Psychology M.S.

View information for the Department of Psychology .

The primary purpose of the Master of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy is to develop mastery of a substantial body of knowledge and skills for students planning careers in counseling or behavior analysis. Students completing the Counseling Track or the Behavior Analysis Track meet the educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) License. The Behavior Analysis Track is also accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis and meets the course requirements for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BCBA certification). The Behavior Analysis Track emphasizes applied behavior analysis and trains students for positions in a wide range of applied and counseling settings. The Counseling Track emphasizes a variety of counseling theories and skills in training students for positions in counseling settings. Admission to the program is competitive.

Minimum Prerequisites for Admission

1. A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and completion of the concentration prerequisites, with a grade of B or better or completion of a course in Introductory Psychology, completion of the concentration prerequisites with a minimum of 16 upper-division semester units in Psychology with a grade of B or better with course content acceptable to the Psychology Graduate Committee.

Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy, Behavior Analysis Track prerequisites:

 

One upper-division course in Experimental Psychology

( PSYC 3000    or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course on Learning Theory

( PSYC 3700   or 4720  )

One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology

( PSYC 3350   or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory

( PSYC 3790   or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques

( PSYC 4770   or equivalent)

Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling Track prerequisites:

One upper-division course in Experimental Psychology

( PSYC 3000   or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology

( PSYC 3350   or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory

( PSYC 3790   or equivalent)

One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques

( PSYC 4770   or equivalent)

2. A minimum 3.0 overall grade point average.
3. Satisfactory writing sample(s).
4. Completion of a set of examinations or other requirements by the Psychology Department to determine or rectify those areas in which further preparation is required.
5. Related work or volunteer experience is strongly recommended.
6. Three letters of recommendation.
7. Approval by the Psychology Department.

Minimum Requirements for Continuation

1. Maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average in all courses attempted.
2. Satisfactory progress toward the degree, which includes successful completion of coursework and thesis.
3. A classified graduate student in Psychology will be dropped from classified standing upon receiving more than three units of graduate study graded less than B-. However, any graduate student may retake a course graded less than B for a higher grade, and a classified student must remove such grade deficits (in excess of three units) in the next semester or petition the Graduate Committee for a time extension if it is impossible to make up the deficit. In no case will more than three units of graduate study graded less than B be counted towards a Master’s degree.
4. Other requirements may be stated in University and Departmental Guidelines for Academic Probation and Termination. The student is responsible for obtaining current copies of these regulations and complying with the criteria listed.

Requirements

(60 units minimum)

1. Complete the appropriate 60 or more units or their equivalent.
2. Complete the 36 core units listed in the Basic Requirements Section* as well as the requirements listed for the concentration to which they have been admitted.

 Note:  Some modification to the following stated requirements may be made to accommodate California educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist License, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and other program changes.