Total units required for MS: 60
Program Description
The 60-unit Master of Science in Counseling prepares professional counselors for employment in a variety of settings. These include both private practice as well as public and private agencies (e.g., community mental health centers, behavioral health care centers, etc.). This degree meets the educational requirements for becoming dually licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the State of California.
Our program is clinically oriented, with didactic and experiential courses, a 100-hour clinical practicum, and 600 hours of fieldwork experience. The program is a full time three-year program and students will take between 9-12 units each fall and spring to complete within the three years. Students are admitted into a cohort and will follow the course sequence designated by their program concentration. The cohort model allows students to advance together throughout their education while building support and connections within their peer group.
Students are encouraged to advance their advocacy and professional experiences through such activities as participation in professional organizations, research, and presentations at the state, regional, and national level; involvement in our Counselor Education Symposium; and/or involvement Chi Sigma Sigma chapter of Chi Sigma Iota locally and nationally. Both leadership and research opportunities are supported through faculty mentorship. The curricular experience is organized around core foundation courses, an intensive on-campus practicum training clinic experience, interpersonal growth experiences, advanced theory and practice courses, and a culminating internship placement.
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration
- The Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration is designed to provide students with all the educational competencies required by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). The program trains professionals to work in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers; behavioral health centers; county, state, and federal agencies; hospitals and private practice; and prepares students to provide psychotherapy in treatment of mental health to individuals, children, adolescents, couples, and families. Emphasis is placed on developmental and preventative concerns from a holistic perspective.
The Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program at Sacramento State is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The MS in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family) curriculum is also evaluated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for LMFT and LPCC licensure. The MS in Counseling (Marriage Couple and Family Counseling) curriculum is COAMFTE aligned but not COAMFTE accredited.
Note: For additional information on credentials, see the “College of Education” section of this catalog. For program specific information, see the Counselor Education webpage. Program requirements are subject to change in order to maintain compliance with relevant state and national certification, licensure, and/or accreditation requirements. Interested parties should refer to the current student handbook for up to date program information.
Special Features
- An on-campus Counseling Clinic in the Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services brings clients from the Sacramento and California community to be counseled by students in the program and provides opportunity for video and audio feedback.
- Internship trainees provide counseling and psychotherapy services in various settings such as local agencies, state affiliated mental health settings, community mental health organizations, behavioral health agencies, hospitals, and non-profit organizations.
- Faculty actively support diversity and focus on multicultural counseling skills throughout the curriculum.
- Classes are offered during the day, late afternoon, and evening.
Admission Requirements
Admission as a classified graduate student in the Master of Science in Counseling program requires:
- A baccalaureate degree;
- Good academic standing at the last college attended;
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter units);
- Completion of the University application materials;
- Completion and submission of all Departmental application materials which include:
- Application form;
- Written statements delineated in application, including Personal Statement and Writing Prompt;
- Copies of transcripts (from all universities and colleges attended);
- Recommendation Forms;
- Relevant work experience via a Resume/CV.
- Participation in an In-Person Admission Evaluation, which may include (but is not limited to) interviews, experiential activities, and writing samples.
Selected applicants, based on paper screening of completed applications, will be invited for an In-Person Admission Evaluation via an Interview Day. Decisions for admission into the Master of Science in Counseling program are made based on a comprehensive assessment of all application materials and performance in the In-Person Admission Evaluation.
Admission Procedure
The Master of Science in Counseling program accepts applications each fall for admission the following year. The program does not offer spring admissions. Applicants must complete a university application and program supplemental application by the posted application deadline date for the term applying.
For more admissions information and application deadlines, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website (https://www.csus.edu/graduate-studies/).
Prospective applicants, including Sacramento State graduates, must submit one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State, to the Office of Graduate Studies either electronically to gradtranscripts@csus.edu or physical transcripts for those institutions that do not send official transcripts electronically can be addressed to:
Office of Graduate Studies
California State University, Sacramento
Riverfront Center, Room 215, MS 6112
6000 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
Admission is competitive with a limited number of students admitted each year. At the end of the application and screening period, a program recommendation will be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for further review. Decisions regarding admission are then emailed to each applicant. Following admission, students are assigned to a faculty advisor who assists with academic advising.
Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree
Units required for the MS: 60
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.0
Advancement to Candidacy
Each student working toward a Master's degree must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy for the Master's degree. The purpose of this application is to provide certification to the Office of Graduate Studies that the student will complete or has completed the necessary requirements and acceptable electives for the Master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Advancement to Candidacy application should be filed upon completion of 30 units in the program but typically our students complete this in their final year of our program.
Note: Students must meet the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) before advancing to candidacy. Our EDC 250 serves as our Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course to advance to candidacy.
The Advancement to Candidacy form is submitted online. Students should complete the relevant form in consultation with their assigned academic advisor. Once the form is endorsed by the student and the advisor, it will be verified by the Department’s Graduate Coordinator and then forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies for final approval. An Advancement to Candidacy must be on file prior to registration for culminating experience (EDC 500) and prior to submitting a Petition to Graduate to the Office of Graduate Studies.
For Counselor Education information please visit the College of Education: Master's Programs Website where you will find the Counselor Education webpage and under the “Current Students" link, the Forms and Handbooks page where you can obtain the Student Handbook. It is highly recommended that students read the Student Handbook.
Program Requirements1,2
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses for All Concentrations (30 Units) | ||
| EDC 210 | Advocacy, Social Justice, and Cultural Foundations in Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 214 | Dynamics of Human Development | 3 |
| EDC 216 | Counseling Theory | 3 |
| EDC 218 | Assessment In Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 231 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| EDC 233 | Substance Use and Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 244 | Trauma and Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 250 | Education Research | 3 |
| EDC 252 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Professional Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 260 | Career Development | 3 |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Minimum GPA: 3.0
- 2
Academic Residence: A minimum of 42 approved semester units in 100-, 200-, and 500-series offerings must be earned in residence at California State University, Sacramento.
Concentration Requirements
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (29 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EDC 212 | Gender and Sexuality in Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 219 | Group Processes in Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 234 | Seminar: Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 254 | Counseling and Psychotropic Medicine | 3 |
| EDC 235 | Advanced Seminar: Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| EDC 236 | Couples Counseling | 2 |
| EDC 280 | Counseling Skills Lab | 2 |
| EDC 475 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| EDC 476 | Advanced Skills in Marriage and Family Counseling | 1 |
| EDC 480 | Counseling Internship (Taken twice, 3 units each, over two separate semesters, in order to meet accreditation requirements.) | 6 |
Culminating Requirement (1 Unit)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EDC 500 | Master's Culminating Experience 1 | 1 |
All students in the M.S. in Counseling program must enroll in EDC 5001 during their final semester in the program and complete the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Students must have an Advancement to Candidacy on file prior to enrollment in this culminating experience.
In order to pass this multiple choice examination, a student must meet the minimum criterion score set by the Counselor Education Program. Categories covered include:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- Helping Relationships
- Group Work
- Career and Lifestyle Development
- Appraisal
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Orientation and Ethics
- 1
Department petition required the semester prior to enrollment.