapist under supervision by a licensed clinician (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, MFT, LPCC, or LCSW). Students may select individual, couple, family, or group psychotherapy or some combination of these. If the psychotherapy requirement presents an unmanageable emotional and/or financial burden, it may be deferred to post-graduation or waived entirely with the permission of the Program Director.

Psychology Licensure

Our curriculum meets the educational requirements for MFT licensure and LPCC licensure in California. The curriculum also meets the educational requirements for MFT and/or LPCC licensure in some other states. View psychology licensure details here.

If you intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California or are completing the program, including the traineeship, outside the state of California, speak with a faculty member in the Department of Psychology to discuss the licensure requirements in your state of interest prior to beginning the program.

Undergraduate Psychology Pathway Programs

As a pathway to the graduate-level counseling programs, students who complete certain undergraduate-level courses with grades of "B" or better at Golden Gate University as a part of completing the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or a Psychology minor with another Bachelor's degree may receive internal transfer credit for the corresponding graduate-level courses for the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology or the Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills programs. Internal transfer credit will be recorded after students' Bachelor's degrees have been conferred. Note: Students who complete the courses below but who do not earn Bachelor's degrees at GGU with Psychology majors or minors (formerly concentrations) are not eligible for this incentive.

Students who complete the following undergraduate courses may receive internal transfer credit as shown below:

• PSYCH 102 Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications corresponds to PSYCH 302 Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists.
• PSYCH 120 Principles and Methods of Counseling corresponds to PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills.

Required Courses

• PSYCH 302 Lifespan Development: Theories and Applications for Therapists – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 304 Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 306 Group Models of Counseling – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 308 Applied Psychological Research – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 320 Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 321 Psychopathology – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 322 Psychological Assessment – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 323 Psychodynamic Models of Counseling – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 324 Child/Adolescent Psychology, Assessment and Treatment – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 325 Principles of Couple and Family Counseling – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 326 Legal and Ethical Responsibility for Counselors – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 329 The Neuroscience of Counseling and Psychopharmacology – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 331 Human Sexuality – 1 unit(s)
• PSYCH 333 Substance Use, Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction – 1 unit(s)
• PSYCH 334 Relational Abuse: Assessment, Treatment and Reporting – 1 unit(s)
• PSYCH 335 Special Issues in the Treatment of Families – 2 unit(s)
• PSYCH 336 Evidence-Based Practice Treatment – 1 unit(s)
• PSYCH 337 Community Mental Health – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 339 Cognitive-Behavioral and Short-Term Models of Counseling – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 351 Career Counseling and Development – 3 unit(s)
• PSYCH 394 Practicum: Counseling Psychology – 3 unit(s)

Students must complete a total of 9 units of PSYCH 394 – Practicum: Counseling Psychology.

Traineeship Placement

Traineeship placement is a foundational aspect of your education here at Golden Gate University. In traineeship, you begin to apply the didactic knowledge you have gained in your courses to the broad range of tasks that confront professional psychotherapists, under the guidance of a licensed supervisor and with the support of an on-campus clinical case conference led by one of our professors. If you intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California or to complete your traineeship in another state, please speak with a faculty member in the Department of Psychology prior to beginning the program.

Although faculty and staff are available to assist, students who intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California are responsible for determining the traineeship requirements for the relevant states, such as additional face-to-face hours or particular supervisor qualifications, and for working with faculty and staff to make sure that any additional requirements are met.

Traineeship Readiness Requirement

Before applying for a traineeship, a student must advance to Traineeship Candidate status. A student must apply for Candidacy before the end of their second trimester of enrollment. To apply for Candidacy, a student must complete the Traineeship Candidacy form, which must be submitted to the Department Chair. This form, in addition to feedback from faculty and any atypical reports that have been submitted by professors due to academic or behavioral issues in the classroom, will be reviewed by the Program Director to assess the student's academic and emotional preparedness to begin traineeship and continue on the path to pursue licensure as a psychotherapist. In addition, the student must have completed or plan to have completed by the time their traineeship will begin at least PSYCH 320, PSYCH 321, and PSYCH 326 and have made substantial progress toward completing their courses on psychotherapy theory (PSYCH 323, PSYCH 324, PSYCH 325, and PSYCH 339). Candidacy also requires that students verify that they have started the process of accruing personal psychotherapy hours or have applied for a waiver or modification of the personal psychotherapy requirement, as required by the program, and have confirmed a path to completion of their remaining courses through meeting with their academic advisor. Upon receiving Traineeship Candidate status, the student may begin working with the Department's faculty and staff to apply for traineeships. International students in F-1 or J-1 visa status must also have their employment authorization eligibility confirmed by their academic advisor/DSO. In the event that a student is not advanced to Candidacy status, the student will be notified in writing.

