Program Description

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) prepares students for licensure as both a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California and in most other states. The program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE; see program website for the status of accreditation) and the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE; see program website for status of accreditation), ensuring recognition in all other states as well as most countries internationally. The state-of-the-art curriculum prepares students to work in public mental health, community agencies, rehabilitation centers, schools, private agencies and private practice, and/or to pursue doctoral study in family therapy and related fields. The curriculum emphasizes strengths-based approaches, social justice, evidence-based practices, community mental health and development of the person-of-the-therapist, while providing foundational training in several areas of specialization, including children, adolescents, couples, groups, trauma, substance abuse and severe mental illness. Well prepared with extensive practicum experiences in the first year, students begin intensive training in the field during the second year at community mental health agencies, public mental health agencies, school-based and other mental health-related placements. Finally, the program’s culminating experience enables students to further develop their areas of interest.

Admission Requirements

• Complete a general application to the University meeting the following requirements.
  1. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have been in good standing at the last institution attended.
  2. Have at least a 2.75 GPA overall or in the last 60 semester/90 quarter units attempted.
  3. Submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; test must be taken within past three (3) years. The program does not have a required minimum score for entrance; these scores are used in addition to GPA to assess academic preparation.
  4. Participate in the program’s interview process.

IELTS Requirements

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Overall
6	6	6	6	6.5

Remarks:

Score reporting required.