Georgian Court University

Georgian Court University Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs

Georgian Court University offers more options for psychology and counseling students than almost any other college or university in the nation does. All these programs are available through its Department of Psychology & Counseling. Undergrads can enroll in its B.A. in Psychology program to earn a Bachelor of Arts. This program offers a broad overview of the field and features courses such as Cognitive Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Introduction to Psychology and Intermediate Issues in Psychology. Those who want to enroll in a graduate program can take advanced classes, including Theories of Personality, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences and Biological Psychology.

The college also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Psychology. This is a joint degree program that allows students to earn two degrees and to take classes from both Georgian Court and Rutgers University. Designed for those who want to study at the graduate level, it includes 37 credits of courses like Behavior Modification, Multicultural Psychology and Dynamics of the Group. It's also available as a general program that requires students take fewer credits.

The Department of Psychology & Counseling at Georgian Court University offers graduate programs too. One of those is an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA therapy and counseling sessions work with patients of all ages who suffer from emotional issues and disorders. They work with those who have attachment disorders and those with autism and related conditions. Students can sit for the ABA licensing exam after finishing the program. Courses in this ABA program include Ethical & Professional Conduct, Verbal Behavior, Measurement & Experimental Design and Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Students enrolled in the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling learn how to work with patients in the field. Students do two internships that are each worth four credits. One internship allows them to see professionals working in the field, but the second internship allows them to do more work in a clinical setting. Students will also take classes that include Introduction to Counseling Skills, Lifespan Development, Organizational Counseling & Career Development and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Interventions.

Also available is an M.A. in School Counseling program. Students will do a practicum that requires 300 hours of fieldwork and an internship that allows them to do 1,000 hours or work under the supervision of a licensed professional. Courses include Seminar in Child & Adolescent Development. Multicultural Issues in School Psychology, School Crisis Prevention & Intervention and Behavior Assessment. Georgian Court University offers this program for students who want to work as licensed school counselors.

About Georgian Court University

Georgian Court University is a small college in New Jersey with an enrollment of around 2,000 students. Founded in 1908, the university opened as a small school for women. The Sisters of Mercy named it Mount Saint Mary College and created a liberal arts curriculum that all students followed. After purchasing Georgian Court, the historic estate of a wealthy man, it changed its name to Georgian Court College to pay homage to him and the history of its campus. It operated as a college for many years before receiving university status from New York in 2004. Georgian Court University went coeducational in later years and begin accepting male students. It retains its original affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church and is the only college in that part of the state with this affiliation.

The university has a good reputation for its Department of Education and for the education programs that it offered, but its reputation grew over the years as its curriculum added new programs and classes. Students at the undergrad level can now declare a major in one of more than 20 subjects. Georgian Court is now a National Historic Landmark. People come from all over the country to walk around the campus and view its historic buildings. The university runs service-learning programs that encourage students to give back and to help people in the surrounding community and across the nation.

GCU appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast.

Georgian Court University Accreditation Details

Most graduate schools and programs will only accept students who have a bachelor's degree from an accredited school. Those attending Georgian Court University will find that its accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Many of the degree programs available through this university have accreditation too. Accreditation comes from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and other professional groups.

Georgian Court University Application Requirements

Both graduate students and undergrads must use the GCU online application, but there are different applications available for students of both types. Incoming freshmen must pay a $40 application fee too. The university only requires an ACT or SAT test score and a transcript from the high school the student attended. Undergrads can also supply an optional essay and/or submit two letters of recommendation from their teachers or guidance counselors.

The process of applying for a spot in one of its graduate programs is quite similar. Students fill out the online application, digitally sign the application and pay the $40 application fee. All other information required can go through the mail. GCU asks for a transcript from each college that the student attended. Certain programs may require some additional information, including a sample of the student's work, letters of recommendation, a resume and/or a GRE test score.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Georgian Court University offers a set tuition rate for full-time students of $15,400 per semester. A full-time student must take at least 12 credits and can take up to 18 credits without facing any additional fees. Part-time students and those who take more than the maximum number of credits pay $704 per credit. Students taking classes on one of the university's regional campuses pay a lower amount. Graduate students pay a tuition rate of $839 per credit hour.

All prospective GCU students can apply for financial aid at the same time that they submit applications. The university looks at the FAFSA to design financial aid packages for each incoming student. Undergrads can use grants, loans, scholarships and similar programs to pay their costs. They can also join the university's work-study program and work on the campus. Graduate students can look for external scholarships and use both grants and loans. Private student loans are available to students and their parents.