The Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills is designed for students who wish to develop counseling skills without pursuing licensure as a psychotherapist. Counseling skill is a critical asset in many professions, especially those that involve working with people.
See Admission to Certificate Programs for more information.
All courses must be completed at Golden Gate University with a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 (“B” average) or better in courses taken at Golden Gate University that are applicable to the program’s requirements. See Graduate Student Academic Standing Standards for more information.
Course prerequisites are indicated in the course description for each course and must be satisfied prior to enrolling in a given course. Prerequisites may be satisfied through transfer of equivalent coursework from external institutions or by taking the courses at GGU.
Applicability of Undergraduate Psychology Courses (Pathway Programs)
As a pathway to the graduate-level counseling programs, students who complete certain undergraduate-level courses at Golden Gate University in pursuit of certain bachelor’s degrees may have the comparable graduate-level required courses waived from the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology , the Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills, or the Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution program requirements.
The following courses are eligible for this waiver option: 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. As a consequence of having these courses waived, the total number of units required to complete the program will be reduced accordingly. Note: Students who have not completed (or are expected to complete) the Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Concentration in Psychology, the Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Psychology, or the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology are not eligible for this waiver.