What is the length of the program?
A student attending classes full-time will graduate in three years

Is summer semester required?
Yes, if the student wants to graduate in three years

Are you accepting applications for both fall and spring?
No, the program is only accepting applications for fall semester.

What is size of the program?
The first class will be 22 students.

Is the program going to be structured as a cohort model?
Yes.

Is it possible to attend the program part-time?
Yes.

How many core faculty members will there be?
Many of the people who will be faculty in this program are therapists who are working in community and public settings. This will help situate the courses with examples that pertain directly to doing therapy in these settings. In addition, there will be two full-time core faculty members (who are also experienced therapists). Some courses will be taken with core faculty in other counseling psychology concentrations.

Can a student work full-time while attending the program?
The courses will be offered in the evenings, in weekend intensives once a month and in weeklong intensives twice each year. This format has been selected to enable students to continue to work full-time.

What is the difference between this program and the Integral Counseling Psychology program?
Both programs prepare students to become licensed therapists. They differ in their particular emphasis.This program will include more coursework in areas of cultural competency, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis. It will also include case management and public health systems, areas that are specific to agency work.

Can a student be in this program and study in another program at the same time?
No, a student can only be registered in one degree program at a time.

Does this program have Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) licensure?
A graduate of the program will earn a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in community mental health. The program fulfills the academic requirements for the state of California MFT license, but it does not grant the MFT license. The State of California grants the license after a student has passed the state examination. CIIS’s academic program helps prepare a student to sit for the state exam.

Is the program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)?
No, only a doctoral program can receive APA accreditation. The Clinical Psychology (PsyD) doctoral program at CIIS is accredited by the APA.

Can a graduate of this program go on to a doctoral program (e.g., a doctoral psychology program)?
Yes, a graduate would enter such a program at CIIS with advanced standing.

What career track do you foresee for your graduates?
Students graduating from this program can work in public or community agencies such as the Department of Public Health or a community mental health center. Since graduates would be prepared to be licensed as marriage and family therapists they would also be able to go into private practice. Many agencies allow their staff therapists to have private practices on evenings and weekends.

What is the advantage of your MA and MFT training over an MSW?
The two programs are different in emphasis and orientation; which is better depends upon the goals of the individual. The MFT offers considerable advanced study in psychology consistent with becoming a therapist. It includes three semesters of field placement so there is an applied component.

Is the training transferable between states or is this a program for CA residents?
The program is designed to meet the requirements of the state of California. While states differ in their requirements, we are attentive to those differences and have found fulfilling the California requirements generally means fulfilling those of other states. The program will work with students to determine the requirements of the state to which the student plans to return.

How does the curriculum incorporate the needs of diverse and bilingual clients?
The curriculum includes more course work on cross-cultural counseling than in other programs.