California State University, Bakersfield

M.S. in Counseling Psychology

On-Campus

Cal State Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway, 24 DDH
Bakersfield, CA 93311

M.S. Counseling Psychology Home Page

 

Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.

Program Snapshot

Accreditation

WASC

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

The M.S. Program in Counseling Psychology is designed to meet the state of California educational requirements for becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).

Length of Program

Three-year, 60-semester unit program

Schedule/Format

The MS in Counseling Psychology classes meet between the hours of 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

For both semesters of the second year of the 3-year program, students must be available at least three weekday afternoons per week to obtain supervised, hands-on practicum experience in our University Counselor Training Clinic. In addition, students are required to be available three afternoons (1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) per week during the second year (Practicum I and II).

For both semesters of the last year, students must be available at least 20 hours per week during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for their clinical field placements in supervised settings within the community (Traineeship I and II).

Students who are employed full-time upon entering the program will likely need to modify their work schedule, especially during years two and three, to assure availability for mandated clinical and field work.

Program Start

Fall

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$21,528

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

Take and pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Evaluation (CPCE). This is the culminating activity for the M.S. in Counseling Psychology. The CPCE is a national exam that is offered to third-year students, on-site at CSUB, during the spring semester each year. All students must take and pass this exam to graduate.

Application Process

Application Deadline

ALL application materials to join the fall 2021 cohort are to be submitted electronically and are due by February 5, 2021. Late materials will not be considered.

Undergraduate GPA Required

A grade point average of 3.2 or better in your most recent 60 semester units of academic work, but if your GPA is below a 3.2, you will submit a justification statement explaining this.

GRE Requirement

Not required

Prerequisite Courses

Before beginning courses in the program, accepted students must complete at least six undergraduate psychology courses including the following:

  • Introductory statistics

  • Abnormal psychology

  • A developmental psychology course (i.e., child psychology, human growth and development, or lifespan development).

Prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of no lower than “B-” (4.0 grading scale) and have been completed within five calendar years of beginning coursework in the Counseling Psychology graduate program. 

Application Highlights

 Applications for the MS in Counseling Psychology are to be completed electronically using CalState Apply system. You can begin the application process using this link: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/graduate 

 To apply, be prepared to provide the following:

1) a personal statement including your goals and objectives for entering the mental health field as well as your experiences and skills;  

2) A current curriculum vita;

3) Contact information for three references (referees will provide ratings and letters directly to us after you enter their email addresses);

4) Completion of a self-rating questionnaire;

5) Transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended;

6) If your GPA is below a 3.2, you will submit a justification statement explaining this.

Interview Requirement

After an initial screening, selected applicants will be invited for an interview. Accepted applicants will be selected from those who completed a successful interview.

Program Summary

Students receive broad training that prepares them for work in diverse and changing settings. The well-trained counselor will understand that:

  • counseling involves the application of intervention techniques based on the best theory and empirical research available;

  • the counseling relationship is central to effective therapeutic intervention;

  • counselors creatively use their knowledge, skills, and personal experiences to create an environment where clients can make positive change;

  • clients’ adaptive and maladaptive functioning is determined by multiple factors including individual, familial and cultural influences; and training and education in counseling is a lifelong process that begins in graduate school and continues throughout the counselor’s professional career.

The CSUB Counseling Psychology program particularly values personal exploration in training and supervision. The curricular objectives of the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology therefore emphasize:

  • a foundation in the theory and research upon which clinical practice is based;

  • development of self-awareness and relationship-building skills that contribute to strong

  • therapeutic alliances with clients;

  • experiential learning, through which students learn and practice relevant skills and come to trust their own experience in work with clients;

  • an understanding of and a sensitivity to the effects of diverse individual, familial, and

  • cultural factors; and,

  • development of skills needed for lifelong learning and continued professional growth.

Experiential Learning Requirements

The Master of Science in Counseling Psychology Program is sequentially arranged and includes an emphasis on principles of experiential learning. Students are expected to participate from both counselor and client perspectives in individual, dyadic, and group exercises. Enrollment in the program implies student consent to engage in individual and group experiential learning activities in various courses.