The Study Plan is developed by the student and MS Coordinator in the first semester of the program. The Study Plan below satisfies most of the MFCC requirements for licensure. Child Abuse Reporting and Sexual Dysfunction must be taken in addition to the coursework on this study plan of the program to meet MFCC requirements for licensing as it is currently defined.

Clinical classes must be taken in prescribed sequence to meet optimal learning and enrollment objectives. It is possible to arrange either a full time program or a part time program depending on the way research and thesis courses are scheduled.

• Fall--First Year

• Psychology 500--Issues & Perspectives in Psychology
• Psychology 545--Advanced Psychopathology
• Psychology 547--Theories of Psychological Intervention
• (seminar or fullfill Advanced Stats/Psyc. Testing requirement)
• Spring--First Year

• Psychology 5XX--Graduate Seminar
• Psychology 543--Advanced Lifespan Development>/LI>
• Psychology 548--Psychotherapy Techniques
• Psychology 549--Marriage/Family/Child Therapy
• Psychology 563--Law & Ethics in Clinical Psychology
• Psychology 599--Independent Graduate Research
• Fall--Second Year

• Psychology 510--Research Design
• Psychology 5XX--Graduate Seminar
• Psychology 594A--Fieldwork
• Psychology 598--Thesis
• Spring--Second Year

• Counseling 517--Substance Abuse
• Psychology 569--Cross Cultural Psychology
• Psychology 560--Treatment of Children
• Psychology 594B--Fieldwork
• Psychology 598--Thesis
• Seminars

• Psychology 522--Seminar in Developmental Psychology
• Psychology 523--Seminar in Social Psychology
• Psychology 525--Seminar in Community Psychology

In addition to the knowledge and abilities to be learned in formal classroom situations, it is necessary that every student in the MS program possess a variety of skills essential to clinical work. Toward this end, the faculty of the clinical program will undertake to provide feedback to students with whom they have contact. Suggestions for improvement and criticisms will be given to students formally and informally, as necessary. Personal therapy may be recommended/required if it is felt a student would benefit.

In rare cases, it may be necessary to disqualify the student from the program on grounds other than grades earned in courses. Such action would be taken only in the event of serious breach of professional ethics or because of massive deficiencies in the student's abilities. Should there occur an adverse recommendation by the MS faculty, the recommendation will be reviewed by Graduate Studies Committee.

MS Program Advisement

Each student in the MS program must see the MS Coordinator during the first semester to complete his or her study plan. This is a good time to get acquainted and to discuss other topics regarding the program, your expectations, psychology, etc., which may be of interest to you. The coordinator follows your progress through the program and is your first recourse if you have any problems, questions, criticisms or other input regarding the program. You should discuss problems you have with a particular instructor with that instructor before bringing them to the coordinator if possible. The appeal procedure for all graduate students is described earlier in the handbook.

If you are considering dropping a course or dropping out of the program you must consult with the MS Coordinator.

Other occasions for seeing your advisor might be with regard to:

• The selection of an elective course in the third or fourth semester.
• Unsatisfactory academic performance.
• Adding courses/changing study plan.
• Discussing internship plans, comprehensive exam topics, and postgraduation plan.
• Problems and concerns about aspects of the program.

In rare instances, when a satisfactory resolution to a problem cannot be achieved with the MS Program Coordinator, it will be handled by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Field Placements

In the second year, students in the MS program enroll for three units of fieldwork each semester. A minimum of 12 hours of field experience is required. Students are strongly encouraged to complete 16-20 hours per week. Begin planning and discussing your internship in the Spring semester of the first year of the program. At this time you will receive a packet of internship information. The Graduate Secretary can give you field placement locations, evaluations by former students, and names of students who have experience in the placements.

In March, two internship meetings are scheduled. The first is a chance to meet with second year students and learn about their placements. The second is a meeting where several placements present their programs.

All placements must be approved by the faculty. Approval is based on the breadth, depth and quality of the experiences the individual student is likely to receive. It is required that you assume some responsibility for individual cases and some group therapy responsibility. You must receive individual supervision. To count supervision for MFCC hours, you must have a minimum of 2 hours of group supervision per week. Students must be covered under liability insurance and if not covered under agencies policy, student will need to purchase his/her own liability insurance. It is hoped that students can have diagnostic, testing, therapy consultation and community responsibilities.

You, your agency on-site supervisor, and your campus faculty supervisor together complete contract specifying the commitments and responsibilities of each of you (refer to the Graduate Handbook for sample).

MFCC License

The Master of Science program within the CSUF Department of Psychology meets the requirements of the Business and Professions Code, Section 4980.37 if all courses indicated in the current catalog are completed. For your review, the departmental graduate office retains a copy of the complete requirements for the MFCC license. To secure times and application for the Board's own written licensing exam, please contact the following address:

Board of Behavioral Science Examiners
400 R Street, Suite 3150
Sacramento, CA 95814-6240
Telephone: (916) 445-4933
Local Phone Number: (213) 620-2814

The content areas required for the MFCC license are covered by most of your coursework. We cannot guarantee that courses will match with future administrative or legal changes in MFCC requirements; while the program attempts to keep abreast of these changes, you should always remain informed of MFCC requirements especially during your post-graduation, pre-licensure period.

Frequently Asked Questions: admissions, pursuit of the degree

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