MS Marriage and Family Therapy

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.

University of 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.

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. University of La Verne’s MFT program 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.

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.

Graduates of University 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 University of 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.

University of 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.