Chapman University
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Campus-Based
Chapman University, Orange Campus
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.
Program Snapshot
Accreditation
COAMFTE
Concentrations/Specializations Offered
None
LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track
LMFT/LPCC dual-track
Length of Program
60 credits
The program takes full-time students 2 ½ (fall) to 3 years to complete. Students may also choose to attend the program on a part-time basis. Our students work with the MFT program coordinator to develop a plan of study that works best for them.
Schedule/Format
Classes are most often offered Monday-Thursday from either 4-6:50 p.m. or 7-9:50 p.m., with the possibility of classes also being offered on Fridays from 1-3:50 p.m. In the final year of study, schedules vary, as students attend clinical supervision meetings and meet with clients in our clinic to complete their practicum requirements.
Program Start
Spring and Fall
Estimated Total Program Tuition
$78,900
Religious Orientation
None
Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes
Classes average around 25-30 students.
Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program
All MFT students complete 3 semesters and 1 interterm of practicum at our onsite MFT training clinic. At the clinic, students receive supervised clinical experience treating adults, couples, families and children. Student clinical training includes video-based supervision and clinical case presentations as well as live observation of therapy sessions. Face-to-face practicum hours may be obtained in in-person or telehealth format. Students may also elect to participate in external traineeships for additional clinical experience.
Students are required to accrue a minimum of 300 hours of direct client contact; 120 of those hours must be relational. Students must also complete 50 live observation hours. Any hours obtained from MFT 689 External Traineeships do not count towards graduation requirements.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program
Every student is required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of individual, couple, family, or group therapy conducted by a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical psychologist, or board-eligible psychiatrist.
Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:
Capstone Project
As part of the graduation requirements, MFT students are required to complete a Capstone Project in their final semester in the MFT program. The Capstone Project includes the following three components:
Theory of Change Paper
A Comprehensive Written Case Report
An Oral Case Presentation
Exam
As a requirement of graduation, students must pass the program’s comprehensive examination. The test is based on six core areas of training that are critical for development as a marriage and family therapist and for licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and in other states. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions - 25 from each area. Students have four hours to complete the test. A score of 70% is required to pass the examination.
Application Process
Application Deadline
There is a priority review deadline for applicants who submit their application along with all required supplemental materials by:
October 1 for Spring admission
February 1 for Fall admission
Applicants must submit their completed application by the above dates to be considered for a fellowship.
Undergraduate GPA Required
No minimum GPA
GRE Requirement
If your GPA is less than 3.3, you’ll need to submit a copy of your GRE scores with your application. Otherwise, GRE score submission is optional.
Verbal: 153
Quantitative: 146
Analytical Writing: 4.5
Prerequisite Courses
You must possess a bachelor's degree in psychology (or other approved mental health degrees) from an accredited college or university, or you must provide evidence of a satisfactory academic background in all of the following:
Introduction to psychology
Abnormal psychology
Developmental psychology or human development
Research methods/statistics (both qualitative and quantitative approaches).
You must be enrolled in or have completed three of the four required prerequisite courses by the admission deadline. You will need to submit proof of completion of or enrollment in the required prerequisite courses when you apply by submitting official transcripts from the institution(s) where you completed or are currently taking the required courses. In addition, you will need to have earned a grade of C+ or higher in each course.
We strongly encourage students who are currently in or have graduated from Chapman’s B.A. Psychology program to apply. Those who have met the minimum application requirements are guaranteed an interview with the department. Please review the above minimum application requirements carefully.
Application Highlights
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required from persons actively engaged in teaching and/or the practice of counseling who are familiar with your academic and personal qualifications.
Personal Statement: No more than three double spaced typed pages in length. Address how each of the following have contributed to your career objectives and prepared you to begin graduate studies in marriage and family therapy:
Educational background
Professional work experience (clinical internships or volunteer work) in mental health, human services, or related fields
Personal or family background and experiences
Resume: A resume or curriculum vitae is required
Interview Requirement
Students are admitted based on the strength of their application combined with the quality of their interview.
Program Summary
The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program is specifically structured to prepare students for a career in marriage and family therapy and is a California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) approved program for licensure in marriage and family therapy and professional clinical counseling. All students in our program have the unique experience of completing a one-year clinical practicum in our on-site community clinic, the Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy.
Our mission is to provide students with the academic and professional training to become multiculturally competent, ethical and systems-oriented marriage and family therapists who are critical consumers of research in the field.
The COAMFTE accreditation allows for ease of transferability of coursework, clinical hours, and credits completed among COAMFTE-accredited programs, oftentimes easing the licensure process after moving to another state. Students are encouraged to check with their preferred state regarding specific educational requirements. More information regarding individual state requirements can be found through the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.
For one year, all MFT students conduct individual, couple, and family therapy under direct supervision of licensed mental health professionals at Chapman’s MFT Training Clinic, the Frances Smith Center for Individual & Family Therapy, which opened a new state-of-the-art clinic in January 2011. With eight large observation rooms, each equipped with digital cameras used to record sessions for instructional purposes, the clinic not only provides students with valuable real-world training, but it also strives to improve the quality of life in the greater community.
Established in 1965 by faculty and students concerned about helping families and individuals affected by the Vietnam War, the Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy (also known as the Chapman University Community Clinic) has grown into a well-respected training facility offering psychological treatment services to the local community.
Very few MFT programs possess an onsite clinic, which enables students to work toward the 3,000 hours they must complete prior to taking the MFT licensing exams in California. Several of our graduates have cited this part of the program as one of the best aspects of their education, as it is very difficult to get this kind of hands-on experience elsewhere.
In 2021, our Competency Model was accepted for publication in the Journal of Contemporary Family Therapy. Read the article by clicking here.