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Graduate Program in Psychology and Child Development

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a 90-quarter unit professional degree program that fulfills the educational requirements for the state of California's Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license. The program's mission is to provide the state of California with highly competent master-level clinicians trained to counsel individuals, couples, families, and groups in a multicultural society.

Program Overview

Graduates are often employed by County Mental Health, Social Services, inpatient and outpatient community mental health centers, and other nonprofits. Many graduates also build successful private practices. Approximately fifteen percent of our graduates pursue doctoral studies in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. Psychology and Child Development Department faculty members coordinate the M.S. Program and regularly teach graduate classes. Some courses are taught by mental health professionals from the community.

Faculty and Students

The M.S. faculty is diverse in terms of professional degrees, clinical training, cultural background, and gender identities. Graduate classes are small, and students receive much individual attention in our on-campus practicum training clinic and community traineeship sites. There are approximately 40 fully matriculated students in Cal Poly's M.S. Psychology Program.

Program Structure

Graduate courses are scheduled so that full-time students carrying 12-16 quarter units can secure their degree in two years or two years plus two quarters. Because of the program's extensive clinical training, student work, family, and other obligations, it may take some students longer to complete the program. Courses are held in the day and evening and are offered only once a year.

Application Information

The M.S. Psychology Program admits new students once a year for the subsequent fall term. Applications for Fall 2024 are closed, and the application cycle for Fall 2026 will begin October 1, 2025. The program will switch from quarter to semester terms in fall of 2026.

Application Requirements

• Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be submitted.
• A "Personal Statement" limited to two typewritten, double-spaced pages is required.
• Three letters of recommendation are required.
• Copies of unofficial transcripts for the most recently completed 90 units are required.
• A Curriculum Vita (CV)/ Resume is required.
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for program admission.

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement is a very important part of the application. It gives applicants the opportunity to show how various personal, sociocultural, educational, and occupational factors informed their decision to enter the helping profession. The statement should address:

• Educational experience: Describe coursework, fieldwork/internships, and/or research experience that helped clarify career goals.
• Professional activity: Describe paid or volunteer work in counseling, education, social services, or healthcare that has informed career goals.
• Sociocultural experience: Describe development in cultural competency, including personal reflections on cultural identity, experiences with diverse cultures, bilingual skills, travel, and experience living abroad.
• Personal experience: Describe family, social, and/or other personal factors influencing interest in the profession.

Program Prerequisites

Accepted applicants must complete five program prerequisites by July 31 prior to entering the program:

• Research Methods in Psychology (or related field)
• Introductory Statistics
• Personality Theory/Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology/ Lifespan Development

Admission Criteria

The M.S. Psychology Program accepts applicants with a wide variety of undergraduate degrees. All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional association and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted. Applicants are evaluated on the quality of their letters of recommendation, academic background, relevant work/life experiences, personal statement, group interview, and any other information that might shed light on their likelihood of success as a student and future marriage and family therapist.