Improve Mental Health and Well-being

Studies in psychology provide insight into the mind while developing skills in research design and statistical methods. Students will also be challenged to advance abilities in critical thinking, problem solving and communication.

GGC’s unique focus on student engagement serves students at all levels – including freshmen – with faculty/student collaborations on research projects, conference presentations, even co-authoring articles published in academic journals.

Students studying in the library

Access

Access to bachelor's degrees for more people, where potential trumps privilege, and tenacity and commitment matter more than one’s academic past. Honors Program? We’ve got you covered there, too.

Attentive

Attentive education that focuses on your success with faculty mentorships that linger after graduation. Standards are high, but you’ve got this with access to tutoring and professors who are engaged in your success.

Affordable

GGC’s innovative practices, caring culture and affordable tuition educate today's careers, and change the future for students at all levels, of all ages, from all walks of life.

Ready. Set. Become a Grizzly.

Psychology Specializations

    Clinical / personality

    The clinical / personality specialization explores the relationship between typical personality development and atypical processes leading to mental illness. It involves the study of the science and practice of providing assessment and treatment services at individual, family or community levels to people with or at risk for mental illness. A background in this specialization is relevant for students who have career interests in fields related to human mental health and wellbeing, such as psychologists, social workers, or marriage and family therapists. It is also relevant for students interested in careers that apply knowledge of the causes, diagnoses, progression, treatment and public policy implications of mental disorders (e.g., in community agencies or research settings). 

    Cognitive / neuroscience

    The cognition and neuroscience specialization’s underlying philosophy is that there is a strong need for an interface of cognition, biology, and evolutionary theory. The specialization explores areas such as learning and memory, sensation and perception, decision-making, neuropsychology, memory, and the evolutionary basis and the adaptive significance of behavior.

    Developmental / educational

    The developmental/educational specialization focuses on the development of children, adolescents, and adults. This area is relevant for students with interests in human development in applied settings (e.g., schools and community agencies).

    Social / applied

    Focusing on the relationship between the individual and the social environment, the social / applied specialization examines the impact of individuals, organizations and culture on thought and behavior. It is well-suited for those who are interested in the issue of how broader social forces affect themselves and others.

    Student reading a textbook

    Volunteer Research Opportunities

    GGC students in psychology may be selected to work in laboratories of faculty members who have ongoing research projects. The GGC Psychology Research Assistantship Application is the first step in finding opportunities. If selected, faculty members will contact volunteers. Email the School of Liberal Arts to inquire.

    Other external sources of research experience may be found on the websites below:

    Careers and Grad School Prep

    Students interested in pursuing a career immediately after graduation will gain a wealth of experiences in the applied aspects of psychology.

    • Individual, marriage and family therapy
    • Social work
    • Community and public agencies
    • Public policy
    • Research

    Also, those interested in obtaining advance degrees will have a strong theoretical foundation for the fields of psychology, law, business, medicine and a wide range of other graduate degrees.

    Engaged Learning

    GGC fosters partnerships with local community organizations to provide learning opportunities and tangible experiences that move portfolios to the top of the employment pile.

    • Academic conference presentations
    • Internships
    • Service learning

    GGC also creates global engagement through internationalized i‑courses and study abroad opportunities.

    Minors, Certificates, Certifications

    Minors, certificates and certifications add value and enhance degrees for enrolled degree-seeking students. Learn more about available professional certificate programs for non-degree seeking students.

      African American studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with an African American studies minor.

      Anthropology minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with an anthropology minor.

      Biology minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a biology minor.

      Biomedical sciences certificate for academic enhancers

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a biomedical sciences certificate for academic enhancers. Email @email with questions.

      Biomedical sciences certificate for career changers

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a biomedical sciences certificate for career changers. Email @email with questions.

      Business administration minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a business administration minor (non-business majors).

      Business intelligence certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a business intelligence certificate.

      Chemistry minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a chemistry minor.

      Chemistry of fermentation science, certificate in the

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a certificate in the chemistry of fermentation science.

      Creative writing minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a creative writing minor.

      Criminal justice / criminology minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a criminal justice / criminology minor.

      Cybersecurity certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a cybersecurity certificate.

      English minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with an English minor.

      Film minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a film minor.

      Gender studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a gender studies minor.

      Geography minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a geography minor.

      Gerontology certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a gerontology certificate.

      Global studies certification

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a global studies certification.

      History minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a history minor.

      Information technology minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with an information technology minor.

      Integrative arts minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a integrative arts minor.

      International diplomacy and conflict resolution, certificate in

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a certificate in international diplomacy and conflict resolution.

      Latin American studies certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a Latin American studies certificate.

      Legal studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a legal studies minor.

      Mathematics minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a mathematics minor.

      Musical studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a musical studies minor.

      Non-profit advocacy, certificate in

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a certificate in non-profit advocacy.

      Paralegal certification

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a paralegal certification.

      Physics minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a physics minor.

      Political science minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a political science minor.

      Professional legal administrator certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a professional legal administrator certificate.

      Professional studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a professional studies minor.

      Religious studies minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a religious studies minor.

      Sociology minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a sociology minor.

      Spanish for professionals certificate

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a Spanish for professionals certificate.

      Spanish minor

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a Spanish minor.

      TESOL certification

      Learn the requirements to expand your academic interests and enhance your bachelor’s degree with a TESOL certification.

      GGC grads at commencement ceremony holding up diplomas

      Alumni Voices

      Dr. Margie Gill posing with school children in Africa

      Dr. Margie Gill, ‘08
      Psychology

      “A lot of major accomplishments that happened in my life were because of GGC."

      Transforming Lives

      • Board-certified licensed professional counselor
      • Founder of Tabitha’s House, a Georgia-based nonprofit supporting survivors of sex-trafficking and sexual abuse
      • Executive director for Institutional Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, Brenau University
      • Collaborative team member building schools in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Nicaragua
      • Associate professor of psychology

      Education

      • Doctorate in counseling and student personnel services from University of Georgia, 2018
      • Master of Science in clinical counseling psychology from Brenau University, 2010
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Georgia Gwinnett College, 2008
      people preparing food boxes during international service

      Get Involved

      Challenge. Question. Collaborate. Contribute.

      Unique to GGC’s focus on student engagement, faculty invite students at all levels – including freshmen – to collaborate on research projects, conference presentations, even co-authoring articles published in academic journals.

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