Program Description

The Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy is a five-semester, 60 unit degree program which prepares students to become couple and family psychotherapists and to take the examination for the Marriage and Family Therapy license offered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences of the State of California.  The program is based on three disciplines:  behavioral sciences, psychology, and sociology.  The basic areas of study include Theories of Marital and Family Counseling, Applied Psychotherapeutic Techniques, Communication, Human Sexuality, Studies of Domestic Violence and Partner Abuse, Laws and Professional Ethics, Child and Elder Abuse, Cross Cultural Family Values, Life Span Development, Psychopathology, Assessment, Treatment of Trauma, Relationship Therapy, Psychopharmacology, Treatment of Substance Abuse, and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.  In addition to extensive academic study of theories and techniques of marriage, family, and child counseling, students receive practical, supervised training aimed at satisfying a minimum of 500 of the 3,000 hours required prior to eligibility for the licensing examination.  Application deadline is June 1.

The Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy Program is focused on providing a comprehensive approach to relationship therapy primarily within marriages, families, and couples; groups, the work environment, and community-based mental health are also included.  Students may specialize in one of several areas according to their interests and abilities.  The program will also prepare students to take the examination for the Marital and Family Therapy (M.F.T.) license offered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences of the State of California.

Features
The Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy at CSU Dominguez Hills is one of only a few publicly supported programs in Southern California offering a complete evening course of study to accommodate those who work during the day.

Preparation
To qualify for admission to the Marital and Family Therapy Program certain prerequisite courses are required.  They include: (1) Theories of Personality; (2) Research Methods; (3) Abnormal Psychology; (4) Developmental Psychology; and (5) Sociology of the Family.

Career Possibilities
This program's main function is to prepare students to become licensed Marital & Family Therapists.  Marital & Family Therapists can work in private practice getting clients through referrals, direct advertising, and through contract work with Employee Assistant Programs and health insurance companies.  Marital & Family Therapists have been hired by hospitals with a mental health division and they can work at community counseling centers.   Counseling centers at schools are also looking for Marital & Family Therapists as well as drug and alcohol treatment centers, shelters for domestic violence, youth centers, the courts, and religiously based counseling centers.