Top Marriage and Family Counseling Degree Programs in California (S-Z)

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Finding the top marriage and family counseling degree programs in California (S-Z) can be something of a challenge. The information below, naming schools and their programs and giving information about them, should help to negotiate that challenge.

San Diego State University

Department of Counseling & School Psychology

The Department of Counseling & School Psychology is hosted by the College of Education at San Diego State University. It offers programs at the master’s level in Education with Concentration in Counseling, Counseling with Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling with Specialization in School Counseling. It also offers an Education Specialist degree in School Psychology, a certificate in Cultural and Community Trauma Studies and an undergraduate minor in Counseling and Social Challenge. In each, the Department seeks to equip students to be compassionate professionals who help their clients negotiate the stresses of life.

MS in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy

The Department offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) that requires 60 credit hours of coursework at the graduate level as well as additional courses as provided for by law. Courses include Methods of Inquiry, Cross-Cultural Counseling Communication Skills, Cross-Cultural Counseling Prepracticum, Theoretical Foundations of Counseling and MFT, Determinants of Human Behavior: Development, Seminar in Multicultural Dimensions in Counseling, Family Life Cycle Development, MFT Theories and Best Practices I, Testing and Assessment for Marriage and Family Therapists, Counseling Interventions with Children and Adolescents: MTF, Theory and Process of Group Counseling, seminars in Multicultural Family Therapy Practice in Community Settings and Couples Therapy and Evidence-Based Relational Practices, a special topics course, two MFT practica and a traineeship, a selection of courses for the concentration, and either six hours of professional seminar or a thesis, as well as electives to further refine the student’s knowledge and skills.

Accreditation
The program is a candidate for accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. This is in addition to the University’s accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
North Education, Room 179
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182-1179
Phone: 619.594.6106
Email: csp@mail.sdsu.edu
Website: http://go.sdsu.edu/education/csp/mft.aspx

San Francisco State University

College of Health and Social Sciences

The College of Health and Social Sciences at San Francisco State University hosts a dozen departments (Child & Adolescent Development; Consumer & Family Studies/Dietetics; Counseling; Criminal Justice; Health Education; Kinesiology; Physical Therapy; Public Administration; Recreation, Parks, and Tourism; Sexuality Studies; Sociology and Urban Studies & Planning) as well as three interdisciplinary programs, three schools (Nursing, Public Affairs & Civic Engagement and Social Work) and four institutes. In each, the College seeks to equip students for competent professional practice so that graduates can contribute meaningfully and effectively to their communities.

Master of Science in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling

The College offers a Master of Science degree in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling meant to equip students for licensure and certification by the State. The degree requires a minimum of 60 units of coursework at the 700 and 800 level. Required courses include Theories of Counseling, Developmental and Psychological Foundations for Counselors, Practicum and Internship, Counseling Process, Assessment in Counseling, Career Counseling, Counseling Practicum and Fieldwork, Advanced Counseling Process, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Seminar in Research, Group Counseling Process, Consultation Process, Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling, Law and Ethics in Counseling, Couples and Family Counseling I and II, Counseling Aspects of Sexuality, Seminar on Child Treatment, Integrative Counseling, Case Studies and Internships, an internship and an independent study or elective. These courses rely on completion of foundational psychology prerequisites (Developmental Psychology, Theories of Personality and Psychopathology) and a counseling field course.

Accreditation
The Department’s programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the Council on Rehabilitation Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Evaluation. This is in addition to the University’s renewed ten-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
1600 Holloway Ave.
Burk Hall, Rm. 524
San Francisco, CA 94132
Phone: 415.338.2005
Email: counsel@shsu.edu
Website: http://counseling.sfsu.edu/content/master-science-marriage-family-child-counseling-mft

San Jose State University

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at San Jose State University seeks to educate students about human behavior as it has existed and continues to change through its current forms. It does so in thirteen departments (African American Studies, Anthropology, Communication Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Global Studies, History, Mexican American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Urban and Regional Planning) and one institute (Survey Policy Research). The College emphasizes social, economic and environmental sustainability as part of its long and storied history and works to cultivate similar sensibilities in its students.

