Online MS in Psychology: Life Coaching Emphasis

Life coach counselor smiling at client
Start your GCU
journey today.
Step 1: Educational Interests
This helps us connect you with the right enrollment counselor to help you through the process.
Find Your Purpose
Start your GCU journey today.
Request Info
Overview

Help Others Set and Achieve Goals

A life coach is a guide who empowers clients to overcome obstacles, achieve goals, navigate transitions and reach their true potential in life. If you’re passionate about helping others overcome personal and professional obstacles, you can focus your career on psychology with the Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Life Coaching from Grand Canyon University. This degree is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to individuals who desire to enhance their opportunities for professional growth or further academic exploration in the field. 

Help others lead full, productive lives by immersing yourself in the principles and theories of mindset coaching while examining fundamental coaching skills that can immediately be put to work in your practice. You will explore models and techniques for creating a coaching alliance and developing a coaching plan. This MS in Psychology will also teach you how to work productively with individuals, businesses and other organizations, emphasizing guidance, accountability and professional ethics from a Christian perspective. 

Life coach in session with client
Why GCU

Earn Your Master’s With a Life Coaching Emphasis 

Throughout this master’s program, you’ll have opportunities to explore best practices in individual, business and organizational coaching with an eye toward empowering others to create lasting change. You’ll dive into psychology research, examining emerging trends and considering theoretical and applied aspects of experimental design. As a private Christian university, GCU offers faith-integrated coursework by exploring personal growth coaching from the Christian perspective.

Pursue Your Psychology Degree Online With a Focus on Life Coaching 

This psychology master’s, offered online, provides a flexible learning path for modern learners. You can earn your MS while continuing to meet your current professional responsibilities by accessing coursework from almost anywhere. Benefit from lively discussions with peers who present a range of perspectives and enjoy lectures from knowledgeable faculty. 


This Degree Is Offered Online

Coursework

Courses and Topics for Empowering Others

You will delve into the details of coaching models and techniques, examining the formation of coaching alliances and the development of coaching plans. You will be taught how to differentiate between coaching, mentoring and consulting. The program examines key factors such as organizational climate, emotional intelligence, ethical issues pertaining to executive coaching and the interpretation of scientific assessments.

Some of the course topics you will cover in this MS program include:

Ethical and contemporary issues in psychology 

Fundamentals of coaching

Individual, business and organizational coaching

Facilitation and assessment

Develop Techniques for Assessing and Helping Others

 The master’s in psychology follows a comprehensive curriculum designed to inspire you to become an innovative thinker, effective communicator and transformative leader. The goal of helping others is central to this master’s degree program, which introduces you to research-based theories, principles and methods of psychology. With a firm foundation of scientific knowledge, you may assess individuals, develop actionable recommendations and implement effective coaching plans. Enjoy opportunities for personal and professional growth as you explore cognitive processes, thought patterns, behaviors and motivators. 

The degree program concludes with a professional capstone project, where you will examine and present original research ideas and reflect upon various occupations in the life coaching subfield.

addiction counselor in a yellow dress talking with patient in a private office
Careers

Career Opportunities for Aspiring Life Coaches

Life coaches can also work across a range of settings. Some specialize in working with organizations where they can provide consulting services to employers, coaching services to managers and mentoring to the company’s employees. Others work for wellness organizations or mental health clinics, while others may be self-employed entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur who runs their own coaching practice may work out of a home office, conducting sessions virtually, from an office space or the clients’ private homes.2

To further enhance career qualifications, graduates of this emphasis may choose to pursue additional certifications or a doctoral degree.1

There is a range of career possibilities for future life coaches. A life coach may specialize in a particular area of coaching, such as:2

Career

Health and wellness

Relationships

Personal finance

Spirituality

Accreditation

Continue Your Education at an Accredited University  

When you enroll in this MS in Psychology, you can feel confident that you’re furthering your education with purpose. As an institutionally accredited university, GCU prioritizes academic quality, with the goal of graduating professionals who are prepared to effect positive change in the lives of others. GCU has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies. 

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions 

If helping others better their lives through coaching sounds like the perfect job for you, read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about this program.

Life coach leading session close up

Lead Transformative Change in Others

Prepare to empower clients with personal growth and mindset coaching.

Apply Now

1 Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, Aug. 18). Learn About Being a Life Coach. Indeed. Retrieved Oct. 18, 2024. 

2 Bouchrika, I., PhD. (2024, May 24). What is Life Coaching: Types, Benefits, and Steps to Becoming a Life Coach in 2024. Research.com. Retrieved Oct. 18, 2024. 

 

We're here to help.

I'm Ready to Apply