Marital & Family Therapy

Program Description

The Department of Marital and Family Therapy aligns with the educational and clinical COAMFTE Standards. It offers a qualifying Master of Science (M.S.) degree program evaluated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) required to pursue a license as a marriage and family therapist in the state of California. The Department permits enrollment in courses solely to students admitted to the M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy program.

This 2.5 to 3-year degree program consists of comprehensive educational experiences in the study of theories and techniques of marriage and family therapy (MFT), along with 300 client contact hours of applied, supervised clinical practicum that involves the 3,000 supervised hours of experience required to be eligible for the MFT licensure.

Features
Courses are offered primarily in the evening to accommodate students who work during the day. Students must expand their availability in year two to accommodate traineeship and the Program’s practicum course.
Cohort Program designed to bring MFT students together with shared goals and skills to learn and progress through the program.
63-unit program full-time allows students to complete the program requirements in three years. Options for a part-time or accelerated plan of study are only available with advisement and approval from the Department’s program coordinator and chair.
Welcomes and trains students to work with diverse, marginalized communities in inclusive and equitable practices. The program is committed to diversity as reflected in its mission, students, faculty, and community engagement.
Publicly supported program in Southern California offering curriculum and clinical training that meets the educational requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences required to become a registered Associated Marriage and Family Therapist.
Career Possibilities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Marriage and Family Therapists, the employment outlook grows 22% faster than the average for all occupations. A marriage and family therapist can gain employment in the public and private sectors. Career possibilities include and are not limited to the following settings: Outpatient care centers, inpatient care facilities and hospitals, Employee Assistance Programs, schools, social services agencies, substance abuse agencies, and private practice.

See the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for additional details: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/marriage-and-family-therapists.htm

* Pre-Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing
Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available at the Department of Marital and Family Therapy. 

The BBS evaluated and determined that the Master of Science degree obtained from the CSUDH MFT program meets state requirements to pursue licensure for marriage and family therapy (MFT) and professional clinical counselor (PCC) in California. However, it is essential to note that each state regulates the licensure of MFT and PCC. Licensure in California does not denote licensure in other states, provinces, or U.S. territory. The MFT Department advises students to be aware of the limits of portability. The American Association for Marital and Family Therapy states that portability addresses the "ability to take an individual's qualifications for a license in one state and apply them for licensure in another state." As licensure requirements vary from state to state, students interested in pursuing licensure in a state other than California must consider the state licensure requirements. The department policy on informing students about limits of licensure acquires before students enrolling in the program. The program explains and requires acknowledgment of the limitations of licensure across stateliness in the applicant's Cal State Apply application to the program and during New Student Orientation (NSO) before students enrolling in any classes. The MFT Department requires all prospective students, before enrolling in Semester one (1) courses, to sign and submit the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INFORMATION POTENTIAL VARIANCES IN LICENSES REGULATION ACROSS STATES AND PROVINCES included in the Appendix to the MFT program administrative assistant.

Additional information concerning variations and limits in licensing regulations across states, provinces, or U.S. territories is available from the Department Program Coordinator, Dr. Monique Willis: mwillis@csudh.edu 

The MFT Program Mission Statement

We prepare students in systemic theory, research, and relational practice to critically and ethically engage concerns of intersectionality, equity, and social justice to improve systems of oppression and promote wellness among individuals, couples, and families of diverse and underserved communities.

The mission of the MFT Program is linked to the university’s mission and guides the program goals, program outcomes, and student learning outcomes which inform course content and assessments.
Program Goals (PG)
The MFT program goals reflect the COAMFTE’s five Developmental Competency Components outlined in Standards Version 12.5.
  • Knowledge of the MFT profession
  • Practice of relational/systemic therapy as a qualified behavioral/mental health provider
  • Commitment to ethical practice through ethical codes of the MFT profession and pertinent
  • regulatory bodies
  • Awareness, knowledge, and skill to responsibly serve diverse communities
  • Development and application of research to further the knowledge and practice of the MFT profession.
Program Goals (PG)
  • PG:1-Knowledge: Teach students fundamental, relational, and systemic principles of marriage and family therapy theory and techniques relevant to clinical practice.
  • PG:2- Practice: Train students to be competent, systemic clinical clinicians to serve diverse clinical populations and clinical needs.
  • PG:3- Communication: Prepare students to effectively communicate (oral and written) in a manner that conveys concepts and insights consistent with marriage and family therapy's clinical practice.
  • PG:4-Diversity: Promote awareness of intersectional identities and contextual influences within diverse communities, social systems, and marginalized groups in clinical practice.
  • PG:5-Research: Prepare Students to analyze and evaluate empirical findings critically, utilizing, examining, and integrating research to inform clinical practice.
  • PG:6-Ethics: Educate students to apply legal, ethical, and professional standards required for clinical, systemic, and relational practice.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
Students graduating from the CSUDH MFT program achieve competency in the field of couples, marriage, and family therapy, evidenced by the achievement of a collection of distinct program learning outcomes

PLO:1-Knowledge: Employ a specialized understanding of fundamental, relational, and systemic principles of marriage and family therapy theory and techniques relevant to clinical practice.
PLO: 2-Practice: Practice competent, systemic clinical skills to serve diverse clinical populations and clinical needs.
PLO:3-Communication: Produce effective oral and written communication that clearly conveys concepts and insights consistent with marriage and family therapy's clinical practice.
PLO:4-Diversity: Support the intersectional identities and contextual influences within diverse communities, social systems, and marginalized groups in clinical practice.
PLO:5-Research: Analyze and evaluate empirical findings critically, utilizing, examining, and integrating research to inform clinical practice.
PLO:6-Ethics: Apply legal, ethical, and professional standards required for clinical, systemic, and relational practice.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
SLO:1-Knowledge: Students will have a solid knowledge of foundational counseling skills, systemic based models, and techniques in family therapy.
SLO:2-Knowledge: Students will apply knowledge of systemic models and techniques of family therapy to assessment, treatment, and clinical decision-making regarding therapy process and treatment.
SLO:3-Practice: Students will utilize knowledge about normative and non-normative child, adolescent, adult, couple, and family functioning to assess and treat presenting problems.
SLO:4-Practice: Students will utilize diagnostic criteria to assess and treat problems in individuals, couples, and family members' functioning.
SLO5-Communication: Students will demonstrate knowledge of effective communication with diverse clients across various clinical practice settings.
SLO6-Communication: Students will apply communication approaches using cultural, systemic, and relational frameworks.
SLO:7-Diversity: Students will have a working knowledge of how intersectional identities and social identities influence family functioning.
SLO:8-Diversity: Students will understand how the therapist's identity and location impact the course of therapy.
SLO:9-Research: Students will demonstrate knowledge of research-informed practices, including common factors and evidence-based approaches to become research consumers.
SLO:10-Research: Students will demonstrate the application of research-informed models/practice and decision-making regarding the therapy process and therapy.
SLO:11-Ethics: Students will be knowledgeable of professional codes of ethics, state laws, and models of ethical decision-making regarding the practice of couple/marriage and family therapy.
Diversity Statement
MFT Department/Program’s Diversity Statement

The Marital and Family Therapy Department welcomes and encourages students in inclusive and equitable practices to work with diverse, marginalized communities. The program values and is committed to diversity as reflected in its mission, students, faculty, supervisors, and community engagement. It recognizes that diversity as being inclusive but not limited to race, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, relationship status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, health status, religious or spiritual beliefs, religious or spiritual affiliation, national origin, and veteran status. The MFT program aligns with the university and global CSU system. The program does not discriminate based on any of the diversity mentioned statues indicated above in its activities, programming, education, or training relating to students, faculty, supervisors, or professional program staff. We maintain that diversity allows for a robust and productive learning environment for faculty and students and provides the experiences needed to serve diverse communities better through socially just practices. The program readily embodies diversity and records and publishes materials regarding the diversity composition of its students, faculty, and supervisors unless prohibited by law. The program's diversity statement is informed by and follows the mission statements throughout the CSUDH system.
Program Diversity Report
student demographics spring 2021 faculty demographics spring 2021
Outcome-Based Educational Framework
CSUDH Graduate Achievement Data
Advertised Program Length:
3 Years
Maximum Program Length: 5 Years
The Data Provided Reflects Full-Time Students Per Cohort

*Cohort Term/Year Students Entered Program# of Students in ProgramAdvertised Graduation Rate (%) *Maximum Graduation Rate (%) **Job Placement Rate (%) ***BBS Exam Pass Rate (%)
Fall 20161681%81%83%66%
Spring 20171361%In process0%0%
Fall 20172273%In process86%50%
Spring 20181060%In processIn processIn process
Fall 201832In processIn processIn processIn process
Spring 201915In processIn processIn processIn process
Fall 201912In processIn processIn processIn process
Spring 202010In processIn processIn processIn process
†Fall 202019In processIn processIn processIn process
†Spring 202117In processIn processIn processIn process
†Revised MFT 63-Unit Program

*Advertised Graduation Rate: The percentage of students based on the cohort term/year entered, graduated from the MFT Program within three (3) years; advertised the length of completion.

**Maximum Graduation Rate: The percentage of students based on the cohort term/year entered, who graduated from the program within five (5) years; maximum length of completion.

***Job Placement Rate: The percentage of graduates based on the cohort term/year entered who reported employment within three (3) years of graduation, utilizing skills learned in the MFT Program.

****CA Law and Ethics Exam Pass Rate: The percentage of graduates based on the cohort term/year entered who passed the California Law and Ethics Exam. The BBS first administered the Law and Ethics Exam in January 2016; Associates must take the exam within the first year of registration as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.