MS in Clinical Psychology

The College offers a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology that equips students to sit for the state Marriage and Family Therapist license, or other master-level licenses, rather than to pursue doctoral education. Admission requires substantial undergraduate preparation in psychology and at least 100 hours of applied clinical experience. Those admitted must take a prescribed 60-credit course sequence, which is expected to take two years to complete at the required full-time rate of study. Courses include Clinical Assessment, Advanced Child Psychopathology, Methods of Psychotherapy/Counseling Procedures, Ethics and Gender Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy, Professional Ethics for Psychologist, Advanced Adult Psychopathology, Group Counseling, Family Therapy (Family and Couples), Life Span Development, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Addictions Treatment, Methods & Design for Applied Research, Field Work (for two semesters), Clinical Psychology Practicum I and II, Modern Family, Crisis/Trauma Counseling and a two-semester master’s project that takes the form of a comprehensive exam.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The program is additionally accredited by the California Board of Behavioral Science.

Contact
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192
Phone: 408.924.5610
Email: Glenn.Callaghan@sjsu.edu
Website: http://www.sjsu.edu/psych/Graduates/clinicalpsych/

Santa Clara University

School of Education and Counseling Psychology

The School of Education and Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University seeks to educate caring, ethical professionals who seek to engage deeply with people, schools and broader communities. It has done so since 1912 with graduate degree and non-degree certificate programs in teacher training, educational leadership and administration and counseling psychology, so that it equips its students to work in nearly all instructional and administrative areas of school systems public and private or in counseling and therapy practices outside schools. The School also hosts a Center for Professional Development that seeks to refine the skills of the already professional.

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology along four tracks: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), LPCC, a joint MFT/LPCC track and an option offering more training and experience than licensing preparation. Three emphases are also available: Correctional Psychology, Health Psychology and Latino Counseling. The MFT track requires 90 quarter hours of coursework, of which 21 are set aside for emphasis courses (or electives if no emphasis is selected). All emphases in the track must take common core courses (Psychologies of Interpersonal Communications, Relationships and Human Development; Foundations of Psychotherapy and Personality, Psychology of Group Counseling, Research Methods, Lab Group, Counseling Process and Problems, Multicultural Counseling and Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling), other required courses (Human Sexuality, Evidence Based Approach to Psychotherapy, Psychology of Marriage Counseling, Family Therapy, Therapeutic Interventions with Children, Clinical Assessment I and II, Substance Abuse Treatment, Psychopharmacology and Clinical Assessment: Issues in Child Diagnosis) and nine units of practicum.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Contact
Loyola Hall, Ste. 101
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-0207
Phone: 408.551.3422
Email: ecpadmissions@scu.edu
Website: http://www.scu.edu/ecp/programs/counselingpsychology/counselingpsychology/index.cfm

Saybrook University

School of Clinical Psychology

The School of Clinical Psychology at Saybrook University offers psychology degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels, as well as certificates in Multicultural Psychology and Complex Trauma and the Healing Process. Emphasis is on holistic, humanisitic understandings of the inner workings of the mind, although the programs on offer do conduce to licensure and board certifications. Instruction blends online coursework with on-site practica to provide students with both the applied understanding needed to do psychological work and the theoretical background to be able to advance the field through research and interpretation of data.

MA Psychology- MFT/PCC Licensure

The School offers a three-year Master of Arts degree in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy/Professional Clinical Counseling that seeks to prepare students for careers in counseling supplemented by multiple licensures. The degree requires 60 credits of coursework and 2 6-day residential conferences per year of study. Conferences cover intensive studies in child, adolescent, and elder populations; those with severe mental illness and developmental disability; couples and families and domestic violence situations. The conferences occupy 6 of the required degree credits; the remaining 54 come from the following courses: Developmental Psychology, Systems of Psychotherapy, Basic Counseling Skills, Understanding Research & Evaluation, Structure & Dynamics of the Family, Human Sexuality, Psychopathology & Diagnosis, Relationship & Family Intervention, Multiculturalism & the Family, Assessing Persons for MFT, Crisis & Trauma Intervention, Ethics for MFT, Psychopharmacology, Group Counseling & Psychotherapy, Career Development & Counseling, Substance Abuse & Behavioral Addictions and Practicum 1 and 2.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
747 Front St.
3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111-1920
Phone: 415.394.5996
Email: atravers@saybrook.edu
Website: http://www.saybrook.edu/academic-affairs/areas/cp/mamft

