Understanding why people think, feel, and behave the way they do is one of the most powerful and practical forms of knowledge there is. GCU's B.A. in Psychology prepares you for careers in counseling, social services, research, education, and healthcare — or for graduate study in clinical psychology, counseling, school psychology, or applied behavior analysis. With optional concentrations, an elite honors program, and a direct path to GCU's graduate programs, this is a Psychology degree that opens doors.
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GCU's B.A. in Psychology is one of the few programs at the university offered in three distinct modalities: in person at the Lakewood campus, in-person at GCU@Brookdale in Lincroft, and fully online in an asynchronous format. Whether you're a traditional full-time student, a working adult, or someone whose schedule or location makes online learning the right fit, GCU's Psychology program meets you where you are — with the same rigorous curriculum and faculty engagement across all three formats.
GCU's Psychology Scholars Program (PSP) is one of the most distinctive honors programs in any NJ psychology department. Students who maintain a 3.2 GPA and complete an intensive honors curriculum — including research experience or an internship — are guaranteed admission to their choice of GCU's graduate Psychology and Counseling programs, provided they graduate with a 3.5 overall GPA and 3.6 Psychology GPA. That's a direct, guaranteed path from undergraduate Psychology to a GCU M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Applied Behavior Analysis, or School Psychology — one of the most powerful graduate guarantees available to any NJ undergraduate psychology student.
GCU's Psychology major offers two 12-credit optional concentrations that let you specialize meaningfully. The Forensic Psychology Concentration pairs required courses in Forensic Psychology (PS320) and Criminal Profiling (PS321) with CJ electives in areas like juvenile justice, sex crimes, and gender and crime — ideal for students headed toward law enforcement, victim services, or criminal justice psychology careers. The Sport & Exercise Psychology Concentration combines Sport & Exercise Psychology (PS326/ES310) with counseling, applied behavior analysis, and sports sociology — designed for careers in athletic performance consulting, sports counseling, or exercise behavior coaching.
Students who complete GCU's Addictions Counseling course sequence (PS281, PS282, PS331, PS380, PS456, and PS270) will have met the educational requirements to apply for the New Jersey Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license — pending required supervised experience hours. This sequence is recommended for students headed toward careers in addictions treatment, recovery support, counseling, or social services, and can be completed within the Psychology major. Combined with the Addictions Counseling Minor, this provides one of the most practical professional pathways in the program.
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior — and at GCU, it’s also a gateway to some of the most meaningful and in-demand careers in healthcare, social services, education, research, and criminal justice.
The B.A. in Psychology at GCU is grounded in the mission of academic excellence and the development of rigorous scientific thinking alongside genuine self-understanding and ethical commitment. The 36-credit major provides comprehensive coverage of the field: introductory psychology, research methods and statistics, biological psychology, social psychology, psychopathology, developmental psychology, learning and cognition, and a capstone experience that may be an internship, original research, or senior seminar. Students choose their capstone based on their goals: those heading to graduate school might choose Experimental Psychology
(PS431) or Supervised Research; those heading directly to work might choose an internship (PS450) or Addictions Treatment internship (PS456).
What makes GCU’s program stand out is the depth of opportunity built around the core curriculum. The Psychology Scholars Program provides an intensive honors cohort experience with a guaranteed graduate school pathway for the university’s top psychology students. Two optional concentrations — in Forensic Psychology and Sport & Exercise Psychology — allow meaningful specialization within the major. The Addictions Counseling sequence provides a practical professional credential pathway. And the program’s three delivery modalities — in person at Lakewood, in-person at Brookdale, and fully online — make it accessible to students across all life situations.
Faculty in the Department of Psychology & Counseling are accomplished scholars and practitioners whose expertise spans clinical mental health, school psychology, applied behavior analysis, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and addictions — providing both the academic rigor and real-world perspective that graduate schools and employers value.
GCU’s B.A. in Psychology is a great fit if you:
Direct-to-Work (Bachelor’s Level):
Forensic Psychology Concentration:
Sport & Exercise Psychology Concentration:
Graduate School Pathway (M.A./M.S./Ph.D./Psy.D.):
| Career | Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Experienced Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse Counselors (CADC) | $38,000–$50,000 | $58,200 | $72,000+ |
| Social & Human Service Assistants | $35,000–$46,000 | $45,800 | $58,000+ |
| Psychiatric Technicians | $38,000–$52,000 | $53,400 | $68,000+ |
| Clinical / Counseling Psychologists (doctoral) | $75,000–$95,000 | $112,300 | $140,000+ |
| School Psychologists (M.A./Psy.D.) | $68,000–$82,000 | $95,900 | $110,000+ |
| LPC / LCPC (master’s) | $48,000–$65,000 | $84,700 | $100,000+ |
Job Outlook
Note: Most clinical psychology and counseling careers require a master’s or doctoral degree.
