Cal Poly Humboldt MFT Masters

Want to build a rewarding career in therapy through a Cal State masters program? Cal Poly Humboldt’s MA in Counseling Psychology program helps students become licensed Marriage and Family Therapists in just 24 months. The program has all the educational requirements you need for MFT licensure in California. Licensed therapists must complete a minimum of 3,000 supervised hours in the state.

Cal Poly Humboldt masters programs shine among California MFT programs by combining classroom learning with hands-on experience. Students start building counseling relationships with clients at the university’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) clinic in their first year. The second year focuses on developing skills in individual, child, family, and group counseling. On top of that, the program has supervised fieldwork that counts toward California’s requirement of 1,750 direct counseling hours.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s Marriage and Family Therapy masters program stands out with its well-laid-out path to professional development. Students get both theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need for a successful therapy career.

Program length and structure: 24-month timeline

The Cal Poly Humboldt MFT masters program runs for 4-5 semesters and gives students solid foundations in clinical theory and research. Students also receive extensive training in clinical skills. The curriculum builds competency step by step over 24 months. You’ll take part in supervised fieldwork that shapes your professional growth during this time.

To complete the program, you must:

• Fulfill 60 units of required coursework
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, with no grade below B-
• Complete required hours of supervised practicum
• Undergo at least 20 hours of personal psychotherapy

Meets California MFT licensure requirements

The Masters in Psychology helps you meet all educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist license in California. After graduation, you can apply for Associate MFT (AMFT) status with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. This lets you start collecting post-degree supervised practice hours needed for state licensure.

You need to complete at least 150 hours of direct face-to-face counseling experience with clients, plus 75 hours of advocacy and support before graduating. Some students might need extra time to finish their practicum hours. They can add another semester if needed.

Accreditation and Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) approval

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences has fully accredited the program. This means your education meets the highest professional standards. This accreditation is vital because it shows the program meets all requirements for future licensure.

It’s worth mentioning that getting into programs leading to licensure doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a license. Agencies outside the CSU system set licensure requirements that may change over time. The program prepares you well, but you should stay updated on current requirements throughout your educational trip.

Curriculum and Specializations Offered

Cal Poly Humboldt’s MFT curriculum helps students develop strong therapy skills through a well-designed academic framework. Students must complete a minimum of 60 units as required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Core courses in counseling theory and ethics

The coursework builds essential foundations needed for professional practice. We focus on:

• Interviewing techniques and counseling skills
• Diagnosis of mental disorders
• Assessment and treatment methodologies
• Psychotherapy approaches for individuals, couples, families, and groups
• Law and ethics in psychology

Students learn various theoretical orientations including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic/Relational Psychotherapy, and Family Systems approaches. PSYC 660 (Law and Ethics) helps you understand California’s legal requirements for practitioners.

Elective tracks: Trauma, Attachment, and Family Systems

Cal Poly Humboldt’s masters programs are a great way to get specialized training through focused elective tracks. The Intergenerational Trauma and Attachment track teaches how trauma affects family dynamics across generations. The Family Systems specialization helps you learn relational approaches to therapy and prepares you to work with families of all types.

These specializations match current therapeutic trends in California MFT programs and give you a competitive advantage in your future practice.

Integration of cultural competence and diversity training

Cultural competence is the life-blood of the curriculum and flows through all your coursework rather than being limited to one class. PSYC 676 – Multicultural Counseling builds skills for working with diverse populations.

The program teaches you about how bias, oppression, and privilege affect mental health and counseling. In fact, one of the core program objectives involves “developing a commitment to social justice and multicultural counseling principles”.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with clients from diverse backgrounds on campus and in community settings. This approach ensures graduates can serve California’s multicultural population effectively.

Clinical Training and Practicum Experience

Cal Poly Humboldt masters programs put practical experience at their core. The two-year program provides hands-on training that builds your skills step by step on your path to licensure.

First-year practicum at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

Your clinical training takes a careful approach. The first semester builds your skills through coursework like Interviewing and Counseling Techniques (654) and Practicum Preparation (662). These courses use role-play and video recording instead of direct client contact.

The second semester lets you build counseling relationships with a small caseload at CAPS, the university’s on-campus training clinic. You’ll typically work with 1-4 clients. Your individual supervision focuses on intake experiences and helps you build shared client relationships. CAPS hosts between 8-24 trainees each semester under licensed mental health clinicians’ supervision.

Second-year placement in community mental health agencies

Your second year expands your practicum experience. You’ll develop skills in individual, child, family, and group counseling. Most students complete their training at CAPS. Some students choose approved placements at community agencies and schools.

All field placements must meet strict criteria:

• Sufficient client referrals
• Community orientation
• Direct connection to helping professions
• Adequate licensed supervision
• Regular communication with the university program

Minimum 750 supervised clinical hours

You need to complete at least 150 hours of direct (face-to-face) counseling experience and 75 hours of advocacy and support before graduation. The program lets you earn up to 750 hours of direct counseling before getting your degree. This gives you a strong start toward California’s requirement of 3,000 supervised hours for licensure.

Licensed professionals provide weekly supervision throughout both years, either one-on-one or in groups. Students who don’t complete their practicum hours by the fourth semester must sign up for an extra semester. This ensures you meet all clinical requirements before graduation.