Simpson University

Graduate Studies Programs

Graduate studies programs at Simpson University are offered by the School of Education, the MACP program and the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary. They include Master of Arts degrees in Counseling Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Education, Teaching and Intellectual Leadership, a Master of Divinity degree and three credentials: California Preliminary Administrative Services, Single Subject Teaching and Multi Subject Teaching. Average tuition cost is $500 per credit hour, plus applicable fees (which vary markedly by program). In each, emphasis is on professionalization rather than research or preparation for doctoral education. Each also emphasizes the overtly Christian character of the University as a whole.

MA in Counseling Psychology

The University offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology meant to prepare students for California licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. It is a 60-credit, lock-step, cohort program with non-thesis, thesis and teaching & learning options; the latter two add 5.5 credits to the degree. Required courses for all options are Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy; Child & Adolescent Development; Child & Adolescent Psychopathology; Adult Development; Research Methods; Psychopathology in Adults; Legal and Ethical Issues; Family Therapy: Theory and Practice I and II; Psychological Assessment; Contemporary Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy; Counseling Skills; Christian Identity & Professional Development; Christian Ethics and Professional Development; Child Abuse and Family Violence, Religion, Marriage and the Family; Couples Therapy and Domestic Violence; Groups: Theory, Process & Practice; Psychopharmacology; Issues of Diversity in Counseling; Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders; Child & Adolescent Therapy; Geropsychology; Psychopathology and Family; Human Sexuality and Practicum I through V.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Senior Colleges and Universities Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
2211 College View Drive
Redding, CA 96003
Phone: 530.226.4767
Email: jkendrick@simpsonu.edu
Website: http://simpsonu.edu/Pages/Academics/Majors/GS/MACP.htm

Sofia University

Graduate School of Clinical and Spiritual Psychology

The Graduate School of Clinical and Spiritual Psychology at Sofia University emphasizes the interaction of the spiritual, psychological and corporeal in its two master-level programs (Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and Master of Arts in Spiritual Guidance) and its doctorate program (Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology). The doctorate and the Counseling Psychology programs are offered on campus; both master’s programs are available in hybrid format. Notable is the institutional emphasis on the broad contexts of instruction; each degree requires classes normally considered outside the field. The expanded curriculum helps students to be more compassionate in their work.

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology that meets licensing requirements for both Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling through a whole-person approach. The degree requires 90 units of coursework. Those focusing on Marriage and Family Therapy will take Human Development & Personality Theories; Group Dynamics; Systems Theory & Application; Advanced Theory & Skills; Assessment, Diagnosis & Testing; Psychopharmacology, Brain Structure & Development & Severe Mental Illness; California Laws & Ethics for LMFTs/LPCCs & Mandatory Reporting Laws; Research Methods & Evaluation; Human Sexuality, Gender Identity & Treatment of Psychosexual Dysfunction; Pre-Practicum: Clinical Training Preparation; Counseling Principles & Practices; Multicultural Competence & Counseling; Addiction: Social Implications & Recovery; Child & Adolescent-Focused Therapy & Intervention; Career Counseling; Practicum 1 through 4; Meditation & Mindfulness; Aikido; Transpersonal Theory & Literature; Creative Expression and labs in spiritual, physical and creative applications. Electives are also available.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
1069 East Meadow Circle
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 650.493.4430
Email: admissions@sofia.edu
Website: http://www.sofia.edu/content/master-arts-counseling-psychology

Sonoma State University

School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences at Sonoma State University, a branch of the California State University, offers undergraduate minors, non-degree certificates, baccalaureate degrees and master’s degrees in fourteen departments: Anthropology, Counseling, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Environmental Studies and Planning, Geography, Gerontology, Global Studies, History, Human Development, the Liberal Studies Ukiah Program, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies. In each, the School prepares students to contribute to an increasingly globalized society through rewarding personal and professional lives, maintaining the knowledge of the past while working to apply it to the demands of the future.