If there are concerns about a student's academic or emotional readiness for traineeship or psychotherapeutic practice, a Traineeship Candidacy Committee of at least two faculty members will be convened and, whenever possible, a plan will be developed with the student to address gaps in academic performance or emotional readiness. Similarly, if a student's traineeship placement is terminated for any reason, their readiness to participate in another traineeship will be evaluated by the Candidacy Committee according to Candidacy guidelines. If reports are submitted regarding academic or behavioral issues in the classroom after Candidacy has been approved, the Committee may reconvene to review those reports and require an in-person meeting with the student. In rare cases, the Committee may decide that the student has failed to demonstrate professional and personal responsibility (as evidenced by violations of professional conduct, interpersonal trust, or ethical practice) and require students to leave the program.

Traineeship Placements

Golden Gate University has an outstanding reputation with a wide range of traineeship placements in San Francisco, in the wider Bay Area, and in many other states. Our Traineeship Coordinator and Career Services Staff work with students to develop a compelling traineeship application, including a professional curriculum vitae, and also provide guidance with professional interviewing. We maintain relationships with traineeship placements and their directors throughout the Bay Area and beyond and consistently places students at top traineeship sites.

Traineeship sites vary depending on the population that they serve and by the treatment modalities and clinical specialties implemented at their site. These sites include state, county, and community mental health facilities as well as outpatient clinics, psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment programs, chemical dependency treatment programs, and other settings.

We help students to select traineeship sites that are consistent with the philosophy of our training program. We believe that psychotherapy must acknowledge the complexity of the individual and the uniqueness of individual suffering, rather than the identification and resolution of discrete symptoms. Psychotherapy is envisioned as a complex process of individual growth and change, and the psychotherapeutic relationship is seen as a key element in successful treatment. The student's relationship with his or her clinical supervisor, similarly, is seen as an integral aspect of professional development. Based on these criteria, we approve each site and have a written agreement with each site that details each party's responsibilities. The agreement provides for regular progress reports and evaluations of the student's performance.

Featured Faculty

Chad Tynan, MA, LMFT

Director of Clinical Training

Distinguished Adjunct Professor

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Private Practice

Chad Tynan studied psychology at UCLA and earned an MA in Psychology from Golden Gate University. Chad is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in San Francisco, California. His specialty training includes Gottman method, emotionally focused couple's therapy, and discernment counseling.

View Full Bio

Joe Zarate-Sanderlin, MA, LMFT

Distinguished Adjunct Professor

Joe Zarate-Sanderlin has MA in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. They have a private practice in San Francisco where they work with relationships, sexuality, and gender. They teach PSYCH 304, 320, 325, 331, 394.

View Full Bio

Graduate Tuition

The tuition for most graduate degree programs at Golden Gate University is $1,090 per unit, covering the cost of high-quality, career-focused education led by experienced faculty. This investment supports essential resources, including personalized academic advising, state-of-the-art technology, and student services designed to help adult learners succeed.

Learn More About the Cost of Attendance

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes GGU's Counseling Psychology program unique?

Our program stands out for its intensive traineeship requirement, flexible learning formats (including web conference, asynchronous, and hybrid options), and our strategic partnership with the Psychotherapy Action Network. We also offer a holistic approach to psychotherapy education and comprehensive support for students pursuing out-of-state licensure.

The MA Counseling Psychology is offered in three different modes: web conference (fully online, synchronous course meetings), asynchronous (fully online, but without live course meetings), and hybrid. The web conference and asynchronous modes do not require residency. The hybrid mode requires that students attend classes during two designated campus weeks each term. Students may take courses in multiple formats each term, if desired.

Students can begin the program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer trimester, allowing for multiple entry points throughout the year.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program at Golden Gate University offers flexible completion times to accommodate various student needs. Full-time students typically complete the program in 2.5 years. Part-time study is considered any duration beyond 2.5 years, with completion time varying based on individual course load and pace.

Please note that the program includes an intensive traineeship requirement, which involves at least three trimesters of practical experience, including 300 face-to-face clinical hours. This hands-on component is integral to the program and contributes to the overall duration of study.

What are the admission requirements for the program?

The program requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. While a background in psychology is beneficial, it's not mandatory. We welcome applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.

Can I work while completing this program?

Yes, our program is designed to accommodate working professionals. We offer flexible learning formats and part-time study options. However, students should be prepared for the time commitment required for coursework, traineeship, and personal psychotherapy components.

What is the traineeship requirement, and how does it work?

The traineeship is an integral part of our program. Students are required to complete at least 300 face-to-face clinical hours under supervision over the course of at least three trimesters. Our program often allows students to accumulate more than the required hours for MFT licensure in California and many other states.

Does the program prepare me for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)?

Yes, our program is designed to meet the educational requirements for MFT licensure in California. We also provide support and guidance for students pursuing licensure in other states.

What kind of support does GGU offer for job placement after graduation?

While we don't guarantee job placement, our Career Services department and faculty provide comprehensive support, including assistance with traineeship applications, CV development, and interview preparation. Our intensive traineeship often gives MA in Counseling Psychology graduates a head start in their careers.

If I enroll in hybrid courses, how often am I required to be on campus?

Hybrid students attend most classes via Zoom but are required to participate in two on-campus sessions at our downtown San Francisco location during designated campus weeks.