Marriage & Family Therapy Master's Programs in California

<h2 id="section---CaliforniaLutheranUniversity">California Lutheran University</h2><p>The Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a marriage and family therapy concentration at California Lutheran University consists of 60 units and can be completed in two to three years. The program is available at three campuses and could offer optional concentrations in areas such as family mediation, recovery model, dialectical behavior therapy, attachment theory, Latino counseling, and psychological trauma. </p><h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversityDominguezHills">California State University - Dominguez Hills</h2><p>California State University - Dominguez Hills has a 60-unit Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy program that involves 500 hours of practicum to prepare graduates for licensure. Classes are offered in the evenings over two to three years of study, and first-year students are assigned mentors (advanced students) who meet with them each week. </p><h2 id="section---ChapmanUniversity">Chapman University</h2><p>Students can earn a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Chapman University in 2.5 to 3 years. The program consists of 60 credit hours of coursework, clinical practicum experiences, and allows students to complete clinical practicum requirements at Chapman University's on-site clinic. </p><h2 id="section---FresnoPacificUniversity">Fresno Pacific University</h2><p>Fresno Pacific University has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program that consists of 65 units and is completed through a combination of on-site and online components. Students can complete practicum components with diverse populations and attend an optional Hispanic summer program and/or a summer semester in Israel. </p><h2 id="section---FullerTheologicalSeminary">Fuller Theological Seminary</h2><p>The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Fuller Theological Seminary prepares graduates for licensure as a marriage and family therapist (MFT) and/or as a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Students are required to complete 98 units (or 104 units for LPCC) and can add an optional concentration in medical family therapy. </p><h2 id="section---LomaLindaUniversity">Loma Linda University</h2><p>Loma Linda University offers a two-year Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy that consists of 90 units and could prepare graduates for careers such as educators, psychotherapists, family mediators, and administrators. Students can also pursue a dual degree MS in Marital and Family Therapy/MS in Counseling for a broader exploration of counseling methods and implications. </p><h2 id="section---NotreDameDeNamurUniversity">Notre Dame de Namur University</h2><p>Notre Dame de Namur University has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program that consists of 63 units and prepares students for licensure. NDNU also offers two Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MSCP) programs with a marriage and family therapy focus: the MSCP/MFT consists of 60 units and prepares graduates for MFT licensure while the MSCP/MFT/LPCC consists of 67 units and prepares students for licensure as an MFT and an LPCC. </p><h2 id="section---PacificOaksCollege">Pacific Oaks College</h2><p>The 60-68 credit hour Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Pacific Oaks College prepares graduates for certification exams and can be completed in 2.5 to 4 years. Students can choose a general MFT or choose a concentration in LatinX family studies, African-American family studies, LPCC, trauma studies, or a dual concentration in LatinX family studies and trauma studies or African-American family studies and trauma studies. </p><h2 id="section---UniversityOfSouthernCalifornia">University of Southern California</h2><p>The University of Southern California has a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program that prepares graduates for research-based innovative practice. Students can complete the required 60 units in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study; courses cover topics such as counseling ethics and theories as well as MFT psychopathology. </p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>School Name </th><th>Programs Offered </th><th>Average Graduate Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td>Brandman University </td><td>MA in Psychology <br/><i>MFT</i> </td><td>$11,700</td></tr> <tr><td>California Lutheran University </td><td>MS in Counseling Psychology <br/><i>MFT</i> <br/><i>Optional Concentrations (Varies)</i> </td><td>$19,065</td></tr> <tr><td>California State University - Dominguez Hills </td><td>MS in Marital and Family Therapy </td><td>$7,176 in-state <br/>$16,680 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Chapman University </td><td>MA in MFT </td><td>$31,168</td></tr> <tr><td>Fresno Pacific University </td><td>MA in MFT </td><td>$17,062</td></tr> <tr><td>Fuller Theological Seminary </td><td>MS in MFT<br/><i>Optional Concentration in Medical Family Therapy</i> </td><td>$19,920</td></tr> <tr><td>Loma Linda University </td><td>MS in Marital and Family Therapy <br/>MS in Marital and Family Therapy/MS in Counseling </td><td>$26,080</td></tr> <tr><td>Notre Dame de Namur University </td><td>MA in MFT <br/>MSCP/MFT <br/>MSCP/MFT/LPCC </td><td>$16,596</td></tr> <tr><td>Pacific Oaks College </td><td>MA in MFT <br/><i>6 Concentration Options</i> </td><td>$20,847</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Southern California </td><td>Master of Marriage and Family Therapy </td><td>$44,712</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *National Center for Education Statistics</i> </p><p>Students can earn a master's degree in marriage and family therapy through several schools in California in as little as two to four years. MFT programs prepare graduates for work as licensed therapists and/or counselors and may allow students to choose an area of specialization within their MFT curriculum.</p>