GCU’s B.A. in Psychology combined with a GCU graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Applied Behavior Analysis, or School Psychology creates the complete professional pathway.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
At a minimum, all psychology majors are required to complete 36 semester hours of credit in psychology. As part of these 36 hours, students must take a series of 30 or 31 credits of core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 30.0-31.0 | |
| PS111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.0 |
| or PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | |
| PS214 | Information Literacy for Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS223 | Psychopathology | 3.0 |
| or PS245 | Psychology of the Exceptional Child | |
| Select one of the following three developmental courses: PS221, PS224, or PS227: 2 | 3.0 | |
| PS232 | Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3.0 |
| PS332 | Psychology of Learning | 3.0 |
| or PS360 | Cognitive Psychology | |
| PS334 | Social Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS341 | Biological Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS430 | Rsrch Mthds & Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following four capstone courses: | 3.0-4.0 | |
PS431 | Experimental Psychology | |
PS450 | Internship in Psychology | |
PS456 | Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment | |
PS455 | Senior Seminar | |
| Psychology Electives | 6.0 | |
A 12 credit optional concentration in Forensic Psychology is available to Psychology Majors. Students may double count PS courses toward both the requirements for the concentration and the requirements for either the psychology major or psychiatric rehabilitation and psychology major. Courses from other disciplines (e.g., CJ or ES) cannot count toward the psychology or psychiatric rehabilitation and psychology major (except for cross-listed courses that are also PS courses).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| PS320 | Forensic Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS321 | Criminal Profiling | 3.0 |
| Select two of the following, or courses approved by dept. chair: | 6.0 | |
CJ167 | Race, Ethnicity & Criminal Justice | |
CJ231 | Juvenile Justice | |
CJ320 | Mental Health, Neurodiver. & Crim. Just. | |
CJ325 | Gender & Crime | |
CJ401 | Sex Crimes | |
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
A 12 credit optional concentration in Forensic Psychology is available to Psychology Majors. Students may double count PS courses toward both the requirements for the concentration and the requirements for either the psychology major or psychiatric rehabilitation and psychology major. Courses from other disciplines (e.g., CJ or ES) cannot count toward the psychology or psychiatric rehabilitation and psychology major (except for cross-listed courses that are also PS courses).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course: | ||
| PS326/ES310 | Sport & Exercise Psychology | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
PS331 | Basic Counseling | |
PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
ES320 | Gender in Sports | |
PS227 | Lifespan Development | |
PS331 | Basic Counseling | |
PS332 | Psychology of Learning | |
PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | |
| Total Credits | 12.0 | |
This course sequence is recommended for students pursuing employment in addictions counseling. It is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in fields such as counseling and clinical psychology. In addition to the core courses listed in the major requirements section, this course sequence recommends:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Course Sequence | ||
| PS270 | Theories of Personality | 3.0 |
| PS281 | Introduction to Addictions & Recovery | 3.0 |
| PS282 | Foundations of Addictions Treatment | 3.0 |
| PS331 | Basic Counseling | 3.0 |
| PS380 | Prof Issues of Addiction Counseling | 3.0 |
| PS456 | Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment | 3.0 |
Students who complete this sequence of courses are eligible to apply for the Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license once they have completed the requirements for supervised experience required by the Division of Consumer Affairs of New Jersey.
The Psychology Scholars Program (PSP) offers students an integrated program of intensive and personal instruction for students whose goal is to pursue a career in psychology, counseling, or a related field. From the time the Psychology Scholars enter the university as first-year or transfer students, they work in a small cohort of highly qualified students, developing the skills of research and practice that are necessary for success in their chosen field. Close contact with faculty members of the department and throughout the university enriches the students’ learning through interesting and challenging curricular and extracurricular experiences.
Students who enter the PSP as first-year students complete the regular requirements for the psychology major and take honors sections of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | 3.0 |
| PS223 | Psychopathology | 3.0 |
| PS332 | Psychology of Learning | 3.0 |
| PS360 | Cognitive Psychology | 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 |
Students who are simultaneously enrolled in the PSP and the University Honors program must also complete three courses in the University Honors Program:
Students who transfer into the PSP or enter after the first year:
Students may substitute a 300- or 400-level psychology course as honors by contract for a regularly offered PSP course by permission of the program director.
Continuation in the program requires maintenance of honors standing in the PSP. In order to maintain membership in the PSP, students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 or obtain the permission of the program director. Graduation with Departmental Honors in Psychology requires a GPA of 3.3 at graduation.
