A graduate certificate of completion in psychology is a short, focused program of study that students may complete after earning an undergraduate degree. It provides a look at a specific subfield or niche area within the field, enabling students to take a deeper dive into an area of interest. This credential can help you build additional skills in the psychology field.
Psychology Certificate vs. Degree: What’s the Difference?
Both a psychology certificate and a degree are earned at a college or university, but the difference is that the latter is a degree, whereas the former is an academic credential. An undergraduate degree in psychology provides a broad survey of the psychology field, including its theories, principles and applications. In contrast, a psychology certificate program focuses on one narrow subfield or special interest within the field.
There are other differences between a certificate vs. degree, as well. What is a certificate of completion’s typical length? A certificate program is shorter, typically involving a few courses. Those courses focus specifically on the subfield or specialty interest.
In contrast, a degree program requires the completion of many more courses, including those that cover foundational knowledge in the field. Undergraduate degree programs also include general education requirements for a well-rounded liberal arts education.
Another difference lies in how to get a certificate in psychology compared to a degree. Often, students will earn a graduate certificate in psychology only after completing an undergraduate degree program. Some schools may also offer post-master’s graduate certificates of completion, which are intended to be completed after earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. These may provide preparation for doctoral studies.
Some schools may also have admission differences between certificate programs and degree programs. For example, they may have more requirements — and stricter requirements — for students pursuing entry to a degree program compared to a certificate program.(See disclaimer 1) Each school establishes its own requirements, however.
What Certificates Can I Get With a Bachelor’s in Psychology?
If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you may be interested in broadening your understanding of niche areas by earning a graduate certificate in human factors psychology, geropsychology or industrial and organizational psychology. Other options available at Grand Canyon University include graduate certificate programs in forensic psychology and health psychology.
After earning a graduate certificate in psychology, you might decide to pursue related jobs in the field or further your education with a psychology master’s degree or doctoral degree in psychology.
Graduate Certificate of Completion in Human Factors Psychology
Human factors psychology is where psychology and technology intersect. It involves the application of psychological theories and principles to the design or improvement of products, systems and even environments. A human factors psychology professional examines everything from workplace safety to product design to the interactions between humans and computers.
The graduate certificate program in human factors psychology at GCU examines topics such as:
Graduate Certificate of Completion in GeroPsychology
Psychological challenges can affect anyone across the lifespan, but older individuals tend to have unique needs as they cope with life challenges like declining physical ability, serious medical diagnoses, changing family roles and the deaths of loved ones, as well as their own anticipated death.
This graduate certificate in geropsychology explores the following topics:
Graduate Certificate of Completion in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Industrial and organizational (IO or I/O) psychology explores human behavior within the context of the workplace. It also studies how organizations function, how employers can better meet the needs of their employees and how the workplace can be optimized to boost employee productivity and efficiency.
In the graduate certificate in industrial and organizational psychology at GCU, you’ll examine topics such as:
Graduate Certificate of Completion in Health Psychology
The subfield of health psychology is at the intersection of psychology, biology, human health, social influence and human behavior. It explores, for example, the social, behavioral and psychological factors that influence an individual’s health, as well as public health.
This graduate certificate in health psychology considers how coaching can play a role in the development of healthy choices such as:
Graduate Certificate of Completion in Forensic Psychology
If you’re interested in taking a closer look at the applications of psychology in the criminal justice system, consider further studies into forensic psychology. You will dive into the theories of criminal behavior and consider both crime causation and prevention strategies.
In the graduate certificate in forensic psychology, you can explore the following topics through a psychological lens:
Benefits of Earning a Certificate in Psychology
There are numerous potential benefits of earning a graduate certificate in your area of interest, such as the following:
Development of Specialized Skills
Graduate certificate programs focus on one specialized area in the psychology field, which makes them ideal for individuals who want to take a deeper dive into a niche area. This also allows you to choose a graduate certificate that is directly applicable to your career (either your current job or your career goals).(See disclaimer 2)
Enhance Your Resume
The completion of a graduate certificate in psychology means you can add another career-focused credential to your resume. This may help you become a more competitive job applicant. A graduate certificate can signal to employers that not only are you committed to career growth and professional development, but that you are eager to tackle new challenges.(See disclaimer 2)
Expand Your Professional Network
Even if you take courses for your certificate program online, you’ll be able to network with other students who are working in or aspire to work in the psychology field. It’s a great way to benefit from diverse perspectives while expanding your professional network.
Prepare for Further Studies
Completing a graduate certificate in a specialized subfield of psychology can help prepare you to seek a master’s degree or doctoral degree in that subfield. It can also allow you to determine if that particular subfield is the right choice for you, or if you’d like to try a different one.
How To Get a Certificate in Psychology at GCU
The first step to earning your certificate is to look through our available psychology certificate programs. After finding a certificate program that aligns with your interests and career goals, explore the program page to learn about the curriculum and requirements. Then, you can fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor, who can help you get started with the admission process at GCU. Our Christian university offers a welcoming learning community for our online students.
After finding a certificate program that aligns with your interests and career goals, explore the program page to learn about the curriculum and requirements. Then, you can fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor, who can help you get started with the admission process at GCU. Our Christian university offers a welcoming learning community for our online students.
Earn a graduate certificate in psychology at GCU and take an in-depth look at specialty areas.
