Marriage and Family Therapy/Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (Minimum of 60 units required)

The master's degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy/Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor will teach students to apply psychotherapeutic research and principles in the treatment of individuals, couples and families. The focus of the program is on clinical assessment, planning and implementation of treatment goals for those with emotional difficulties and distress. Students will learn the theories and ethical evidenced based practice of psychotherapy, to be applied in a variety of treatment settings. The program meets academic requirements for those who seek the California Marriage and Family Therapy License or the Professional Clinical Counselor license. 250 face-to-face fieldwork hours are required for the MFT license, whereas 280 face-to-face fieldwork hours are required for the LPCC. 

The Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) programs meet the educational standards and have been approved by the California Board of Behavioral Science, leading to an LMFT or LPCC counselor license in California. Students who wish to practice in a state other than California may or may not have additional educational and/or non-educational requirements to complete prior to applying for licensure. Students should be aware of such varying requirements that may prohibit the attainment of licensure in various states – a criminal background, for example, may be a non-educational restriction to licensure in some states. Prior to enrollment, prospective students must review the Marriage & Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor professional licensure webpage to determine whether this program meets the educational requirements in a specific state. MSMU would like to help applicants and current students navigate the licensure process. Contact the Psychology department at gradpsy@msmu.edu to discuss the process of obtaining an LMFT or LPCC license in a state outside of California.