Point Loma Nazarene University

M.A. in Clinical Counseling

On-Campus

Mission Valley Regional Center
4007 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108

MACC Program Page

 

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

WSCUC

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT/LPCC dual-track

Length of Program

  • 63 units

  • 24-32 months

  • The expected completion time is 24 months, plus licensure hours. Students who begin the program in the Spring semester will have a 32-month track, in order to accommodate Practicum. Please keep in mind that, for Spring students, this means that you will only be taking practicum units your final two semesters, and your financial aid will be impacted due to falling under six units. Practicum classes are two units each.

Schedule/Format

  • Some courses are offered during the day and some are offered in the evening. Many of our students work full- or part-time during their first year. In the second year of the program, the Practicum experience requires an average commitment of 20 hours per week in addition to coursework (approximately 10 hours of class time per week). Given the significant time commitment, many students opt to not work during their second year.

  • Classes meet twice a week. Even cohorts will be on a Monday/Wednesday schedule. Odd cohorts will be on Tuesday/Thursday.

Program Start

Fall, Spring

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$49,770

Religious Orientation

PLNU is a Nazarene school and our professors are Christian, but this program is not following a Christian curriculum. The curriculum is rigorous and designed to meet the high standards of CA-BBS. There are three classes where faith integration is discussed, but it is not a core component of the curriculum. Faith is addressed as a whole and not only from the Christian traditions in order to prepare our students to be competent therapists capable of working with individuals from all faith traditions.

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

Class sizes are estimated to be 15 to 20 people.

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

Although particular site requirements vary, all students will complete 700 total hours of supervised training (300 of which is face-to-face, direct service).

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

Over the course of the program, MACC students are required to receive 20 hours of personal psychotherapy from a licensed clinician. Students may complete this requirement in an individual or group setting. Two hours of group therapy or one hour of individual therapy counts as one hour of credit toward the requirement. At least ten of the twenty hours must be individual or group therapy and up to ten hours can be marital or family therapy. This requirement must be completed prior to graduation.

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

As a final assessment of competency, each student must pass the Comprehensive Examination, a computerized mock license exam that reflects program coursework and obtained clinical knowledge. This examination is administered during 

PSY 6097. Passing the Comprehensive Examination is required for graduation.

Application Process

Application Deadline

  • Fall 2022 – August 10th, 2022

  • Spring 2023 – December 19, 2022

Undergraduate GPA Required

Your undergraduate GPA is an important piece of your application, but if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of a 3.0, you may still be eligible for admission based on your application package as well as the exceptions policy for your particular program. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor, who will advise you regarding your qualific

GRE Requirement

None

Prerequisite Courses

  • General Psychology

  • Abnormal Psychology

  • Human Development

Application Highlights

  • Specifically state how you would like to use your master's degree from PLNU to further your career in a 3-5 page essay. Make sure you clearly touch on the three points

    • Clarify what job setting you see yourself pursuing upon completing the MACC and specify how this degree program will help you in that setting.

    • Describe how you will appraise, utilize, and integrate specific Biblical or ethical principles and /or counseling theories into your future professional practice

    • State how your previous education and work experiences have uniquely prepared you for success in the MACC program.

  • Submit a resume/vita

  • Submit three professional references including name, title, phone, and email for each reference

  • Background check through LiveScan

  • Completion of the MMPI 2 personality assessment administered through the department

  • Interview with the Department of Graduate Psychology

  • Ensure undergraduate course prerequisites are met

Interview Requirement

It will either be one-on-one with Dr. Jenkins or be a panel interview with a group of applicants.

Program Summary

You’re the one people turn to for advice. You hear what the heart speaks. It’s time to develop that gift.

Train now to become a private therapist, agency director, marriage expert, life coach, spiritual director, addiction recovery counselor, or family mediator — to help others, and yourself, experience lasting transformation.

PLNU’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) program applies faith-based principles to 21st century cultures and needs. We integrate rigorous courses, personal mentoring, onsite supervised clinical training, and a culturally aware approach to today’s best practices and theories to equip you to serve diverse populations through a flexible career path. Most importantly, our program prepares you to take the LMFT or LPCC licensure exam through curricula designed with the tests in mind and free post-graduation workshops.

Practice

You will gain on-campus clinical experience from year one. Our state-of-the-art trainee practicum clinic offers students a unique opportunity to practice, review, and hone their counseling skills as they see real clients in a recorded environment, with supervised credits earned.

Guided, accessible internship placements are readily available through our established practicum sites throughout San Diego — tailor-made for your career goals.

Professionalism

You will receive relevant, multicultural training for a professionally diverse career through multiple clinic clients and PLNU’s comprehensive training in systems of psychology and classical, contemporary, and cutting-edge counseling methods.

Moreover, ongoing self-assessments measure your progress in skills development and self awareness and train you to understand your inner experiences — to help you identify your passions, strengths, and possible career specializations, and engage that wisdom with future clients.

Preparation

At PLNU, you are mentored for success. Seasoned professors serve as academic and professional coaches in class, to help you fully grasp course content, and outside of class and after graduation, guiding you as you consider new career possibilities and growth strategies.

Most importantly, intentional, expert licensure exam preparation is an integral part of the coursework. Virtually every course prepares you to take the licensure exam — and free exam prep workshops after graduation will keep the material fresh in your mind.

PLNU’s experienced, working faculty-professionals integrate biblical principles, ethics, skills, and science, considering moral questions while linking hands-on training to cutting-edge research in holistic mind-body approaches.

LMFT or LPCC?

Should you study to become an LMFT or LPCC therapist? Although many course requirements overlap for both degrees, the LPCC emphasizes the individual in therapeutic practices rather than relational or systems-oriented practices. With the MFT license, you can help families, marriages, and couples, while the PCC license broadens your practice to counsel individuals with issues involving relationships; personal growth, mental, and emotional issues; adjustment to disability; crisis intervention; and problems with stress.

When you graduate from our program, you will have met the requirements for either the LPCC or LMFT. You choose which license you would like to gain hours to complete.

State Authorization

State authorization is a formal determination that PLNU is approved to conduct educational activities regulated by that state or U.S. Territory. PLNU is not required to obtain state authorization in every state or U.S. Territory, and the university has opted at this time not to seek authorization in certain states and U.S. Territories. Additionally, PLNU meets the criteria for exemption from authorization in certain states.

At this time, PLNU does not have authorization in  Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Territories. 

Authorizations in specific states may change periodically. PLNU recommends contacting PLNU admissions at (800) 733-7770 for the latest information.

Professional Licensure or Certification

This program complies with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and meets the requirements for LMFT and LPCC Licensure in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. PLNU cannot confirm whether or not specific programs meet out-of-state requirements for Professional Licensure or Certification. Information about out-of-state requirements in Clinical Counseling is available on this website counseling.org.  

For more information on State Authorization and Program Licensure, please refer to our disclosures page.