M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
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About the MFT Program
The marriage and family therapy specialization within the M.S.degree in Counseling is a nationally accredited CACREP program that provides students with competency in the content areas required by the State Board of Behavioral Science for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Our mission is to train exceptional marriage and family therapists to serve the needs of individuals, couples, children, and families in the the diverse communities of Southern California. We seek to provide a supportive, engage learning environment that enables our students to develop effective working relationships with diverse clients, competency in contemporary therapy theories, and a solid foundation in the field's evidence-base. Using a learning-centered, outcome-based pedagogy, our cutting-edge curriculum balances academic knowledge with clinical practice to ensure all students develop the real-world skills they need to succeed throughout their careers. Our students are prepared to provide services in community, public, and private mental health settings and eventually to serve as leaders in the field. Many students also choose to pursue doctoral studies upon graduation.
Upon completion of coursework and being awarded the degree,students are eligible to apply to the State Board for internship registration when endorsed by an officer of the University. Following completion of 3,000 hours of supervised field experience and successful passage of a written and oral examination administered by the State Board,candidates are awarded the Marriage, Family, Child Counseling license by the State.
Please visit our MFT program webpage, which provides extensive information, guidance, and forms for applicants, students, and graduates: www.csunmft.net.
Prerequisites for the M.S. Program in Family Therapy (12 Units*)
Prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning the program: no exceptions.
Students enrolling in the accelerated, daytime program must finish their prerequisites during the spring prior to beginning in their first summer session. Students enrolling in the standard program must complete all prerequisites no later than the summer prior to their first semester; priority is given to students having prerequisites completed at time of application.
| To apply for equivalency, download the application packet and submit as directed. | |
| EPC 430 | Development & Learning Early Childhood Education (3) |
|---|---|
| EPC 451 | Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance (3) |
| EPC 600 | Educational Statistics for Research & Measurement (3) |
| PSY 310 | Behavior Disorders (3) |
Required Classes for the MFT
| 63-66 Unit program | |
| Counseling Core Courses | |
|---|---|
| 643 | Diversity in Counseling (3) |
| 655 | Counseling Theories (3) |
| 657C | Career Interventions in Mental Health Counseling (3) |
| 671 | Law and Ethics for Counselors (3) |
| Marriage and Family Specialization Courses | |
| 656 | Counseling Children, Adolescents, and their Families (3) |
| 670A | Systemic Family Theories and the Evidence Base (3) |
| 670B | Postmodern & Cognitive Family Theories & the Evidence Base (3) |
| 670C | Psychoeducation & Group Process in Family Counseling (3) |
| 673 | Community Mental Health Counseling (3) |
| 674 | Family Development Across the Lifespan (3) |
| 675 | Chemical Dependency and Addictions Counseling (3) |
| 677 | Couples Counseling (3) |
| Clinical Assessment and Research Courses | |
| 603 | Clinical Research and Program Evaluation (3) |
| 679 | Clinical and Outcome-Based Assessments (3) |
| 672 | Mental Health Diagnosis (3) |
| 678 | Psychopharmacology & Neurobiological Foundations (3) |
| Practicum and Fieldwork Courses | |
| 659A | Practicum: Communication (3) |
| 659B | Practicum: Skills (3) |
| 659P | Fieldwork (3) |
| 659Q | Fieldwork (3) |
| 690 | Professional Development and Practice in the Field (1, 2, or 3 units; optional; as needed to complete field practice) |
| Culminating Experience | |
| 697/698 | Comprehensive Exams or Thesis/Project (3-6) Note: most students require six units. |
Course Sequencing
Course sequencing is different for each cohort:
- Daytime, Accelerated Cohort: 6 Semester 2 Year Program
- Standard Afternoon/Evening Cohort: 8 Semester 2.5-3 Year Program
Students must take courses as outline below or request permission from Program Coordinator.
