# Psychology Studies Graduate Certificate Online Program

The graduate certificate program in Psychology Studies serves as a means to further personal and professional growth. Whether or not students are employed in the field of psychology, knowledge of it may be applied in meaningful ways throughout their lives. Understanding the mind and behavior will teach students how to help others while giving them the confidence to manage teams and groups. The program includes advanced study in the areas of abnormal psychology, professional ethics, law as it applies to psychology, and counseling systems and techniques.

## Designed For You

The California Coast University online Graduate Certificate in Psychology Studies program was designed for complete flexibility for the student. All courses are self-paced and completed 100% online.

- Affordable Tuition with Interest-Free Payment Plans

  Low tuition with interest-free payment plans as low as $150/month.
- Self-Paced, Online Courses

  Flexible programs designed to fit into your busy schedule. Self-paced study with no group projects, set meeting times, or exam dates.
- Start Anytime

  The program is not structured in semesters, quarters, or terms. It is designed to allow students to begin their online studies at any time of the year.
- 10% Tuition Discount\*

  CCU offers a tuition discount for **Active Duty Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Government Employees, and CCU Graduates**.  
  We also offer a 10% discount for **[Corporate Partner employees](https://www.calcoast.edu/corporate-partners-list/)**. For more information on how to become a Corporate Partner, see our [Corporate Partnership Information Page.](https://www.calcoast.edu/corporate-partnership/)  
  \*Employment verification is required. Offer good for students who enrolled after January 2024 and were offered discount at time of enrollment. Offer is not retroactive for students already enrolled. Discount and/or prices subject to change and/or cancellation at any time without notice. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount(s).

![Graduate in a cap and gown holding a sign that says: You CAN do it! Interest-free payment plans as low as $150 per month.](https://www.calcoast.edu/assets/client_files/images/newsite/programdetails/$150%20(2).png)

View Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

\[READ MORE\]

- Examine human development across the lifespan utilizing a cultural perspective.
- Investigate causes of abnormal behavior and learn various methods for therapeutic change.
- Examine ethical and legal issues confronting professionals in the mental health field.

- Explore major counseling theorists, theories, practices, and applications.
- Utilize critical thinking, academic writing, and research skills to explore key concepts and theories related to program content.

> It has helped me to better my knowledge in my daily profession.
>
> I truly appreciate the opportunity to work at my own pace and achieve my goals of obtaining a masters degree.
>
> Philip Moy, Class of 2022

### Explore The Program

The Graduate Certificate in Psychology Studies consists of **4 total courses**.  
The required courses are comprised of: **4 Core Courses .**  
There are **12 total semester units** in this program.

4 Core Courses

The online Graduate Certificate in Psychology Studies is comprised of the following 4 courses. **Click on course title to expand and read more.**

\[CLOSE\]

