Recovery is possible — and psychiatric rehabilitation professionals make it happen. GCU's B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology is a joint degree with Rutgers University's School of Health Professions, combining the full GCU Psychology major with specialized professional training in psychiatric rehabilitation. Graduate eligible for the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) examination and prepared to help individuals with serious mental health conditions reclaim their lives, communities, and futures.
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Most programs make you choose between psychology and rehabilitation practice. GCU's joint degree with Rutgers SHP gives you both. The first five semesters at GCU deliver the complete Psychology major — the same rigorous curriculum as the standalone B.A. in Psychology, including research methods, biological psychology, psychopathology, statistics, and a capstone. The final three semesters at Rutgers SHP add specialized professional training in psychiatric rehabilitation practice. You graduate as both a psychologically trained scientist practitioner and a professionally trained rehabilitation specialist.
Graduates of the joint B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology are eligible to sit for the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) examination — the nationally recognized credential administered by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA). The CPRP demonstrates to employers that you have the education, training, and competency to practice psychiatric rehabilitation at a professional level. It's the credential that opens doors to leadership roles in community mental health, residential programs, supported employment, and psychiatric rehabilitation centers.
Psychiatric rehabilitation professionals work where recovery happens — in the community, in residential programs, in employment support settings, in peer recovery programs, and alongside individuals navigating the daily challenges of serious mental illness. According to the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, psychiatric rehabilitation professionals promote recovery, full community integration, and improved quality of life for persons with serious mental health conditions. If you want a career that transforms lives rather than just treats symptoms, this is it.
The joint degree doesn't just prepare you for immediate professional employment — it builds the academic and clinical foundation for graduate study in psychiatric rehabilitation, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, counseling, or social work. The full Psychology major (including PS431 Experimental Psychology) ensures you have the research credentials that graduate programs require. Rutgers SHP's professional training adds applied clinical experience that distinguishes your graduate school application from psychology-only candidates.
This is a joint degree program. Students complete the GCU phase (5 semesters) and then must separately apply to and be accepted by Rutgers University’s School of Health Professions. Admission to the SHP program is competitive and is NOT guaranteed.
Rutgers SHP eligibility requirements (subject to change):
Students who are not accepted into Rutgers SHP cannot complete the joint degree. Students should speak with their advisor about alternative pathways — including completing GCU’s standalone B.A. in Psychology — if SHP acceptance is not secured.
Mental health recovery is not a destination — it’s a journey. And the professionals who guide, support, and advocate for individuals on that journey are among the most important in the healthcare system. GCU’s B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology prepares you to be one of those professionals, through a carefully designed joint degree that combines the academic depth of GCU’s Psychology program with the clinical expertise of Rutgers University’s School of Health Professions.
The program unfolds in two distinct phases. In the first five semesters at GCU, students complete all General Education requirements and the full Psychology major — the same sequence required for the standalone B.A. in Psychology. This means completing core courses in psychopathology, biological psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, statistics, research methods, and the capstone course PS431 Experimental Psychology. These are not introductory courses — they represent a genuine and rigorous undergraduate education in psychological science.
In the spring of the sophomore year (or by October 1 of the junior year at the latest), students apply to Rutgers SHP’s B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation program. If accepted, they transition to Rutgers SHP for three semesters of specialized professional training — 45 credits of coursework covering the theory, practice, assessment, and ethics of psychiatric rehabilitation. Rutgers SHP practica fulfill GCU’s second experiential learning graduation requirement, integrating professional practice with academic learning.
At the completion of both phases, the B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology is jointly awarded by Georgian Court University and Rutgers University. Graduates are then eligible to sit for the CPRP examination and to pursue careers in community mental health, residential psychiatric rehabilitation programs, supported employment, peer recovery services, and graduate study.
This degree is among a small number of joint undergraduate programs in the country that provides both the psychological foundations and the professional rehabilitation training necessary for entry-level practice in the psychiatric rehabilitation field.
GCU’s B.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology is a great fit if you:
| Career | Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Experienced Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialists | $38,000–$52,000 | $58,200 | $72,000+ |
| Community Mental Health Workers | $36,000–$48,000 | $52,800 | $68,000+ |
| Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Counselors | $38,000–$52,000 | $58,200 | $72,000+ |
| Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers | $44,000–$58,000 | $64,300 | $82,000+ |
| Clinical Psychologists (doctoral — post-grad) | $75,000–$95,000 | $112,300 | $140,000+ |
Job Outlook
Note: Higher-level clinical roles (licensed counselor, social worker, psychologist) require graduate degrees. This B.S. prepares graduates for professional-level work at the bachelor’s level and provides a strong foundation for graduate study.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
The GCU Psychology major for students in this program includes:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.0 |
| or PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | |
| PS214 | Information Literacy for Psychology | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following three developmental courses: PS221, PS224, or PS227 | 3.0 | |
| PS223 | Psychopathology | 3.0 |
| PS232 | Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3.0 |
| PS270 | Theories of Personality | 3.0 |
| PS332 | Psychology of Learning | 3.0 |
| or PS360 | Cognitive Psychology | |
| PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3.0 |
| PS334 | Social Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS341 | Biological Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS430 | Rsrch Mthds & Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3.0 |
| PS431 | Experimental Psychology | 4.0 |
| Total Credits | 37.0 | |
The SHP Psychiatric Rehabilitation major includes three semesters of coursework at Rutgers SHP. For current curriculum and course descriptions, consult https://shp.rutgers.edu/psychiatric-rehabilitation/bachelor-of-science-in-psychiatric-rehabilitation-and-psychology/).
