MS Counseling Psychology: CBU’s MFT Program
Looking for a proven MS counseling psychology program? California Baptist University’s Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, a 40-year-old program, is CBU’s oldest and largest graduate offering. This respected faith-based degree produced 679 psychology and social work graduates in 2021 alone.
CBU ranks #61 in California and #990 nationally among counseling psychology programs. The program meets all degree and coursework requirements needed to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in California. Students get exceptional value from CBU’s network of over 100 organizational partnerships, matching other California MFT programs that cost around $46,920. These connections help students gain clinical experience in community mental health, school-based, church-based, and other settings.
This piece will show you CBU’s program uniqueness, available pathways, learning options that fit your schedule, admission requirements, and compelling reasons to launch your counseling psychology career here.
Program Snapshot
California Baptist University’s MS in Counseling Psychology program has a complete curriculum that will prepare you for a successful career in mental health. You can complete this program in 24 months with a full-time course load, and it needs 40 credits to complete.
Core Program Details:
- Tuition: $1,113 per credit ($44,520 total program cost)
- Minimum GPA requirement: 2.5
- Prerequisites: General Psychology (preferred) or Lifespan Development
- Start dates: Multiple entry points throughout the year
The program structure adapts to your professional goals. Students can finish the core 40-unit curriculum or add an optional 6-unit Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) track. This track meets the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor academic requirements set by the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California.
The curriculum combines theory and practice through challenging coursework. Required courses cover a variety of key areas:
- Diversity Issues in Counseling Psychology
- MFT Counseling Theory
- Human Growth and Development
- Couples Therapy
- Human Sexuality
- Psychopathology and Psychodiagnostics
- Family Therapy
- Psychopharmacology
- Addictions Counseling
On top of that, the program has a unique personal growth element. Students need to complete 24 hours of individual psychotherapy or 50 hours of group psychotherapy with a licensed therapist outside the campus community. This requirement helps you build self-awareness while developing clinical skills.
Experienced core faculty teach from a biblical viewpoint, which helps you address your future clients’ mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. The program’s high standards have earned recognition throughout the Inland Empire community.
Working professionals will find the online format convenient with its mostly asynchronous accelerated courses. This creates an available path to advance your career while you retain control of your current responsibilities. The mix of academic excellence and practical flexibility makes CBU’s program stand out among California’s counseling psychology programs.
Pathways and Specializations
CBU’s MS in Counseling Psychology program lets you customize your education beyond the core MFT curriculum. You can shape your learning path to match your career goals in the mental health field.
The program features two specialization options to boost your clinical skills. You can add the Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC) coursework, a 6-unit sequence that prepares you for PCC licensure in California. This specialized training gives you valuable skills in community mental health counseling and career counseling. After completing the program, you can work in community mental health centers and organizations. You’ll also be covered under managed care organizations and health plans.
The Forensic Psychology concentration offers another path with an 18-unit specialization that connects psychology and legal systems. Students learn criminal behavior theories, biological bases of behavior, and psychology’s practical applications in legal settings. The coursework covers criminology theories, social psychology in legal contexts, and California’s forensic psychology ethics.
Both specializations substantially expand your career options in settings of all types:
- Clinical Settings: Private practice, hospitals, outpatient care centers
- Community Services: Social service agencies, substance abuse treatment centers, crisis response
- Educational Environments: Schools, colleges, research institutions
- Specialized Fields: Military support services, correctional facilities, veterans affairs
The program includes faith viewpoints throughout the curriculum. This approach helps you blend personal beliefs and values into your professional practice. Combined with thorough clinical training and required personal psychotherapy, you’ll become an ethical counselor who improves clients’ lives.
The program’s partnerships with over 100 organizations help match your practicum experiences with your interests. You’ll graduate ready for various roles like marriage and family therapist, professional clinical counselor, private practice therapist, community mental health worker, or substance abuse treatment counselor.
Learning Options and Flexibility
CBU understands that master’s-level students balance busy lives with full-time jobs and family commitments. The MS Counseling Psychology program stands out from other California MFT programs with its exceptional scheduling flexibility.
Students in the on-campus program can attend evening classes Monday through Thursday, plus occasional Saturday sessions. This schedule helps you keep your daytime job while earning your degree. The program’s self-paced approach lets you complete your degree in two, three, or four years based on your situation.
The online MS Counseling Psychology option delivers most courses in an asynchronous format. You can complete weekly learning activities when it works best for you. Four courses need synchronous participation, usually on Tuesday evenings. These sessions let you interact live with professors and peers. CBU sets itself apart from other counseling psychology programs in California by not requiring residency.
The program welcomes new students at multiple points during the year:
- Fall semester start dates
- Spring semester start dates
- Summer semester start dates
Online students get pre-enrolled in courses that match their advisor’s degree completion plan. You can start the program anytime, but following the recommended sequence will give a clear path through prerequisites and help maintain financial aid eligibility. Saturday hybrid courses add more scheduling options when available each semester.
CBU’s program features a unique dual approach to online learning. The virtual format combines:
- High-definition synchronous sessions that promote meaningful relationships with peers and faculty
- Accelerated asynchronous courses that let you progress at your own pace
This balanced structure works well for working adults. Every course combines clinical theories with faith emphasis, and faculty teach from a biblical view. This blend of theory, practice, and faith creates an educational experience that prepares you really well for clinical work after graduation.
Admission Requirements
CBU’s MS counseling psychology program has a straightforward admission process with clear requirements. Students can apply year-round, and the program follows priority deadlines for each semester: May 15 (Fall), November 1 (Spring), and March 1 (Summer).
Your application package must include:
- A completed application with a $45 non-refundable fee
- Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 2.75 GPA on your last 60/90 units
Students without a psychology undergraduate degree must complete General Psychology (preferred) or Life Span Development as a prerequisite. You should finish these prerequisites during your first semester.
The program doesn’t require GRE scores. You can choose between these options:
- A written statement of purpose (500-word maximum) that explains your educational goals, how the program aligns with them, and why you’ll fit well at CBU
- An in-person or virtual program interview that covers the same topics
International students whose first language isn’t English need a minimum TOEFL score of 80 IBT or 6.0 on the IELTS.
The program maintains a balanced approach to admissions. Recent data shows an acceptance rate of approximately 65%, with 142 students selected from 217 applicants. This makes it both selective and accessible among California’s counseling psychology programs.
Why Choose This Program
CBU’s MS in Counseling Psychology program is the life-blood of the university. The program is 40 years old and stands as the oldest and largest graduate program at the institution. This prestigious faith-based degree gives you specialized skills to settle and restore relationships that affect individuals, couples, and families.
The program stands out among other California MFT programs with its all-encompassing approach to counseling education. Yes, it is worth noting that all courses combine theory and faith. The faculty teaches from a biblically rooted view that helps you address mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. This smooth combination of elements helps you become a strong, compassionate, and ethical counselor who improves clients’ lives.
The program’s key features include:
- Over 100 organizational partnerships that provide real-life experience in different clinical settings
- Licensed supervisors with extensive experience who help you gain required experience and pass state licensure examinations
- Interdisciplinary mental health simulations with healthcare students from various disciplines
- Personal psychotherapy requirements (24 hours individual or 50 hours group) that build self-awareness and clinical skills
CBU’s supportive community helps you find your strengths. The professors, staff, and fellow students challenge you to push beyond your expectations. This blend of thorough clinical training, faith integration, and personal growth creates counseling professionals who maintain the highest ethical standards.