Inside CSULB’s MFT Program
Looking to become a licensed therapist through the CSULB MFT program? The stats speak for themselves. A remarkable 94% of students report better career prospects. California’s marriage and family therapists earn $30.66 per hour median wage. The job market looks promising too, with a projected 16% employment growth from 2023 to 2033.
CSULB emerges as a standout choice among Los Angeles MFT programs with its detailed curriculum. Students need to complete 65 units in small, intimate cohorts of 25-30 students. This setup ensures each student gets the attention they need. The program provides a great way to get hands-on experience through 500 clinical hours. These hours prepare students for real-life therapeutic work. The program’s cost remains competitive. California residents paid between $19,568-$24,840 for their entire studies as of Fall 2021.
This guide covers everything about CSULB’s MFT program. From application requirements to graduation and licensure details, you’ll learn what you need to make the right choice for your educational and professional future.
Program Snapshot
CSULB’s MFT program (officially titled MS in Counseling Psychology since 2020/2021) offers a detailed structure that prepares students for dual licensure paths. This 65-unit curriculum gives you the tools to pursue both Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) careers.
The program’s flexibility makes it stand out. Students receive a faculty advisor who helps them choose between 2-year, 2.5-year, or 3-year completion tracks. Whatever track you select, expect to take 4-5 courses each fall and spring semester.
Classes typically run during late afternoons (4:00pm) and evenings (7:00pm), Monday through Thursday. Some weekend sessions happen on Saturday-Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. While the program blends in-person and online synchronous classes, students cannot complete it entirely online.
The program’s excellence shows in its rankings—CSULB ranks #30 out of 414 schools nationally for clinical psychology. The program’s graduates earn a median salary of $81,000, this is a big deal as it means that the national average of $51,772 for similar degrees.
Students complete 500 supervised hours—150 hours of practicum experience and 350 fieldwork hours. This hands-on training prepares them to work in a variety of settings from private practice to community agencies, government settings, hospitals, and clinics.
Students develop expertise in specialized areas such as:
- Trauma and grief work
- Family systems treatment models
- Human sexuality counseling
- Cross-cultural interventions
- Evidence-based treatments
- Couples and group therapy
Students can choose between a thesis option or comprehensive examination to complete the program. The CSULB MFT program holds full WASC accreditation and Board of Behavioral Sciences approval, ensuring education meets professional standards.
Pathways and Specializations
The CSULB MFT program helps you become a licensed mental health professional. You can earn both Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials at the same time. This dual-licensure approach makes you more marketable and gives you career flexibility after graduation.
You’ll work together with your assigned faculty advisor after admission. Together you can choose the track that fits your life best—whether it’s the 2-year, 2.5-year, or 3-year timeline. The program requires at least three courses per semester, which helps balance academic excellence with manageable workloads.
The 65-unit curriculum has 59 units of core coursework. You can choose between a 6-unit thesis (Option A) or 6 units of approved electives with a detailed exam (Option B). Option B lets you customize your education through specialized elective courses such as:
- Play and Art Therapy for Children/Adolescents
- Family Trauma Treatment
- Gestalt Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
These specializations prepare you to work in a variety of settings. Graduates find success in private practice, community agencies, government-court settings, hospitals, clinics, Employee Assistance Programs, and city/county/state agencies of all types. Many graduates start their careers in organizations like the Department of Public Social Services or Children’s Protective Services while they build their independent practices.
The program excels in teaching high-demand specialties. You’ll learn about trauma and grief work, family systems treatment models, human sexuality counseling, child and adolescent therapy, substance abuse treatment, and cross-cultural interventions. These specialized skills make CSULB graduates stand out in California’s mental health field, where MFTs make up much of the provider network alongside LCSWs, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
This detailed preparation helps you serve people from all walks of life—adults, children, families, and couples—in every type of mental health setting across California.
Learning Options and Flexibility
The CSULB MFT program stands out with its flexible scheduling that meets student needs without compromising educational quality. Students can choose from multiple completion timelines – 2-year, 2.5-year, or 3-year tracks. You’ll get matched with a faculty advisor who will help you pick the best track and provide a detailed program planner.
Classes follow a predictable evening schedule and meet once weekly from 4:00-6:45PM or 7:00-9:45PM Monday through Thursday. This schedule works great for professionals looking to advance their careers. Some required classes take place on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) between 9:00AM-5:00PM, so you’ll need some flexibility.
The program employs a hybrid learning approach that blends in-person instruction with online synchronous classes. Physical attendance is still needed for certain program components since no fully remote option exists. Most students take 4-5 courses each fall and spring semester. Summer courses have limited availability.
Taking three or more courses (nine units or above) per semester counts as full-time study. Part-time means two or fewer courses (six units or below). Planning ahead matters since most graduate-level courses in the College of Education run just once per academic year. Some courses follow specific sequences or cohort models.
The MS program needs minimum of 65 units. Thesis-track students (Option A) complete 59 core units plus 6 thesis units. Students choosing comprehensive exams (Option B) take 59 core units plus 6 units of approved electives. Both tracks require substantial supervised clinical experience – at least 280 hours of face-to-face counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups.
Regular meetings with your faculty advisor will help you stay on track with program requirements and navigate course sequencing effectively. Good planning helps you progress through the program smoothly despite scheduling constraints.
Admission Requirements
The CSULB MFT program follows a highly selective admission process with an acceptance rate of approximately 5%. Good news for prospective students – the program does not require the GRE to apply.
You’ll need a minimum 2.85 overall GPA from your last earned degree at an accredited institution. The program welcomes graduates from all academic backgrounds. Your degree field doesn’t affect your eligibility – even a psychology background offers no special advantage.
Mark your calendars – the application cycle for Fall opens October 1. The university application through Cal State Apply must reach by December 1, 2025, and program materials by December 12, 2025. Students can join the program only in Fall.
The application involves two straightforward steps. Submit your university application through Cal State Apply with a $70 non-refundable fee. Then, upload your program materials through MyCED. Your application package should include a formal 3-4 page statement of purpose and two professional recommendations.
The program offers flexibility with prerequisites – you don’t need to complete them before applying or getting admitted. Of course, counseling experience and bilingual skills are valuable assets that can strengthen your application. A strong academic performance and quality recommendation letters will without doubt boost your chances in this competitive program.
Why Choose This Program
The CSULB MFT program stands out among other MFT programs in Los Angeles with its unique theoretical foundation and proven outcomes. The program builds on humanistic, relational, and integrative principles that welcome different counseling philosophies while relationships remain central to all therapeutic encounters.
The program’s strong multicultural point of view makes it exceptional. Faculty members train counselors to understand how emotional distress connects with family dynamics and broader social contexts. Students and faculty come from diverse backgrounds and values, which creates a rich learning environment.
Professional credentials make this program shine. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences has approved it, and it holds national accreditation from The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). These qualifications guarantee your education meets the highest professional standards.
Graduate surveys show remarkable results – 94% of students saw better career prospects after earning their degree. The same percentage would tell others to choose CSULB. California faces a serious shortage of mental health professionals, so graduates find plenty of opportunities in agencies, schools, colleges, hospitals, and private practice.
The program offers excellent value for money. Graduates often mention how the affordable tuition helped them finish their degree with minimal debt while working in their chosen field.