| ID | Course Name | Units |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | PSY 501 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| **3 Semester Units** *Developmental Psychology* provides students with a balanced coverage of life-span development from a chronological approach starting with infancy and ending with late adulthood. In addition, this course also takes a multidisciplinary approach to how people grow and change through their lives. Together, these two approaches help students to explore the multitudes of developmental factors impacting an individual across the life-span including the physical, cognitive, social, occupational, and personality aspects that shape individuals. **Course Objectives** Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: - Evaluate and examine the foundation and key theories related to the science and study of life-span development from a physical, cognitive, social, occupational, and personality standpoint. - Discuss and examine the developmental factors impacting infancy and early childhood. - Discuss and examine the developmental factors impacting middle childhood and adolescence. - Discuss and examine the developmental factors impacting young and middle adulthood. - Discuss and examine the developmental factors impacting late adulthood. - Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to developmental psychology. |  |  |  |
|  | PSY 505 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| *Psychopathology* offers students the chance to investigate the causes of abnormal behavior and to learn various methods for therapeutic change. The nature of knowledge is explored, experimental design is examined, and the interplay between theory and data is discussed. **Course Objectives** Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: - Define abnormal psychology and analyze the historical, biological, psychological, social and biopsychosocial perspectives on the origins of abnormal behavior. - Evaluate contemporary perspectives on abnormal behavior and explain methods of classification, assessment, treatment, and research in the field. - Demonstrate an understanding of the various psychological disorders and explain treatment approaches. - Examine the legal, ethical and professional issues related to the practice of psychology. - Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to psychopathology. |  |  |  |
|  | PSY 511 | Professional Ethics and the Law | 3 |
| *Professional Ethics and the Law* explores the legal and ethical guidelines and expectations that must be adhered to in the professional counseling setting. Central issues in legal and ethical counseling practices—particularly unethical behaviors that harm or has the potential to harm clients—are presented and diverse scenarios are examined. The counselor-client relationship, personal values, and responsibilities are analyzed and considerations involved in adapting counseling practices are explored. **Course Objectives** Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: - Define morals, values, and ethics and examine the origins of law related to the field of psychology. - Demonstrate an understanding of the different theories of ethics, and examine the importance of cultural competence related to ethical practice. - Examine the major legal and ethical challenges facing the counseling profession today. - Analyze the differences among legal standards, ethical standards, and best practice in the counseling profession. - Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to professional ethics and the law. |  |  |  |
|  | PSY 525 | Counseling Systems and Techniques | 3 |
| *Counseling Systems and Techniques* explores and examines the major psychotherapeutic theories and theorists, along with the key concepts and terminology related to each. In addition, research conducted within the field of psychotherapy and ethical issues encountered by practitioners in the field are examined. This course also explores the ways in which practitioners can combine varying psychotherapeutic techniques and theories into an integrated whole to best serve the individual needs of each client. **Course Objectives** Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: - Define and examine the major psychotherapeutic theories and theorists. - Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and terminology related to the major psychotherapeutic theories. - Demonstrate an understanding of treatment systems emphasizing thought and actions. - Demonstrate an understanding of treatment systems emphasizing family systems and integrative approaches. - Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to counseling systems and techniques. |  |  |  |

### Prerequisites to Admission:

An applicant must have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. A Bachelor’s Degree in another field may be accepted if the Admissions Committee evaluation indicates the applicant has the necessary foundation to succeed in the program. If an applicant has a bachelor's degree in another field, he or she may want to complete the [Undergraduate Certificate in the Fundamentals of Psychology](https://www.calcoast.edu/certificate-program-in-psychology-undergraduate.html) first.

### FAQ About Coursework

****Required units** may be satisfied in the following ways:**

- **CCU Course with Study Guide**

  California Coast University has developed comprehensive Study Guides, for each course, that are designed to coordinate and sequence the learning materials within the required textbook. The following points will help to illustrate how the Study Guides are designed:

  - Study Guides are based on specific college level textbooks, which may be obtained from local bookstores, the publisher, or the University's Rental Library.
  - Each Study Guide is organized with a complete syllabus, along with instructional materials to guide the student chapter by chapter through the corresponding textbook.
  - Each Study Guide contains an overview and summary of all textbook chapters, along with a listing of important keywords (with definitions), and self-tests (with answers) on key points.
  - Study Guides include 4 unit exams equally spaced throughout the instructional materials, one writing assignment per unit, and the final examination.
  - Education certificate students are required to complete four written assignments for each unit examination in lieu of the 4 multiple-choice unit exams that are required for other programs.
  - Examinations are designed to test the student on the information contained within the preceding chapters.
  - All tests have no time limit and may be completed as open book tests.
- **Transfer of Credit**

  Transcripts of previously completed academic work are evaluated and credit may be transferred to meet existing coursework requirements. The following guidelines are utilized when accepting transfer credit for a certificate program:

  - The University will accept transfer credit from applicable courses completed at colleges or universities accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or foreign equivalent.
  - Certificate students may receive transfer credit for up to 6 semester units of previously completed coursework. Students may transfer up to 9 semester units of credit completed at California Coast University.
  - To be eligible for graduate academic credit, transfer grades must be equivalent to a letter grade of B (3.0 GPA) or higher.
- **Challenge Examinations**

  During the admissions process, all professional experience is reviewed to determine if an applicant has sufficient occupational experience to warrant completing a Challenge Examination in lieu of a Study Guide for a particular course. The following factors are considered:

  - An applicant may be offered an opportunity to complete a Challenge Examination if the candidate's occupational expertise appears to be comparable to the objectives identified for a particular course.
  - Successfully passing a Challenge Examination will demonstrate an acceptable level of competence for that course.
  - If a student does not pass a Challenge Examination they are assigned a Study Guide for completion.
  - The maximum amount of Challenge Examinations allowed for each program level are: Associate 4; Bachelor's 10; Master's 2; Doctorate 0; and Certificates 1.