Daytime, Accelerated Cohort:
6 Semester Two-Year Program
Monday and Wednesdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
| Year One | Year Two | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMER: 9 units | |||
| 655 | Coun Theories | 656 | Child Therapy |
| 672 | Diagnosis | 657C | Career Interven |
| 674 | Development | 675 | Sub Abuse |
| *Plus 690 if in fieldwork | |||
| FALL: 12 units | |||
| 659A | Communication | 659P | Fieldwork |
| 670A | Systems Theories | 670C | Group Therapy |
| 671 | Law & Ethics | 679 | Assessment |
| 673 | Community MH | 695/698 | Comps/Thesis |
| SPRING: 12 units | |||
| 659B | Practicum | 659Q | Fieldwork |
| 670B | Postmodern Theory | 678 | Psychopharm |
| 643 | Diversity | 677 | Couples Therapy |
| 603 | Research | 697/698 | Comps/Thesis |
Standard Afternoon/Evening Cohort:
8-9 Semester 2.5-3 Year Program
Monday/Wednesday 4:00-10:00 pm OR
Tuesday/Thursday 4:00-10:00 pm
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMER: 3-4 units | |||||
| 678 | Psychopharm | 657C | Career Interventions | ||
| *Plus 690 if in fieldwork | |||||
| FALL: 12 units | |||||
| 655 | Coun Theories | 659P | Fieldwork | 656 | Child Therapy |
| 659A | Communication | 670B | Postmodern Theory | 675 | Sub Abuse |
| 671 | Law & Ethics | 670C | Group Theories | 677 | Couples Therapy |
| 673 | Community MH | 603 | Research | 697/698 | Comps/Thesis |
| *Plus 690 if in fieldwork | |||||
| SPRING: 12 units | |||||
| 659B | Practicum | 659Q | Fieldwork | If necessary, continue culminating experience (697/698) and/or fieldwork 1-4 units | |
| 670A | Systems Theories | 674 | Development | ||
| 672 | Diagnosis | 679 | Assessment | ||
| 643 | Diversity | 695/698 | Comps/Thesis | ||
Earning Hours Towards Licensure
In the fieldwork courses, students can earn hours towards licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Students may see clients in a range of community settings, including community counseling services, county agencies, hospitals, and schools. The Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling runs two agencies where some students choose to complete these requirements, one on campus and one in neighborhood locales.
The MFCC (Mitchell Family Counseling Clinic) is located on campus and invites outside clients in for low-fee, sliding scale counseling and therapy. The clinic uses primarily our own fieldwork students, supervised by licensed therapists. The Clinic also places student/trainees in schools in the nearby area to work with their student bodies. The phone contact for the MFCC is (818) 677 2568. Professor Michael Laurent is the faculty member directing the clinic.
The Valley Trauma Center is an agency in the community, funded by The Department of Criminal Justice, to serve rape and domestic violence victims. There are three locations, Northridge, Van Nuys, and Canyon Country. The VTC uses student counselor/trainees under the supervision of licensed therapists. Part of the agency includes Family Presevation services, where student/trainees serve families, often in their homes. The phone contact information for the VTC is (818) 756-5330. Professor Charles Hanson is the faculty member directing the agency.
Mandatory Workshop for Students in Practicum 659A-D
All Counseling Masters' students in EPC are required to attend a cutting edge workshop for each semester they are enrolled in Practicum: 659A 659B 659C & 659D. These workshops must be attended in person (not online) to enable students to network with other professionals and may be taken through any institution that offers Continuing Education Units for Marriage and Family Therapists. CSUN offers many options through its Extension programs, which are held on Saturdays and Sundays in Fall and Spring terms, some half day, some full day. Fees are charged, since the presenters are paid. Registration goes through The Tseng College (Extension), and flyers are distributed each semester in about the fourth week.
MFT Alumni/Student Network
There is also a CSUN Marriage/Family Therapist Alumni / Student Network that students and alumni are encouraged to participate in. The purpose of this organization is to encourage support and interaction among its members, and to enrich the field of psychotherapy in general. The CSUN-MFT A/SN offers many events including banquets, guest speakers, picnics, workshops, and scholarship opportunities.