Pre-Requisite - 3 units

Prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning the program: no exceptions.

EPC 451: Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance (3)

2021 MFT Curriculum

1. Marriage and Family Therapy Foundations (18 units)

EPC 643MF Diversity in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 670MFA Systemic Family Therapy Theories (3)
EPC 670MFB Postmodern and Cognitive-Behavioral Family Theories (3)
EPC 670MFC Psychoeducational and Process Groups in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 671MF Law, Ethics, and Professional Issues in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 674MF Family Development Across the Lifespan (3)

2. Advanced Intervention with Specific Populations (16 units)

EPC 656MF Therapy with Children, Adolescents, and Their Families (3)
EPC 657MF Career Interventions in Mental Health Contexts (3)
EPC 673MF Trauma-Informed Community Mental Health (3)
EPC 675MF Substance Abuse and Addictions Treatment in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 677MFA Couples and Sex Therapy (3)
EPC 677MFB Gender and Human Sexuality in Couple and Family Therapy (1)

3. Clinical Assessment and Research Courses (15 units)

EPC 603MFA Clinical Research and Program Evaluation (3)
EPC 603MFB: Introduction to Professional Writing (2)*
EPC 672MFA Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 672MFB Neurobiology and Treatment of Trauma (1)
EPC 678MF Psychopharmacology & Neurobiological Foundations in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 679MF Clinical and Outcome-Based Assessment (3)
4. Practicum and Fieldwork Courses (17 units)

EPC 659MFA Introduction to Counseling Theory and Practice (3)
EPC 659MFB Practicum in Family Therapy (3)
EPC 659MFC Fieldwork in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
EPC 659MFD Fieldwork in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)

EPC 690MF Advanced Fieldwork & Professional Development in Family Therapy (5)***

5. Culminating Experience (6 units)

In order to complete their culminating experience, students will choose, in consultation with their culminating experience chair:
a. Comprehensive Exam: Either EPC695MF Writing Seminar in Family Therapy (3) or EPC696MF Directed Graduate Research in Family Therapy (3) AND EPC 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)
OR
b. Master’s Thesis or Project: EPC 698C Thesis/Graduate Project (6)

Total Units Required for the M.S. Degree: 72

Sample Course Sequencing

2 1/2 -3 Year Program, Including Two Summers
Each cohort will receive its exact course sequencing at the start of the program.

YEAR ONE FALL

EPC 670MFA Systemic Family Therapy Theories (3)

EPC 659MFA Introduction to Counseling Theory and Practice (3)

EPC 643MF Diversity in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 671MF Law, Ethics, and Professional Issues in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 603MFB: Introduction to Professional Writing (2)

YEAR ONE SPRING

EPC 670MFB Postmodern and Cognitive-Behavioral Family Theories (3)

EPC 659MFB Practicum in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 603MFA Clinical Research and Program Evaluation (3)

EPC 672MFA Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 672MFB Neurobiology and Treatment of Trauma (1)

YEAR ONE SUMMER
EPC 674MF Family Development Across the Lifespan (3)

EPC 690MF Advanced Fieldwork & Professional Development in Family Therapy (2)

YEAR TWO FALL

EPC 659MFC Fieldwork in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)

EPC 673MF Trauma-Informed Community Mental Health (3)

EPC 656MF Therapy with Children, Adolescents, and Their Families (3)

EPC 677MFA Couples and Sex Therapy (3)
YEAR TWO SPRING
EPC 659MFD Fieldwork in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)

EPC 670MFC Psychoeducational and Process Groups in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 679MF Clinical and Outcome-Based Assessment (3)

EPC 677MFB Gender and Human Sexuality in Couple and Family Therapy (1)

EPC696MF Directed Graduate Research in Family Therapy (3)

YEAR TWO SUMMER

EPC 657MF Career Interventions in Mental Health Contexts (3)

YEAR THREE FALL

EPC 678MF Psychopharmacology & Neurobiological Foundations in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 675MF Substance Abuse and Addictions Treatment in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 690MF Advanced Fieldwork & Professional Development in Family Therapy (3)

EPC 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3) OR EPC 698C Thesis/Graduate Project

2012-2020 MFT Curriculum

M.S. IN COUNSELING, OPTION IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY

NOTE: THIS CURRICULUM IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND IS INCLUDED FOR THOSE CURRENTLY ENROLLED

Counseling Core Courses

643: Diversity in Counseling (3)
655: Counseling Theories (3)
657C: Career Interventions in Mental Health Counseling (3)
671M: Law, Ethics, and Professional Issues in Family Therapy (3)

Marriage and Family Specialization Courses

656: Therapy with Children, Adolescents, and their Families (3)
670A: Systemic Family Theories and the Evidence Base (3)
670B: Postmodern & Cognitive Family Theories & the Evidence Base (3)
670C: Psychoeducation & Group Process in Family Therapy (3)
673: Community Mental Health (3)
674: Family Development Across the Lifespan (3)
675: Chemical Dependency and Addictions Counseling (3)
677: Couple and Sex Therapy (3)
Clinical Assessment and Research Courses

603: Clinical Research and Program Evaluation (3)
679: Clinical and Outcome-Based Assessments (3)
672: Mental Health Diagnosis (3)
678: Psychopharmacology & Neurobiological Foundations (3)
Practicum and Fieldwork Courses

659A: Practicum: Communication (3)
659B: Practicum: Skills (3)
659P: Fieldwork in MFT (3)
659Q: Fieldwork in MFT (3)
659R: Fieldwork in MFT (1)
690: Professional Development and Practice in the Field (1, 2, or 3 units; optional; as needed to complete field practice)
Culminating Experience

697/698 and 695WC Comprehensive Exams or Thesis/Project (3-6) Note: most students require six units.
64-67 Unit program

Transferring Degree Out of State

CSUN has reviewed the 2020 licensing laws and policies based on resources provided through the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (https://amftrb.org/) and research shared by faculty at Auburn University, another COAMFTE accredited school. Based on our review, our program will enable students to pursue licensure in the following states. However, since states and regulatory boards can change their laws and policies at any time, CSUN cannot guarantee our degree and fieldwork experience will meet future licensing laws out of state.

CSUN University MFT degree and fieldwork meets licensure requirements in all states, with the following exceptions/modifications

• Alabama: requires 50 more couple/family hours in fieldwork for a total of 250 relational hours. Curriculum is accepted.

• Alaska and New Mexico: They list out an older COAMFTE curriculum standard. Our newer curriculum should meet these requirements, but unlike other states that use the current COAMFTE standards, students must apply and have the courses individually evaluated.

Note: In 2020, CSUN allowed for COVID accommodation for students unable to acquire the standard COAMFTE 500 fieldwork hours. Students who used this accommodation may run into issues when pursuing licensure in states that have the 500-hour requirement in their law, which includes Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, and Vermont.