250

##### **Per Unit**

#### Total Courses:

**4**

Core Courses:

4

#### Total Units:

**12**

[learn more](https://www.calcoast.edu/request-for-information-landing.html)

Meet The Dean

[![Dr. Cynthia Teeple](https://www.calcoast.edu/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/cteeple_headshot.c2667ac1bc9a15962e4b1bcdaee1c2c2.jpg)](https://www.calcoast.edu/cynthia-teeple.html) [Dr. Cynthia Teeple](https://www.calcoast.edu/cynthia-teeple.html)

[Dean, School of Behavioral Science - Professor of Behavioral Science](https://www.calcoast.edu/cynthia-teeple.html)

[Dr. Teeple brings a variety of professional experiences to her position as Dean of the School of Behavioral Science.](https://www.calcoast.edu/cynthia-teeple.html)

"The educational value from what I learned is beyond valuable. Professionally, I am able to take what I learned and implement ideas and concepts. Personally, it's a huge accomplishment for me to receive a master's degree."

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R. Ramirez

Alumni  
Organizational Leadership

<https://www.calcoast.edu/r.-ramirez.html>

"I found it to be extremely rewarding to finish my schooling and receive the degree. Very flexible to work around being a parent and working full time to complete the schooling necessary for the degree."

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D. Paschel

Alumni  
Business Administration

<https://www.calcoast.edu/d.-paschel.html>

"In a world where a degree is practically required for any decently paying job, this program made obtaining a degree feel more accessible to someone like me."

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S. Fidel

Alumni  
Business Administration

<https://www.calcoast.edu/s.-fidel.html>

"This college degree holds value both personally and professionally. It fostered critical thinking, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the world, while also serving as a credential that can open doors, enhance my career prospects, and signals a commitment to my long-term goals."

![graduation cap](https://www.calcoast.edu/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/gradheadshot-placeholder.654ae56f67e7887f51e0a9878730abcf.png)

M. Perez

Alumni  
Criminal Justice

<https://www.calcoast.edu/m.-perez.html>

"Getting my degree was a personal goal, I am now the first person in my family to have obtained my Bachelor's degree."

![graduation cap](https://www.calcoast.edu/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/gradheadshot-placeholder.654ae56f67e7887f51e0a9878730abcf.png)

M. Raymond

Alumni  
Business Administration

<https://www.calcoast.edu/m.-raymond.html>

"I am so happy to have a degree from CCU and plan to pursue future education. The staff and the university as a whole is wonderful!!!"

![graduation cap](https://www.calcoast.edu/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/gradheadshot-placeholder.654ae56f67e7887f51e0a9878730abcf.png)

K. Wilson

Alumni  
Health Care Administration

<https://www.calcoast.edu/k.-wilson.html>

"I am just so thankful for having the option of online education as I work full time. I feel it is a personal accomplishment and I am very proud."

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A. Quiroz

Alumni  
Psychology

<https://www.calcoast.edu/a.-quiroz.html>

"I’m very happy that this could work with a full-time work schedule. I will be recommending to anyone who is looking for flexibility."

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K. Kast

Alumni  
Criminal Justice

<https://www.calcoast.edu/k.-kast.html>

"Being in my late 40’s I never thought I would complete my bachelor's degree with a busy career and family. My B.S degree raises my salary at work and creates more opportunity for promotion. I am honored and feel a sense of personal accomplishment"

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M. Moore

Alumni  
Criminal Justice

<https://www.calcoast.edu/m.-moore.html>

"Personally, I have gained a wealth of confidence in completing my degree. I always wanted to do this, and it was made possible through this program."

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T. Grimes

Alumni  
Health Care Administration

<https://www.calcoast.edu/t.-grimes.html>

"I found this form of learning was superb for me. Especially as a stay-at-home mom with little babies at home, who was going to return to work after a few years. It was truly a blessing to have found this school in all of my research, due to the freedom of learning as you go."

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L. Barrientos

Alumni  
Human Resource Management

<https://www.calcoast.edu/l.-barrientos.html>

"CCU is an excellent option for people who have busy careers. Getting my degree was important to me and CCU helped me obtain that."

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B. Odell

Alumni  
Criminal Justice

<https://www.calcoast.edu/b.-odell.html>

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