Psychology & Counseling
We are all made in the image of God, which means studying the human mind is a deep and meaningful pursuit. Jessup’s Psychology & Counseling programs, from a bachelor's to counseling licensure, prepare you with clinical skill and equip you to care for people with the compassion of Christ.
A CALLING TO UNDERSTAND THE MIND
A psychology and counseling degree in California prepares students to understand human behavior and serve in the mental health professions.
See people the way God does, not only study them. Where psychology explains behavior, the mind of Christ offers wisdom the Spirit alone can give. Jessup's School of Psychology views the behavioral sciences in a Christian lens, from an undergraduate psychology degree through a graduate degree built for counseling licensure.
FALL PREVIEW DAY
Friday, October 16, 2026 · 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. · Rocklin, CA. Experience Jessup for a day and receive a $500 scholarship when you register and visit.
Why Jessup
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Faith First
Since 1939, faith and learning haven't lived in separate rooms here. They're woven together in the classroom, in chapel, and in the way our faculty teach. You won't have to choose between growing your mind and deepening your faith. Here, they grow together.
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Affordable Excellence
We're the most affordable private Christian university in Northern California, and we don't make you guess what it'll cost. Nearly every student receives aid, and we get you clear numbers early so you can plan with confidence. Exceptional education is within reach.
Safe All Around
Safety here means more than a secure campus in one of California's safest cities. It's a place that's safe spiritually, safe emotionally, and safe to take the risks that help you grow. This is somewhere you can stretch, stumble, and become who God made you to be.
Community
Small classes mean you're known by name, not lost in a lecture hall. Faculty who mentor, friends who show up, a campus where people actually see you. You'll find your people here, and they'll walk with you.
Regional Proximity
More than 60% of our students come from within a hundred miles, so you're close enough to home without being right on top of it. You'll be rooted in a NorCal network of churches, employers, and internship connections across the Sacramento corridor. Familiar ground, with room to grow.
Mentorship
From day one you'll have advisors, internships, and a clear path toward a career that matters. We focus on high-impact fields like health sciences, business, psychology, leadership, and aviation, and every student is grounded in Bible and theology. We don't just hand you a degree. We help you find your calling and walk with you toward it.
On campus or online, the same Jessup
Choose the format that fits your life. Every program is built on the same Christ-centered foundation, whether you study in Rocklin or fully online.
What to Expect
On Campus
Online
Meet Your Faculty
Meet the faculty who will walk alongside you, scholars and practitioners from the field.
Jeff Stone
Dean, School of Psychology, Professor
Erin Ambrose
Program Director, Undergraduate Psychology, Professor, School of Psychology
Gina Mertz
Program Clinical Director, MACP, Associate Professor, School of Psychology
Stephanie Caine
Program Director, Remote Sync MACP, Associate Professor, School of Psychology
FAQs
Answers to what prospective psychology and counseling students ask us most.
What different psychology degrees does Jessup offer?
Two psychology programs spanning several psychology degree options: the undergraduate psychology degree as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, plus a psychology minor, and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, a graduate degree offered in Rocklin and through Remote Sync.
Does the MACP lead to counseling licensure in California?
The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology is designed to meet California state qualifying degree requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Professional Clinical Counselor, and the program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Can I earn a psychology degree online?
Yes. The undergraduate psychology degree runs on campus in Rocklin in 15-week semesters or fully online in 7-week terms, with psychology courses in both formats, and the MACP offers a Remote Sync format for live participation from anywhere.
What can I do with a bachelor's degree in psychology?
A degree in psychology opens career options across mental health settings, human services, social work, case management, business and human resources roles, and ministry. Other graduates continue to graduate programs in psychology, counseling or social work, and some continue toward a doctoral degree.
What makes Jessup's approach to psychology distinct?
Students study human behavior and relationships from a Christian worldview, weighing psychological theories against Scripture, culture and clinical practice to develop critical thinking that is scripturally based, culturally relevant and clinically sound.
How does the MACP cohort model work?
Students move through the 26-month graduate degree together in a cohort, building long-term relationships, supportive growth and guided professional development with instructors who are scholars and practitioners.
Does the psychology degree prepare students for graduate school?
Yes. The major builds foundational studies in psychological theory, psychological research and understanding human behavior and human development, and graduates typically pursue a master’s degree or advanced study in psychology, counseling or social work.
Which psychology degree fits students headed to graduate school?
Both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science build the psychology foundation graduate programs expect. Advisors help students choose between the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science paths based on career options and each student's master's degree or doctoral plans.
How does psychology fit the social sciences at Jessup?
Psychology sits within the behavioral sciences and social sciences, pairing scientific research on behavior and mental processes with a Christian view of the person. Students practice research methods and data analysis skills that carry into any psychology field, including applied psychology work.
What careers can counseling psychology graduates pursue?
With licensure, MACP graduates practice as Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Clinical Counselors, serving in clinical, community, substance abuse recovery and ministry settings across the mental health professions.
YOUR NEXT STEP, MADE CLEAR.
Your faith. His calling. Our community.
Faith that steadies you. A calling worth stepping into. Community that knows your name. That's Jessup: ready for the world, rooted in the word.
