Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills
Program at a Glance
PROGRAM
Counseling Skills
TOTAL UNITS
12
FORMAT
Online, Hybrid
SPRING ’26 EARLY APPLICATION DEADLINE
November 8, 2026
TUITION
Program Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills is designed for individuals who want to develop practical, evidence-based counseling skills without initially pursuing licensure as a psychotherapist. The program builds core competencies in communication, empathy, and effective engagement—skills that are essential in any people-centered profession.
For those who later decide to continue their training, the certificate also serves as a seamless pathway into the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Credits earned in the certificate can be applied toward the master’s degree, allowing students to build toward licensure over time.
Whether taken as a standalone credential or as the first step toward advanced clinical training, this certificate offers both immediate value and long-term flexibility.
Admission Requirements
Curriculum
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.
Required Course — 3 Units
Elective Courses — 9 Units
Select from the following:
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.
Undergraduate Psychology 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 Conflict Resolution and Coaching Graduate Certificate 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 graduate program will be reduced accordingly.
Note: Students who have not completed bachelor’s degrees at GGU with majors or minors (formerly concentrations) in Psychology are not eligible for this waiver.
