University of La Verne

M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy

On-Campus

University of La Verne Main Campus
1950 Third Street
La Verne, CA 91750

M.S. MFT 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

WASC

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT

Length of Program

  • 61 units

  • 3 years — Full Time

  • 4½ years — Part Time

  • Full-time students enroll in nine credit hours per semester, while part-time students enroll in three to six.

Schedule/Format

Classes meet once a week from 4:00-6:25pm or 6:50-9:15pm, Monday through Thursday.

Program Start

Fall

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$53,070

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

Class size: 12-14

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

Consistent with the requirements of the Board of Behavioral Sciences, all students completing the MFT program will complete a one-year (225 hour) traineeship. The program has an extensive network of supervised fieldwork placements for students in settings such as community mental health agencies and work with students to facilitate placements. All MFT placements meet current state experience requirements for the California MFT license.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

During fieldwork placement, all MFT students must complete at least 10 hours of personal psychotherapy. Depending on individual issues and preferences, students may select individual, couple, family, or group psychotherapy.

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

Unknown

Application Process

Application Deadline

March 1

Undergraduate GPA Required

An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Applicants with GPA under 3.0 may be considered with additional requirements.

GRE Requirement

None

Prerequisite Courses

A bachelor’s degree including the following three courses: general psychology, abnormal psychology, and psychological research methods/experimental psychology. Undergraduate course work will be evaluated on an individual basis for its recency and appropriateness to the graduate program and the degree must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution.

Application Highlights

  • Three letters of recommendation from professors and individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional abilities, potential, and appropriateness for the counseling profession. At least one letter should be from a professor.

  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to have at least one year of volunteer or paid experience working with families, children, couples, or students.

  • Autobiography (No more than three double-spaced pages):

    • Describe your own life experiences in the context of how these experiences influenced your decision to pursue a MFT degree. To help us learn about the role of these experiences, please address the following:

      • (1) Information about your family of origin or current family situation and how they influenced your decision to pursue a MFT degree;

      • (2) a description of two or three significant personal experiences that influenced your personal development;

      • (3) a discussion regarding any personal experiences in psychotherapy; and

      • (4) any other personal experiences or values that also influenced your interest in our MFT program. Thus, the goal of your autobiography is to help the admissions committee understand how certain life experiences influenced your decision to pursue a MFT degree at the University of La Verne.

  • Statement of Purpose (No more than three double-spaced pages):

    • Describe how pursuing a MFT degree at the University of La Verne will specifically aid in meeting your professional goals. To help us learn about these goals and your understanding of the field, please discuss all of the following:

      • (1) briefly describe your knowledge of MFT as a profession, including the duties and process of being a MFT in California (or in other states, if applicable);

      • (2) your reasons for selecting a MFT career;

      • (3) relevant professional or academic experiences that contributed to your preparation as a MFT, including being a consumer of research and commitment to serving underrepresented populations;

      • (4) postgraduate career plans and interests in working with certain populations; and

      • (5) discuss why you are specifically interested in the MFT program at the University of La Verne and how the features of our program align with your professional goals.

Interview Requirement

Selected applicants will be asked to complete an interview with at least two psychology faculty members and to complete an examination of an empirical article in the final phase of the application process.

Program Summary

Since 1973, the University of La Verne’s Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program has trained graduate students to meet the human service needs of families in a changing world. With both full-time and part-time options available,  students can earn the degree on a schedule that works for them. Additionally, most classes meet in the late afternoon and evening, making the program even more flexible.

La Verne’s MFT program consists of 61 credit hours total. Full-time students enroll in nine credit hours per semester, while part-time students enroll in three to six. The program meets all current Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) academic requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure in California, as well as the academic requirements for California community college counseling and instructor positions.

Program Features

Classes in the MFT program are small, averaging 12-14 students, which creates a collaborative environment between students and faculty. Courses include Couples Therapy, Child Therapy, and Grief and Loss Counseling. Graduate assistantships are also available, which give students even more hands-on experience as they work with faculty on research projects. La Verne’s psychology department also offers supervised fieldwork placement, which provides training to students. Furthermore, MFT students are eligible to join Psi Chi, the National Honor Society for psychology students.

Recovery Model Focus

The theoretical foundation for the MFT program is based on a Recovery Model emphasizing and supporting each individual’s potential for recovery. The Recovery Model perspective emphasizes development of hope, a secure sense of self supportive relationships, empowerment, social inclusion, coping skills, multicultural sensitivity, and meaning.

Students are exposed to a range of theoretical orientations reflecting multiple yet diverse perspectives. Didactic and experiential program components are combined to provide a broad theoretical foundation for possible future study and substantial counseling experience for the future practitioner.

Outcomes and Careers

Graduates of La Verne’s MFT program typically pursue careers as marriage and family therapists in community mental health and social service agencies, school-based counseling programs, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, private practices, and community colleges.

MFT students also benefit from La Verne’s alumni network, which serves as a resource for both current students and graduates of the program. Our Career Service Department is an additional resource for finding information about workshops, internships, and job opportunities.

La Verne’s MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program allows students to pursue a career as a MFT on a schedule that works for them. You may visit several of our pages to learn more about the program, the curriculum, the application process, and the program faculty.