Masters of Science (M.S.) in Clinical/Counseling Psychology Program
The Masters of Science degree in clinical/counseling psychology is a 63-71 semester-unit program designed to develop practical skills in counseling, through supervised training and experience, and knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter and research methodology. The program culminates with a thesis or comprehensive examination and an internship experience. Students receive close individual mentoring as only 10 to 15 students are admitted each year. The M.S. program operates an on-campus psychology clinic for clinical training purposes. Coursework and other requirements of the program are described here.
The program is designed to meet the basic educational requirements for licensure in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Licensure as a MFT in California enables individuals to work in clinical and community mental health settings, engage in private practice with third-party reimbursement, and, after two year of licensure, supervise MFT trainees and interns. Additionally, the high standards maintained for the California license means that other states with master's-level counseling licenses may recognize the MFT for reciprocity purposes. Additionally, the clinical/counseling program has a track record of preparing students who later enter doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology.
Clinical/Counseling Psychology Faculty
From left to right: David Chavez, Maria Santos, Stacy Forcino, Manijeh Badiee (Program Director), Jacob Jones, Michael Lewin
Applying to the Clinical/Counseling Program
Applicants must use the Cal State Apply website to apply to the M.S. in Clinical/Counseling Program. Please follow the instructions on the Department of Psychology's Graduate Admissions webpage. Please note that the MS Clinical/Counseling application requires unofficial transcript(s), three letters of recommendation, and a two-page personal statement, which should include the applicant's:
- preparation for graduate study (including addressing any weaknesses in your application),
- goals in a graduate training program,
- professional aspirations following receipt of the master's degree.
Financial Assistance
Some financial aid resources are available to our graduate students. Each year a few Teaching Assistants are available in the second year of training, and a few faculty have grants to hire research assistants. Some second-year internships offer a stipend. Student loans, offered through the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program, may be available if you are accepted into the program. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the campus Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at (909) 537-5227 early (i.e. before March) for information about these loans and other aid possibilities.
Information Sessions
- Have you ever thought about becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist?
- Are you considering graduate programs in psychology?
- Are you unsure about the next steps in your psychology career?
Come to one of our information sessions to learn more about the Clinical/Counseling Psychology Master’s program offered here at CSUSB. Find out what our program has to offer, whether it is a good fit for you, and application information!
Fall 2023 Information Sessions
Monday, November 13, 2023 @ 12:00 pm by Zoom only