The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy

Campus-Based

On-Campus Locations:

  • Anaheim
    2400 E. Katella Ave., Suite 1200
    Anaheim, CA 92806

  • Los Angeles
    707 Wilshire Boulevard
    Los Angeles, CA 90017

  • San Diego
    401 W. A Street at 1 Columbia Place
    San Diego, CA 92101

Marriage and Family Therapy Programs at CSPP

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

WASC/WSCUC

(COAMFTE accreditation in process but no announcement on when that will be)

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

LPCC track (3 extra credit hours)

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT (unless you opt for the LPCC dual-track)

Length of Program

  • 2-3 years

  • Full-time and part-time options

  • 60 credit hours (63 credit hours for LPCC Track students)

Schedule/Format

Program is hybrid (online-only program is not approved by the BBS).

San Diego and Anaheim
Fridays, some Thursday evenings

Program Start

Anaheim
Fall, Spring

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$78,180 - $82,089

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

Number of students entering the MFT program across all CSPP locations:

2020-2021: 103
2019-2020: 77
2018-2019: 79

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

Students are expected to log a minimum of 500 contact hours with clients, 200 of which must be relational hours. Relational hours are defined as contact with two or more individuals who have a significant relationship with each other outside of the therapy room. Examples may include, but are not limited to, families, couples, and parent-child dyads.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

None

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

At the end of the fourth practicum seminar, students will complete a Clinical Competency Evaluation (CCE), which consists of a full clinical case report, tape, and transcripts, as well as a presentation of this case to the class and instructor. The CCE provides an important assessment of a student’s competency in meeting key programmatic outcomes.

Application Process

Application Deadline

Rolling admissions

Undergraduate GPA Required

None

GRE Requirement

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, however students who have taken the exam may submit their scores to enhance their application.

Prerequisite Courses

None

Application Highlights

  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae

  • Essay

    • Please answer the following within three double-spaced, typed pages (approximately 500 to 750 words).

      Psychology is a vast discipline with many career options. In essay format, please describe why you chose this particular program/specialization. Cite specific experiences and examples to illustrate:

      • Why it is important to you to study this discipline at a school that emphasizes cultural awareness, competence, and understanding of diversity?

      • Your professional career goals as they relate to this specialization.

      • Why you believe this program will assist you in reaching your goals.

  • Three Letters of Recommendation

    • Appropriate recommendations are from professors and/or supervisors from significant work or volunteer experiences, who can appraise your academic or professional performance. If you are mailing in your letters, they should arrive in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal. You can also submit the letters online via the applicant portal.

Interview Requirement

None

Program Summary

Marital and Family Therapy licensing by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners requires a master level degree with specified content, supervised counseling experience, a post-master's internship, and written and oral examinations.

Consistent with Cal Lutheran's mission of service, our students are guided through academic and clinic work to become active in local agencies and organizations where they coordinate our treatments with the courts, law enforcement, hospitals, retirement communities and private practitioners. As such, when students complete their training, they have a good pulse on where and how they can pursue their professional goals.

Over the years, graduates of the Marital and Family Therapy program have had an outstanding record of obtaining internships, passing the state licensing examinations, and establishing successful practices in both private and institutional fields. State licensing passing rates for Cal Lutheran are available through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Some of our students continue their education by seeking doctoral studies after completing their degree, while others establish successful careers as licensed marital and family therapists. Some examples of placements where our graduates have established careers after completing our program and becoming licensed are:

  • Private Practice

  • Public or governmental agencies (i.e., Department of Children and Family Services, Foster Care, Department of Public Social Services, Department of Veterans' Affairs)

  • Non-profit organizations

  • In-patient facilities

  • Hospitals or medical settings

  • Police departments

  • Specialized treatment facilities (i.e., domestic violence, eating disorders, addictions)

  • Schools or universities

  • Court System