California State University, East Bay
M.S. in Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy
M.S. in Counseling, School Counseling
M.S. in Counseling, School Psychology
On-Campus
Cal State East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542
M.S. in Counseling Program Page
Marriage and Family Therapy Program Page
School Counseling Program Page
School Psychology Program 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
Our school counseling program is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and follows CTC standards , Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) statutes and regulations (pp. 23-26), and American School Counselor Association (ASCA) school counselor competencies .
Concentrations/Specializations Offered
Three different master’s programs are offered; each is a qualifying degree for the MFT license in California. You may only apply to one program at a time. The option in Marriage and Family Therapy also includes the opportunity to add additional coursework to meet the requirements for an LPCC-qualifying degree. The option in School Counseling also prepares candidates for a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling. The option in School Psychology also earns graduates a School Psychology Credential. In some respects, the three programs share similar requirements, but in others, they are different—make sure you are following the requirements for the specific program to which you wish to apply.
LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track
The primary focus of the MFT concentration is to train psychotherapists who eventually plan to obtain a California Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and/or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) internship license. Additional units may be taken to meet the requirements for the LPCC and the MFT internship. (See BBS Sections 4980.37, 4980.41 (a)(4)&(5) for MFT and 4999.33 for LPCC.)
These additional LPCC courses lead to completion of the required hours of clinical experience for the license application. The MFT course work is geared towards a relational approach to counseling that focuses on multicultural diversity, collaborative treatment, wellness, resiliency, and recovery.
Length of Program
The M.S. in Counseling programs are full-time, two/three year cohorted programs.
Schedule/Format
All three of our M.S. in Counseling programs are full-time, face-to-face programs.
Marriage and Family Therapy
Year 1
Classes: Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 8:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork: None
Year 2
Classes: Wednesdays and Thursday from 10am to 8:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork: Can be 12 – 20 hours per week depending on site schedule.
School Counseling/MFT
Year 1
Classes: Tuesday, Wednesday (some) and Thursday ranging from 10am to 5:00pm/8:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork: 2-3 days per week (School Day)
Year 2
Classes: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ranging from 10am to 5:00pm/8:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork: 2 days per week; 1 day in Community Counseling Center (at CSUEB)
School Psychology/MFT
Year 1
Classes: Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 7:00pm, Wednesday from 12:00pm to 6:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork (Volunteer): 1.5-2 days per week; 1/2 day in Community Counseling Center
Year 2
Classes: Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 6:00pm and some weekend courses
Fieldwork (Pre-Intern): 2-3 days per week; Optional Community Counseling Center
Year 3
Classes: Tuesday Afternoon/Evening – Meeting with your University Supervisor for group supervision on campus
Fieldwork (Internship): 4-5 days per week (Full-Time)
Please note: The schedules listed above are general timeframes based on previous years’ schedules. The schedules are subject to change.
Program Start
Fall
Estimated Total Program Tuition
MSMFT: $14, 352
MSMFT/School Counseling: $17,940
MSMFT/School Psychology: $21,528
Religious Orientation
None
Entering Class Size and Average Classroom Size
Unknown
Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program
Marriage and Family Therapist trainees begin working in their placement sites during their second year of training. Fieldwork Placement sites are available throughout the Bay area. This requirement allows students actual clinical, assessment, and counseling experience under the supervision of department faculty and qualified licensed professionals working in the field.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program
Unknown
Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:
Unknown
Application Process
Application Deadline
Department Application for Fall 2023 will open on October 1, 2022. The filing period varies, please refer to each page for the program's deadline.
The three deadline dates (or Rounds) are to ensure applications are submitted early enough for review. The earlier the application is submitted, the better. Interviews will start to be scheduled after the Round 1 deadline. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and once spaces are filled, applications are no longer reviewed.
Undergraduate GPA Required
You can apply with any Bachelor’s Degree, and the minimum GPA for the Department is 3.0. The University has a minimum GPA requirement of 2.50.
GRE Requirement
You are required to take the GRE regardless if you already possess a post baccalaureate degree. The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a standardized test taken by students who are applying to postgraduate programs in the US and in some other parts of the world. We will accept GRE scores taken within the last five years. There is no minimum score for the GRE to guarantee admission in to the MS in Counseling program. The GRE will beused as an assessment tool to determine a prospective candidate’s qualification for entry in to the program.
Prerequisite Courses
All of the prerequisite course (or equivalent courses) can be taken at any regionally-accredited institution, via face to face or online.
Marriage and Family Therapy:
STAT 100 (Elements of Statistics and Probability)
PSYC 381 (Psychopathology)
PSYC 340 (Developmental Psychology)
PSYC 350 (Personality Psychology)
School Counseling/MFT:
STAT 100 (Elements of Statistics and Probability)
PSYC 381 (Psychopathology)
PSYC 340 (Developmental Psychology)
School Psychology/MFT:
STAT 100 (Elements of Statistics and Probability)
PSYC 370 (Psychological Measurements) OR PSYC 491D (Research in Developmental Psychology)
This is an introduction to the development, norming, and standardization of tests. A research methods course is different and does not meet this prerequisite.
PSYC 412 (Learning Theory)
PSYC 381 (Psychopathology)
PSYC 340 (Developmental Psychology)
Application Highlights
Students applying to our program should follow the university and departmental admissions procedures, including the submission of:
The University Application (CSU Mentor).
