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Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Golden Gate University - San Francisco Campus Golden Gate University - San Francisco Campus, USA

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USD 20370

Annual Tuition Fee

!
*Subject to change and other fees
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USD 65 Waived

Application Fee

Duration icon

24 months

Duration

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6.5

IELTS

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79

TOEFL

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55%

Min GPA

Program Overview

This degree program provides students with the academic and clinical training required to practice relationally informed clinical work and to prepare alumni for employment in a variety of mental health settings, including community mental health agencies, hospitals, schools, and private practice. Our students learn to practice from a stance of cultural humility and to maintain ethical and best practice standards.

Golden Gate University offers a license-eligible Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. The program maintains a strategic partnership with the Psychotherapy Action Network, an organization that aims to organize, formulate initiatives, and collectively advocate for mental health policy that is based on the complexity of the individual and not simply on the identification of discrete symptoms. This is consistent with our program philosophy, which envisions psychotherapy as a complex process of individual growth and change and the therapeutic relationship as a key element in successful treatment.

Traineeship is an integral part of our program, providing an opportunity for students to apply the skills learned in class to the clinical encounter. Students are required to complete 300 face-to-face clinical hours under clinical supervision and to concurrently attend our practicum seminar over the course of at least three trimesters.

Our curriculum meets the MFT licensure requirements as set forth by section 4980.36 of the California Business and Professions (Cal. B&P) code. The program satisfies all the educational requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners and provides some hours of supervised experience fulfilling part of the practical experience requirements. Our curriculum also meets the educational requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical counselor (LPCC) licensure as required by section 4999.33 of the California Business and Professions (Cal. B&P) code. The curriculum also meets the educational requirements for MFT and/or LPCC licensure in some other states. 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.

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.
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Additional Information

Program Level Master's Degree

College/University Processing Time 7 Days

Program Format Hybrid

Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit

Program Intake

Open

May 2025, Sep 2025

Closed

Jan 2024, Jan 2025, Sep 2024, May 2024

General Admission Requirement

    Academic Requirement

    • Minimum Level of Education Required: To be accepted into this program, applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree.

     

    6.5 IELTS Score
    79 TOEFL Score Minimum Overall Score
    57 PTE Score Minimum Overall Score
    110 Duolingo Minimum Overall Score
    55% CGPA Minimum Overall Score

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    Tuition Fee

    The values given below are estimated figures, excluding extra charges like material fee, student activity fees, athletic fees, health care, etc., for courses. To know more, please visit the Programs page.

    Average Tuition Fee Per Year

    20370

    Tuition Fee
    (USD)

    USD 65 Waived

    Application Fee
    (USD)

    18000 Per year

    Average Cost of Living
    (USD)

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    The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

    Check program website for more information about funding options.

    Scholarships

    International Scholarships
    Golden Gate University welcomes students from all over the world and offers scholarships for all qualified international students who enroll in a master's degree program in our School of Business, School of Accounting and Braden School of Tax. Admitted students that have not previously attended Golden Gate University and satisfy the admissions criteria will be automatically considered for an International Student Scholarship or Grant through the admission process. For the 2020-2021 academic year, a limited number of scholarships will be awarded in each of the following categories:

    International President's Scholars -- $15,000
    Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 90, Duolingo score of 120, PTE of 65 or IELTS composite of 7.5 with no sub-score of less than 6.5 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. An International President's Scholar is eligible to receive up to $15,000 to complete their degree, $5,000 per term for up to 3 consecutive terms.

    International Dean's Scholars -- $12,000
    Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.3 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 85, Duolingo score of 115, PTE of 62 or IELTS composite of 7.0 with no sub-score of less than 6.0 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a Bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. An International Dean's Scholar is eligible to receive up to $12,000 to complete their degree, $4,000 per term for up to 3 consecutive terms.

    Welcome Grant -- $3,000

    • Admitted students who earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and who demonstrate English language proficiency as evidenced by a minimum TOEFL score of 79, Duolingo score of 100, PTE of 57 or IELTS composite of 6.5 will be considered. Students who have earned a master's degree after earning a bachelor's degree will be considered using the cumulative grade point average and English language proficiency as noted above. Our Welcome grant is a one-time award of $3,000 applied to tuition in the first term of enrollment.
    • To be considered for any of the scholarships listed above:
    • Students must have their applications complete and ready for review by June 15 for fall, and October 1 for spring admissions.
    • Students must be an international student who entered the United State using an F Visa or will study online in their home country. Students studying on a J visa are not eligible for these scholarships or grants.
    • President's and Dean's scholarship recipients must be continuously enrolled in 9 or more units and maintain satisfactory academic progress as evidenced by achieving and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in each term of enrollment. These scholarships are renewable for a maximum of three consecutive (3) terms.
    • Students may only receive one scholarship or grant. Specifically, President's and Dean's scholarship recipients are not eligible for the Welcome Grant or the Alumni Referral Grant.
    • A $1,000 US tuition deposit is required of all admitted students prior to the issuance of visa eligibility documents (commonly known as form I-20). The deposit is credited toward the first term's tuition and is non-refundable. Tuition deposits must be paid by the dates indicated on your scholarship offer otherwise the scholarship will be forfeited.
    • Deferring your enrollment may impact your scholarship eligibility. Please speak with your enrollment counselor for further details.

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