CSUSB MFT Program

Looking for a top-rated MFT program? The Clinical/Counseling Psychology Master of Science program at California State University, San Bernardino stands out with its perfect track record – a 100% pass rate for the licensing exam. Students can complete this full-time daytime program in two years with 60 to 68 units of coursework.

This program distinguishes itself from other Cal State MFT programs through its small class sizes. Each cohort accepts only about 12 students. Students start seeing clients at the university’s Community Counseling Center in their first year. They typically accumulate 225 direct contact hours by graduation, which gives them ground experience. The program ends with either a thesis or a detailed examination in the spring semester. Students must meet several requirements to advance their candidacy. These include achieving classified status, finding a graduate advisor, completing at least 30 semester units with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and finishing all degree requirements within seven years of admission.

Program Snapshot

California State University, San Bernardino’s Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology leads other cal state mft programs with its targeted mental health education approach. Students complete 63-71 semester units in this WASC-accredited program. The curriculum builds practical counseling skills through supervised training while students develop a strong foundation in subject matter and research methods.

Students attend this full-time program during daytime hours. The curriculum meets all California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) licensure. Each year, the program selects just 10-15 students, which ensures close mentoring and individual attention throughout your studies.

Students train at the on-campus psychology clinic to build clinical experience. The program requires completion of about 225 fieldwork hours to prepare for professional practice. Your first year covers community and public mental health, professional ethics and law, research methods, psychopathology, family processes, marriage and family therapy skills, psychotherapy theories, and practicum experience.

The second year advances to disaster trauma and resilience, multicultural counseling, neuropharmacology, developmental psychology, child therapy, clinical assessment, and advanced practicum in counseling psychology. While not mandatory, personal psychotherapy helps with professional development and self-care.

Graduates can work in clinical and community mental health settings or start private practices with third-party reimbursement. Licensed graduates can supervise MFT trainees and interns after two years. Many states recognize this high-quality MFT program for reciprocity with their master’s-level counseling licenses.

The CSUSB MFT program provides excellent groundwork for students who want to pursue doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology, creating a strong foundation for advanced studies.

Specializations

The Clinical/Counseling Psychology Master of Science at CSUSB stands out by focusing solely on the LMFT track, unlike other cal state mft programs that offer multiple tracks including dual LMFT/LPCC pathways. Students can specialize deeply in marriage and family therapy principles and practices through this focused approach.

Students should note that the CSUSB MFT program is different from the university’s MS in Counseling degree. The MS in Counseling program offers three distinct paths: School Counseling, Professional Counseling, or a combination of both. Each path leads to specific career opportunities and credential requirements.

Students who choose the Professional Counseling concentration prepare to become Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC), under The California Board of Behavioral Sciences regulation. The track has these specialized courses:

• Addictions Counseling (3 units)
• Crisis and Trauma Counseling (3 units)
• Diagnosis (3 units)
• Psychopharmacology (3 units)
• Family Counseling (3 units)
• Aging, Death & Grief in Couples & Families (3 units)
• Gender & Sexuality (3 units)

The School Counseling concentration leads to a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS) from the California Teaching Commission. Students learn educational concepts through courses like Learning Theories, Systems Consultation, and Professional School Counseling.

The dual concentration option attracts many students because it qualifies them for both PPS and LPCC credentials, creating more job opportunities. This detailed option needs 30 units of specialized coursework, compared to 21 units for single concentrations.

The CSUSB MFT program’s main goal focuses on developing practical counseling skills through supervised training while building critical understanding of subject matter and research evidence. While the MFT program doesn’t offer formal concentrations, students gain expertise in specialized areas like Narrative Mediation, Conflict Resolution, Diversity & Counseling, Participatory Action Research, Addictions Counseling, Grief & Bereavement Counseling, and Narrative Therapy.

Learning Options and Flexibility

The CSUSB MFT program uses a structured cohort model where students start their learning experience together in the Fall semester. Students build a strong community as they move through the curriculum with three other cohorts.

Students need to know how scheduling works. Classes run on either Monday/Wednesday OR Tuesday/Thursday. Students take four classes each semester, with two classes scheduled each evening. This schedule helps students keep their part-time jobs or handle other responsibilities while studying.

Faculty support serves as the life-blood of student learning. New students attend an orientation meeting in the first week of the term. Each student gets a dedicated faculty advisor who guides them through their educational experience. These advisors help plan coursework and answer questions that come up during studies.

Students must attend two program-wide advisement meetings each year. These meetings help build community and let students check in with faculty. Students also learn important details about upcoming courses. The MS Counseling Community group in CANVAS keeps all presentation materials from these meetings available.

Students who want to change their concentration early in their studies have some flexibility. They need to talk with their program coordinator and faculty advisor before making any changes.

Students gain hands-on training at the on-campus psychology clinic. This clinic gives students great clinical experience under supervision, preparing them for real-life counseling situations.

The program gives students flexibility with completion times. Classified graduate students have seven years from admission to finish their degree requirements. This timeline works well for students who need to adjust their pace because of work or personal life.

Admission Requirements

The CSUSB MFT program application process needs your attention to several essential elements. You must submit your application through the Cal State Apply website by January 30 at 4:00 p.m. for Fall.

Your application package must include:

• Unofficial transcripts that show a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Three letters of recommendation (at least two from former professors who know your scholarly work)
• A two-page personal statement that describes your preparation for graduate study, goals, and professional aspirations
• TB test results and Certificate of Clearance

They focused on accepting students with a baccalaureate degree in psychology. Students with degrees in other fields may qualify if the Psychology Department graduate admissions committee approves their academic preparation.

The CSUSB MFT program needs you to complete five prerequisite courses or their equivalents:

• PSYC 1100: Introduction to Psychology
• PSYC 2210: Psychological Statistics
• PSYC 3311: Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYC 3385: Personality Psychology or PSYC 3386: Introduction to Psychotherapy
• PSYC 3390: Abnormal Psychology

Faculty reviews applications as they arrive, so submit your application early. Graduate Studies will check your documents and send complete applications to faculty for review. CSUSB’s comprehensive evaluation process stands out among other Cal State MFT programs and will give a clear path for qualified candidates to join this prestigious program.

Why Choose This Program

Choosing the right MFT program needs careful thought about several factors. The CSUSB MFT program distinguishes itself from other Cal State MFT programs through its dedication to tailored education and practical experience.

Note that the program admits only 10-15 students annually, which will give a close individual mentoring throughout your educational trip. The program’s small class size creates opportunities for deeper connections with faculty and peers.

The program’s on-campus psychology clinic serves specifically for clinical training purposes. Students gain great hands-on experience that prepares them for real-life counseling situations.

The program’s main goal works on two levels: to give you the practical counseling skills through supervised training and to build your critical understanding of relevant subject matter and research evidence. This comprehensive approach helps you graduate as a well-rounded practitioner.

Graduates can work in clinical and community mental health settings or start private practice with third-party reimbursement. Licensed practitioners can supervise MFT trainees and interns after two years.

The program’s high standards mean other states with master’s-level counseling licenses may recognize your California MFT for reciprocity purposes. The program has a proven track record of preparing students who advance to doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology.