California State University, USA, Los Angeles

Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy, M.Sc.

Course Highlights

The MS in Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University Northridge prepares students for licensure as both a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California and in most other states.

Career Opportunities

Nursing is a vocational degree that develops your personal skills and a strong sense of professionalism, which are qualities valued by many employers Job options Jobs directly related to your degree include: Adult nurse Children's nurse Health visitor High intensity therapist Learning disability nurse Mental health nurse Midwife Paramedic Physician associate Jobs where your degree would be useful include: Counsellor Further education teacher Health service manager Higher education lecturer Play therapist Primary care graduate mental health worker Police officer Social worker Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Course Overview

Student Learning Outcomes To fulfill the department mission, faculty engages in University and professional activities to develop and provide undergraduate and graduate programs for the preparation of professionals. At the conclusion of their program of study, students will be able to: Develop and apply expertise in their fields of study. Think critically and engage in reflective, ethical and legal practice throughout their education and professional lives. Develop empathetic, respectful and congruent interpersonal skills and abilities to work successfully with groups and individuals from diverse backgrounds in educational, community and mental health settings. Communicate effectively using oral, written, listening and nonverbal attending and observational skills. Become information-competent scholars and researchers capable of utilizing current technology in work environments, while engaging in and disseminating creative, empirical and applied research studies and program evaluations. Collaborate skillfully and respectfully as leaders, consultants and team members in a variety of settings. Develop skills necessary to assess and evaluate individuals and groups and to utilize current technology in work environments. Maintain a multicultural and global perspective, emphasizing social justice, gender and educational equity, access and support. View their roles as preventative, educative and therapeutic in promoting well-being, healthy relationships, academic success and career mastery. Provide service through a wide variety of field-based partnerships informed by theory, research and practice. Act as advocates with initiative, perception and vision to lead and transform the practices and policies of those who provide services to individuals, families, schools, organizations, communities and policymakers. Pursue lifelong professional and personal development through such mediums as continuing education, information, technology, psychological counseling, participation and leadership in professional organizations, and doctoral study In addition to the department's learning objectives, the MS in Counseling - Marriage and Family Therapy program from California State University Northridge is designed to enable students to do the following: Develop empathetic, respectful and collaborative relationships when working with individuals, children, couples and families from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic classes, as well as with other professionals. Conduct psychosocial, family, clinical, diagnostic, crisis and client progress assessments of clients that account for family system dynamics and larger sociopolitical and cultural contexts. Utilize family therapy and counseling theories to conceptualize client situations and develop treatment plans that address diverse client needs based on the current evidence base. Provide effective, evidence-based and culturally responsive therapy interventions for individuals, children, couples, families and groups dealing with mild to severe mental health, addiction, family and/or relational issues. Identify the legal, ethical and documentation standards of marriage and family therapy practice, and understand how they apply in different service contexts, such as private practice, schools and public agencies, and with diverse populations. Engage in reflective practices that promote personal growth and self awareness, enabling students to critically and accurately evaluate how their beliefs, values, behaviors and cultural context affect clients and shape their perceptions of clients. Locate and use research to implement best-practice strategies with diverse clients and issues.

Subjects

Programme Structure The state-of-the-art curriculum is designed to teach professional skills to prepare students to work in public mental health, community agencies, hospitals medical settings, schools, private agencies and private practice, and/or to pursue clinical doctoral study. The curriculum emphasizes strengths-based approaches, diversity, evidence-based practices and development of the person-of-the-counselor, while providing depth in numerous areas of clinical specialties, including children, adolescents, couples, groups, parenting, sexual abuse, substance abuse, psycho-education, severe mental illness and career interventions. Students can further develop their areas of specialty through culminating experiences, which include a master s project, master s thesis or individually tailored comprehensive exams.

Fees

AUD/year

Academic Entry Requirement

Complete University application and requirements. Have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Have been in good standing at the last institution attended. Have at least a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted. If cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, score at or above the 50th percentile on one of the three sections of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (i.e., verbal, quantitative or analytical) or on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Applicants to the School Psychology Program are required to take the GRE or MAT. Pass Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam by earning a score of 8 or higher. Complete a department application for admission to graduate programs. Submit two recommendations, either as letters or on the departmental form. Participate in the admission's interview process. Be accepted by Departmental Student Affairs Committee. Complete all required prerequisite courses with a grade of B- or better within the past 7 years. (Equivalent courses may be substituted with approval from the program coordinator.) Development and Learning in Early Childhood Education (3) Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance (3) Educational Statistics for Research and Measurement (3) Abnormal Psychology (3)

English Entry Requirement

6.5

Contact Details

California State University