Inside Fresno State’s MFT

Want to become a professional counselor who specializes in family dynamics? The CSU Fresno MFT program provides a complete path to reach your counseling career goals. This master’s degree program in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) prepares professional counselors and meets all approved degree title requirements for the California Marriage, Family and Child Counseling license.

Students can complete the CSU Fresno MFT program in just 5 semesters with 60 total units. The program costs around $16,434, making it an affordable choice for aspiring counselors. The Fresno State MFT program values ethnic and cultural diversity and welcomes students who represent the rich multicultural community of the Central Valley. This guide will help you understand the program’s structure, specializations, flexible learning options, admission requirements, and compelling reasons to choose CSU Fresno for your counseling education.

Program Snapshot

The CSU Fresno MFT program features a well-laid-out, detailed curriculum that gives you the professional counseling skills. Students benefit from accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which maintains high educational standards and professional recognition.

You can complete this 60-unit program in just five semesters. The program’s affordability stands out with total tuition estimated at $16,434. Each cohort maintains a small size of approximately 18 students. This intimate setting allows individual attention and helps build meaningful relationships with peers throughout your educational experience.

The program prepares you for two licensure paths – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). These dual qualifications improve your career prospects after graduation by a lot.

The program follows a cohort model requiring full-time dedication. Class schedules accommodate various needs, with sessions from 1:00-3:50 pm, 4:00-6:50 pm, and 7:00-9:50 pm. New students can join in Fall and Spring semesters, making it more accessible.

California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements are met fully by the curriculum. Graduates can work in a variety of settings such as:

• Private or agency counseling practices
• County mental health programs
• Employee assistance programs
• Drug and alcohol abuse centers
• Hospital mental health settings

The CSU Fresno MFT program’s unique strength lies in its practical training at the Fresno Family Counseling Center. This combination of hands-on experience and strong academic preparation will give a solid foundation for entry-level counseling positions leading to state licensure in your chosen field.

Specializations

CSU Fresno’s MFT curriculum creates multiple career paths in the mental health field through specialized training. The program makes shared dual licensure tracks possible as both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).

The Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling track features 31 units of specialized coursework to build your family systems expertise. The core curriculum has essential courses like Family Therapy Theories (3 units), Ethics in Counseling (3 units), Psychopathology/DSM (3 units), and Child/Adolescent Counseling (3 units). Students learn specialized skills through focused mini-courses covering Sexuality Counseling (1 unit), Domestic Violence (1 unit), and Substance Abuse Treatment (1 unit).

Students choosing the LPCC track need 12 additional units of specialized coursework. These courses include:

• Advanced Counseling Theories (3 units)
• Addictions Counseling (3 units)
• Psychopharmacology (3 units)
• Crisis and Trauma Counseling (3 units)

The program optimizes course requirements – Addictions Counseling replaces the Substance Abuse Treatment mini-course, while the LPCC Psychopharmacology course substitutes the standard Psychopharmacology component.

The program’s cornerstone is its practical training at the Fresno Family Counseling Center (FFCC), which has operated since 1985. Students provide affordable mental health services to the community under close supervision while gaining valuable hands-on experience. The center’s specialized programs include Nurturing Parenting (14-week class), Anger Management (12-week class), and Co-Parenting (8-week class).

FFCC’s practical experience helps students master group facilitation and targeted interventions beyond traditional therapy approaches. This powerful combination of theoretical knowledge and real-world application gives graduates the credentials and confidence to serve clients in various mental health settings effectively.

Learning Options and Flexibility

CSU Fresno’s MFT program strikes a perfect balance between structure and flexibility to meet students’ diverse needs. The program runs as a cohort-based, full-time curriculum, but students can choose from several options that fit their learning experience.

Students complete the 60-unit curriculum in just five semesters. This quick timeline helps them enter the workforce sooner while getting complete training. The cohort model groups admitted students who take courses arranged for their specific group. This setup encourages a supportive learning community and helps students progress through their coursework together.

CSU Fresno shows its dedication to accessibility through smart course scheduling. Classes run during day and evening hours in three time blocks: 1:00-3:50pm, 4:00-6:50pm, and 7:00-9:50pm. This schedule helps students manage their personal and professional commitments while studying.

Students can also choose different paths through the program. Some take just 1-2 courses each semester. In spite of that, master’s students must finish their degree within five years after taking their first course. This five-year window gives students flexibility while making sure they complete the program on time.

The program’s structure helps maintain a good work-life balance. Students can work with their advisor to create a tailored program timeline based on their availability and course options. But students who want to finish in two years must start their coursework in the first summer after acceptance.

Students with busy schedules should note they can’t take more than four courses (12 credit hours) in one semester without their advisor’s approval through the university overload form. It also offers some courses online or in hybrid formats that blend face-to-face and online learning.

CSU Fresno’s MFT program understands its students have different needs. It creates paths that respect each student’s situation while delivering excellent education.

Admission Requirements

The CSU Fresno MFT program has specific academic and personal requirements you need to meet. You must keep a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your last 60 semester units and any post-baccalaureate work at Fresno State. Students with GPAs higher than 3.0 get priority when we think over their applications.

You should complete these three prerequisite courses with a C grade or better before applying:

• COUN 174 or PSYCH 174 (Introduction to Counseling)
• COUN 176 or PSYCH 66/166 (Counseling and Mental Health/Abnormal Psychology)
• ERE 153 or equivalent statistics course (Educational Statistics)

The program won’t accept prerequisites older than 10 years.

Your application just needs a well-written 2-page statement of purpose that shows your educational goals, motivation, career plans, and relevant competencies. You’ll also need three recommendation letters from instructors, supervisors, or qualified people who can assess your potential for graduate studies.

International students who completed their primary education in another language must prove their English skills. They need a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (internet-based).

The program meets California’s approved degree requirements for Marriage, Family and Child Counseling licensure. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences has additional requirements you’ll need to meet for licensing.

Why Choose This Program

The CSU Fresno MFT program offers unique advantages that can shape your counseling career path. The program’s CACREP accreditation guarantees quality education that meets national standards effectively. This credential allows graduates to take the National Counselor Exam and earn the National Certified Counselor Credential.

The program’s success rates demonstrate its value clearly. A remarkable 92% of graduates secure jobs within three months after finishing. The 2023-2024 academic year saw 79% of students completing the program within two and a half years, while every student passed their clinical coursework successfully.

The sort of thing I love about this program is its Fresno Family Counseling Center (FFCC), which doubles as a training facility and community resource. The center’s nationally recognized “Dual Channel Feedback” training system lets licensed supervisors give immediate clinical feedback while recording sessions. Universities across the United States and Canada have adopted this innovative model.

Graduates qualify to work in settings of all types – from private practices to county mental health programs, employee assistance programs, drug and alcohol centers, and hospital mental health facilities. CSU Fresno stands ready to tackle the Central Valley’s mental health challenges while producing skilled marriage and family therapy professionals.