Students must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Psychology program at Georgian Court including PS431 Experimental Psychology.
Admissions Requirements GCU Admission (First-Year Students)
GCU to Rutgers SHP Admission:
Important: Students who are not accepted into Rutgers SHP cannot complete the joint degree. Speak with your advisor from your first semester about contingency planning, including the possibility of completing GCU’s standalone B.A. in Psychology.
Transfer Students
GCU Psychology Phase: By completing the GCU phase, students will demonstrate:
Rutgers SHP Psychiatric Rehabilitation Phase: Upon completing the joint degree, graduates will be able to:
Q: What is psychiatric rehabilitation, and how is it different from clinical psychology or counseling? A: Psychiatric rehabilitation is a distinct professional practice focused specifically on helping individuals with serious mental health conditions — schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, PTSD, and others — achieve recovery, community integration, and improved quality of life. While clinical psychology and counseling focus primarily on assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention (often in office settings), psychiatric rehabilitation focuses on functional outcomes: helping people learn skills, access supports, find and keep employment, live independently, and participate fully in their communities. It’s a practice built around the belief that recovery is possible for anyone — and around the practical support that makes recovery real.
Q: What is the CPRP, and how do I earn it? A: The Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) is the national professional credential administered by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA). Graduates of accredited psychiatric rehabilitation programs like Rutgers SHP’s are eligible to sit for the CPRP examination. Passing the exam establishes you as a CPRP — the recognized standard of professional competence in the field. Many employers in community mental health, residential programs, and supported employment specifically seek or require CPRP certification.
Q: Why do I need to complete the full Psychology major before going to Rutgers SHP? A: The Rutgers SHP psychiatric rehabilitation professional curriculum is built on the assumption that students already have a solid foundation in psychological theory, research methods, and psychopathology. By completing GCU’s full Psychology major first — including biological psychology, social psychology, statistics, research methods, and experimental psychology — you bring to the Rutgers professional training the psychological sophistication that makes you an effective rehabilitation practitioner. The two phases are designed to work together: psychological science plus rehabilitation practice equals a complete professional.
Q: Is PS431 Experimental Psychology required, or can I choose a different capstone? A: In the Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology joint degree, PS431 Experimental Psychology is required as your capstone — unlike the standalone Psychology B.A., where students may choose from several capstone options. This is because PS431 provides the research design and experimental analysis training that Rutgers SHP expects its applicants to bring, and that distinguishes graduates on graduate school applications.
Q: What happens if I don’t get into Rutgers SHP? A: Admission to Rutgers SHP is competitive — having a 2.5 overall GPA and 3.0 Psychology GPA meets the minimum threshold but does not guarantee admission. If you are not accepted, you will have completed most of the requirements for GCU’s standalone B.A. in Psychology by the end of your fifth semester, and your advisor can help you complete that degree instead. This is why contingency planning from your first semester is important — your advisor should know your goals and help you stay on track for both the joint degree and the standalone Psychology B.A. simultaneously.
Q: Can I go to graduate school with this degree? A: Yes — and the joint degree is specifically noted as providing preparation for graduate study in psychiatric rehabilitation, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology. The full GCU Psychology major (including PS431 Experimental Psychology) gives you research credentials that graduate programs require. The Rutgers SHP clinical training adds professional experience that enriches your application. GCU’s own graduate programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Applied Behavior Analysis, and School Psychology are natural next steps for joint degree graduates.
Q: How much does the Rutgers SHP phase cost? A: During the GCU phase (semesters 1–5), you pay GCU tuition and fees. During the Rutgers SHP phase (semesters 6–8), you pay Rutgers University tuition and fees — which are separate from and in addition to GCU tuition. Research current Rutgers SHP tuition rates at the Rutgers SHP website and factor both institutions’ costs into your financial planning.
Q: When should I apply? A: GCU uses rolling admissions — apply any time. Priority deadlines are November 1, January 1, and March 1. The Rutgers SHP application is submitted in the spring of your sophomore year — which means you need to be enrolled and progressing at GCU well in advance of that deadline. Starting your program on time and maintaining your GPA from day one is essential for this joint degree.
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