The Departmental Application (available online on the department website).
Transcripts
University: Official transcripts from all previous institutions
Department: Official bachelor's degree transcript. Prerequisite course transcript may be unofficial.
Three academic/professional reference letters. (If possible, at least one recommendation should be from a faculty. Reference letters from family members or personal therapist will not be accepted.)
A personal statement to address:
(1) why you are choosing this professional career,
(2) experiences that have lead you to this point, and
(3) what you want to learn or further develop in the program that will help you toward you professional goals.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report.
The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) score report (School Counseling/School Psychology options only)
Interview Requirement
Not all applicants will receive an interview. Applicants selected to be interviewed may be notified for interview scheduling within 6-8 weeks of applying, but may be contacted as late as June. Interviews are scheduled until the program is full. The purpose of an interview is to allow the department faculty to meet you and get to know the person apart from the application.
Program Summary
Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master’s of Science in Counseling Program with the Marriage and Family Therapy Option is designed to promote social justice and democracy by preparing knowledgeable and competent professional Marriage and Family Therapists.
The MFT Program is committed to training Marriage and Family Therapists for clinical work in a variety of settings. The program is offered annually at the Hayward Campus.
We support the advancement of social justice, democracy, and professional excellence. This philosophy is utilized in preparing knowledgeable and competent professional Marriage and Family Therapists who engage in counseling, consultation and other psychological practices from a relational perspective. The MFT profession in California provides many opportunities to become leaders in the field and to help shape the profession.
School Counseling
The school counseling concentration is a full-time (two-year with summer courses) or part-time (three-year with summer courses) program of study that prepares candidates for a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling. Candidates may also choose to complete fieldwork that will prepare candidates for an Associate Marriage and Family Therapy (AMFT) Registration. Completing the marriage and family therapy (MFT) option can be finished in 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time with summer classes. Courses are offered during the later afternoon and evening in a hybrid format.
Our school counseling program is a field-based model that integrates our program, college, and university missions through data-driven, comprehensive school counseling programs and services that enrich equity, inclusion, and diversity for all pupils and their families.
The mission of our School Counseling Program (SCP) is to prepare socially just professional school counselors who:
Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for all pupils
Advocate for the academic, college/career, social-emotional, and mental health success for all pupils
Collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure access, attainment, and achievement for all pupils
Commit to lifelong professional development
School Psychology
The School Psychology Graduate Program is the only nationally accredited Master's/Specialist program in the San Francisco, Bay Area by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The program philosophy is to train graduate students in evidence-based practice to promote social justice and equity for diverse school communities. Social justice is the call to provide all youth with the support, skills, and services they need to reach their full potential in spite of poverty and other significant challenges. The School Psychology program is committed to the academic and social-emotional development of children, families and communities.
We are a three-year, full-time specialist-level School Psychology program. Candidates must complete two years of coursework and a full-time 1200 hour-minimum School Psychology Internship during year three. We are a multidisciplinary program. The core training is in School Psychology, with integrated training and coursework in counseling and marriage and family therapy. We are proud to offer candidates multiple options at the end of the three year program. Upon graduation, candidates earn the following:
Masters in Counseling degree,
School Psychology Credential, AND
Training and Coursework toward Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) licensure
As a nationally accredited program, we follow guidelines set forth by NASP Training Standards to promote educationally and psychologically healthy environments for all children and youth by implementing research based, effective programs that prevent problems, enhance independence, and promote optimal learning. This is accomplished through state-of-the-art research and training, advocacy, ongoing program evaluation, and caring professional service.
We work with Districts all over the San Francisco Bay Area, and our trainees are placed in these districts for field-based experiences for practicum and internship. Our trainees receive comprehensive training experiences in K-12 systems.
What is the difference between the School Counseling and School Psychology programs?
SCHOOL COUNSELING
The specialization in School Counseling authorizes the candidate to perform the following duties:
Develop, plan, implement, and evaluate a school counseling and guidance program that includes academic, career, personal, and social development.
Advocate for the high academic achievement and social development of all students.
Provide schoolwide prevention and intervention strategies and counseling services.
Provide consultation, training, and staff development to teachers and parents regarding students’ needs.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
The specialization in School Psychology authorizes the candidate to perform the following duties:
Provide services that enhance academic performance.
Design strategies and programs to address problems of adjustment.
Consult with other educators and parents on issues of social development and behavioral and academic
difficulties.
Conduct psycho-educational assessment for purposes of identifying special needs.
Provide psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and families.
Coordinate intervention strategies for management of individuals and schoolwide crises.
How can I get a PPS Credential if I already have a Master’s Degree?
In order to receive a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling/School Psychology at CSU East Bay, candidates will need to complete the entire MS in Counseling program regardless if a candidate already has a Master’s degree. The program will not accept any transfer units from other programs.
You can consult the Commission on Teacher Credentialing website (www.ctc.ca.gov) for other institutions in the area that may have PPS credential-only programs. San Francisco State University (www.sfsu.edu) and Saint Mary’s College (www.stmarys-ca.edu) in Moraga both offer Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Post-Master's Credential-Only options in School Counseling and School Psychology. Please contact the school directly for more information regarding their programs.