Counseling Psychology, M.S. Program
Program Description
The Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree requires 60 units organized according to university and degree program requirements. Requirements are established to ensure that each degree candidate obtains adequate breadth in subject matter, field experiences, and research.
Students interested in the Pupil Personnel Service (PPS) Credential in School Counseling or School Psychology, please refer to individual program pages. A PPS Credential is integrated and completed at the same time as the M.S. in Counseling Psychology in the School Counseling or School Psychology concentrations.
CSU East Bay offers three concentrations, below, within M.S. Counseling Psychology. Courses are offered in-person with some courses offered online or hybrid. Individuals interested in a M.S. in Counseling Psychology degree must enroll in one of the following concentrations:
Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
The primary focus of the Marriage and Family Therapy concentration is to train psychotherapists who eventually plan to obtain a California Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and/or a Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) Associateship. Additional units may be taken to meet the requirements for the PCC and the MFT internship. (See BBS Sections 4980.37, 4980.41 (a)(4)&(5) for MFT and 4999.33 for LPCC.) These additional PCC courses lead to completion of the required hours of clinical experience for the license application. The PCC units may be completed at the same time as the M.S. in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy concentration.
The MFT course work is geared towards a relational approach to counseling that focuses on multicultural diversity, collaborative treatment, wellness, resiliency, and recovery. Faculty orient students to promote resilience and practice strength-based interventions. Course work combined with clinical practicum training in the field prepares graduates to work from a relational perspective.
School Counseling Concentration
The School Counseling concentration is designed to prepare candidates to be professional school counselors who use data-driven, comprehensive programs and services to advocate for social justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity in P-20 settings. Candidates have an option to complete additional fieldwork hours to acquire an Associate Marriage and Family Therapy License (Intern License) to increase their options to work with children and families inside and outside of schools. The School Counseling Program is committed to training socially just candidates who are competent in developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive programs and services that are designed to be educational and preventative with a focus on developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive approaches.
School Psychology Concentration
The School Psychology concentration, with MFT training, is nationally accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
The philosophy of the School Psychology concentration is to train graduate students in evidenced-based practice to promote social justice and equity in diverse school communities. Social justice is the call to provide all pupils with the support, skills, and services they need to reach their full potential in spite of poverty and other significant challenges. The School Psychology concentration is committed to the academic and social-emotional development of children, families and communities. Thus, we strive to promote a strong professional identity in School Psychology while providing a core of shared learning experiences.
The goals of the concentration are to provide clinical training, instruction, field-based placements, and cohort learning opportunities to promote four levels of trainee development; 1) Foundation for Clinical Practice, 2) Professional Skills and Knowledge, 3) Demonstration of Competency, and 4) Professional Identity. Although each area is introduced at different points of the program, levels of development and knowledge based content are continuously revisited and integrated into group and individual discussion and reflection. In addition, coursework continues to build as trainees demonstrate competence in service delivery.
Career Opportunities
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
The MFT concentration prepares graduate students for clinical work in a wide variety of settings, such as community mental health based and county agencies, juvenile and adult justice fields, schools and universities, hospitals, business and industry, and private practice.
Graduates have been hired in a wide range of agencies and businesses. Some are counselors in junior colleges and college counseling settings, Others are drug and alcohol abuse counselors in hospitals, family therapists on-site in schools, advocates for the mentally ill, therapists working with chronically ill and they elderly, child therapists in therapeutic nursery schools, assessment counselors, information and referral clinicians in employment assistance programs, individual and family therapists for police departments, juvenile hall and adult prisons, grief counselors, organizational development specialists, and human resource professionals in business and industry.
School Counseling
Graduates of M.S. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling often work in schools and community based agencies. Graduates have also been hired as counselors in junior colleges, higher education institutions, and drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs. Additional courses taken for the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and coursework required by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) may lead to positions providing mental health services and guidance support for students in K-12 schools, careers as child therapists in therapeutic schools, assessment counselors, information and referral clinicians in employee assistance programs, individual and family therapists for police departments, and organizational development specialists. Some graduates have pursued doctoral-level work in clinical and counseling psychology or education after completing their master’s degree in this program.
School Psychology
The M.S. Counseling, School Psychology concentration, with MFT training, prepares graduates for careers as School Psychologists, educational interventionists, and therapists in schools, hospitals, and mental health organizations. According to the US News and World Report’s on-line career review, it is a top social service prospect for the future. Successful completion of program courses lead to a recommendation for the California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential to practice School Psychology. Additionally, clinical coursework and training allow graduates to apply to be a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate, which enables graduates to acquire hours toward the Marriage and Family Therapy license- Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). The specialization courses prepare graduates to make a difference in their communities through providing mental health services and advocacy.
M.S. Counseling Psychology Admission Requirements
M.S. in Counseling Admission Requirements
- University application (submitted via Cal State Apply)
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Official transcripts
- Department application (submitted via M.S. Counseling Psychology online application)
- Personal Statement
- Current Resume
- Official Transcripts
- Three academic/professional letters of recommendation (use EPSY Admissions Application Recommendation Form)
- Basic Skills Requirements (BSR) candidates need to demonstrate proficiency in one of the eight options determined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (see CCTC for the options)
- Prerequisites (see curriculum requirements below) must be completed prior to start of graduate coursework in the fall term of admission to the program.
- Note that the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended, but not required.
- Work or volunteer experience with children, adolescents, or adults (e.g., summer camps, school programs, tutoring, community service) is highly recommended.
Student Standing and Progress
The MS in Counseling Psychology requires demonstration of the following:
- Completion of all coursework toward the degree with a grade of B or higher in each course.
- Ongoing evaluation of candidate’s professional skills and competencies.
Advancement to Candidacy
- Satisfactory evaluations from field and University supervisors/professors
- Demonstration of ethical and professional program expectations and dispositions program requirements
- Completion of required field-based practicum hours.
- A passing score on the Praxis test for the School Counseling and School Psychology concentrations.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Cal State East Bay M.S. Counseling Psychology, graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate a knowledge of systems theories and be able to successfully apply theories in clinical practice.
- demonstrate an awareness of diversity and social justice issues, as well as demonstrate competence in working with diverse populations.
- demonstrate ethical and legal professional practice by identifying and applying ethical and legal standards applied to counseling, assessment, intervention, and consultation.
- effectively and clearly communicate with all stakeholders.
Counseling Psychology Degree Requirements (52-71 units)
Prerequisites or Foundation Requirements
The prerequisites or foundation coursework below (or their equivalents) are required for all students in the M.S. Counseling Psychology program. Please check concentration requirements for additional prerequisites. Prerequisites must be completed before beginning graduate-level coursework. This area may require 0-11 units that are not included in the major units:
Required Core Courses
The following 31-33 units are required for all students:
Concentrations
Choose one (1) of the M.S. in Counseling concentrations to complete the degree:
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