Students who successfully complete the PSP are guaranteed admission to their choice of the GCU Psychology and Counseling M.A. programs, pending an application and a successful interview. In order to retain the automatic admission to the graduate program (conditional upon interview), the student must complete the following:
All psychology majors must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Psychology program at Georgian Court including one of the capstone courses (PS431 Experimental Psychology or PS450 Internship in Psychology or PS456 Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment or PS455 Senior Seminar).
Admissions Requirements First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Psychology Scholars Program (PSP) Admission:
Online Program: The Psychology B.A. online option is offered fully asynchronously. Contact Admissions to confirm course availability and advising for the online track.
By the time you earn your B.A. in Psychology from GCU, you’ll be able to:
Q: What is the Psychology Scholars Program (PSP), and how do I join? A: The PSP is GCU’s honors cohort for psychology students planning to pursue graduate study in psychology, counseling, or a related field. Students work in a small, close-knit group with intensive faculty contact — completing honors sections of core courses, a research or internship capstone, and honors GE courses. Students who maintain a 3.2 GPA and complete all PSP requirements are guaranteed admission to their choice of GCU’s M.A. programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Psychology, or Applied Behavior Analysis, provided they meet the GPA thresholds at graduation (3.5 overall, 3.6 in psychology). First-year students can be admitted to the PSP upon enrollment. Transfer and later-entry students should contact the Psychology Department directly to discuss PSP eligibility.
Q: I want to become a licensed counselor. Does this degree get me there? A: The B.A. in Psychology is the foundation — but professional counseling licensure (LPC, LCSW, BCBA) requires a graduate degree. GCU’s Psychology B.A. is specifically designed to prepare students for graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, or Social Work — all of which GCU offers at the master’s level. The PSP gives top students a guaranteed path to these graduate programs. For students who want the most direct possible route, the PSP → GCU M.A. pathway is exactly that.
Q: What is the CADC, and can I earn it through this program? A: The CADC (Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) is a New Jersey professional license for substance abuse counselors. To earn the CADC, you need specific educational coursework plus required supervised experience hours. GCU’s Addictions Counseling sequence — PS270, PS281, PS282, PS331, PS380, and PS456 — meets the educational requirement for CADC application once you’ve completed the required supervised hours through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. If you’re planning a career in addictions treatment or recovery services, completing this sequence within your Psychology major is one of the most practical things you can do.
Q: What is the Forensic Psychology concentration? A: The Forensic Psychology concentration pairs two required courses — Forensic Psychology (PS320) and Criminal Profiling (PS321) — with electives from the Criminal Justice department in areas like juvenile justice, gender and crime, mental health and the justice system, and sex crimes. It’s the right choice if you’re interested in psychology as it applies to the legal system: working with criminal defendants or victims, supporting law enforcement, consulting in legal proceedings, or working in correctional psychology.
Q: What is the Sports and Exercise Psychology concentration? A: The Sports and Exercise Psychology concentration brings together the course Sport & Exercise Psychology (PS325/ES310) along with either Basic Counseling (PS331) or Introduction to ABA (PS333) and electives in areas such as gender and sports, development, and learning. It’s the right choice if you’re interested in psychology as it applies to the sports and exercise worlds and how psychological factors impact athletic performance.
Q: Can I study Psychology at GCU if I work full-time or live far from Lakewood? A: Yes — the B.A. in Psychology is available fully online in an asynchronous format, meaning you can complete coursework on your own schedule without being in class at a specific time. Courses are also offered in person at GCU@Brookdale in Lincroft, which may be more convenient for students in northern or central Monmouth County and Middlesex County. The same curriculum, the same faculty, and the same degree are available across all three formats.
Q: What graduate programs can I pursue after the Psychology B.A.? A: GCU Psychology graduates are well-prepared for: M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (GCU), M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (GCU), Psy.D./M.A. in School Psychology (GCU), M.S.W. (Social Work — GCU), M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology (external institutions), M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, M.D. (medicine — strong pre-med preparation through Biological Psychology and research methods), and J.D. (law — Psychology is excellent pre-law preparation).
Q: Do I need to take Statistics in high school before studying Psychology at GCU? A: No — PS232 Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences is offered at GCU as part of the major for students without a statistics background. That said, some comfort with quantitative reasoning and data interpretation will make statistics coursework easier. Students who feel apprehensive about math are encouraged to take PS232 earlier in their program rather than later.
Q: When should I apply? A: GCU uses rolling admissions — apply any time. Priority deadlines are November 1, January 1, and March 1. Students interested in the PSP are especially encouraged to apply early and indicate their interest in the honors program during the application process.
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