Master of Arts in Counseling

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling that can lead to certification as either a school counselor or as a community counselor/marriage and family therapist. Both options take MA course courses for 24 of the 60 units required: Counseling Theories & Professional Orientation; Applied Counseling Techniques & Assessment; Research, Evaluation and Assessment in Counseling; Field Experience I and II and Multicultural Counseling. The remaining 36 prepare students for their specializations. Prospective marriage and family therapists take Whole Lifespan Development: Child & Adolescent Development; Whole Lifespan Development: Adult Development; Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Planning; Applied Counseling Practicum & Advanced Techniques; Fundamental & Theoretical Foundations of Career Counseling; Measurement & Assessment for Career Counseling; Career Planning & Counseling Issues of Young Adulthood, Adulthood & Late Adulthood; Theory and Practice of Group Counseling; Counseling Diverse Couples & Families; Counseling Orientation, Law & Ethics & Case Management Practices; Couples & Sexuality Counseling; Psychopharmacology for Counselors and Substance Abuse & Dependence.

Accreditation
The program meets the requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: 707.664.2544
Email: stephanie.wilkinson@sonoma.edu
Website: http://www.sonoma.edu/counseling/

St. Mary’s College of California

Kalmanovitz School of Education

Founded as the Department of Education in 1967, the Kalmanovitz School of Education at St. Mary’s College of California offers programs in teacher education, leadership and counseling meant to equip graduates to work to change their communities to be more environmentally and socially just. The School also hosts a Center for Environmental Literacy to support its mission. Curricula in each program are aligned to Catholic, Lasallian ideology of affirming compassion and service, and the School as a whole promotes integration and engagement between the College and the world outside it.

Master of Arts in Counseling

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling that allows for seven specializations: Career Counseling, College Student Services, General Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, School Counseling and School Psychology. Students in each take 40 units of core courses in Introduction to Counseling Research; Personal and Professional Development of Counselors; Theories of Counseling; Career Counseling; Law, Ethics and Values; Human Sexuality; Alcohol & Substance Abuse; Psychological Testing and Assessment; Human Development and Family Relationships; Communication Skills and Advanced Communication Skills; Issues in Intercultural Counseling and Social Justice; Group Theory and Practice; Research Seminar and a Master’s Project, Thesis or Exam. Those specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy take an additional 28 units of coursework in Psychopathology; Theory and Practice of Counseling Couples; Family Systems Theories and Applications; Treatment of Children; Advanced Clinical Practice; Community Mental Health and Trauma Intervention; Addictions, Co-occurring Disorders and Recovery-Oriented Treatment; Counseling Older Adults and Their Families; Psychopharmacology and Counseling Field Experience.

Accreditation
The College’s accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges was reaffirmed in 2004.

Contact
1928 St. Mary’s Rd.
Moraga, CA 94575
Phone: 925.631.4700
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/counseling-department/ma-in-counseling/marriage-family-therapyprofessional-clinical-counseling

Touro University Worldwide

School of Health and Human Services

The School of Health and Human Services at Touro University Worldwide offers baccalaureate and master’s programs in health science: Bachelor of Science degrees in Health Sciences in Health Care Administration and Health Education, a Master of Science degree in Health Sciences (with an available emphasis in health education) and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. The focus of the school’s programs is on developing a holistic professional health practice in students, allowing them to contribute to society meaningfully on the personal and professional levels.

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

The School offers an online Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy that seeks to address emergent conditions of home life in a way that equips students to sit for licensure. The degree requires 60 semester credit hours taken from the following courses: Contemporary Issues in Marriage & Family Therapy; Foundations of Psychopathology; Couples Counseling; Child-Focused Family Therapy; Development within the Family Life Cycle; Psychopharmacology; Society, Culture and Gender: A Multi-cultural Perspective; Research Methodology Group Counseling; Assessment & Testing for the Marriage & Family Therapist; Human Sexuality; Substance Abuse & Recovery; Studies in Human Communication; Adolescent-Focused Family Therapy; Aging, Illness & Long Term Care Concerns; Ethics & Law for Marriage & Family Therapy; Treatment of Trauma in Families; Practicum I through III and a capstone project. Electives are available for those whose state licensures require them, as are continuation courses for those who need ore practicum time.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Contact
10601 Calle Lee Ste. 179
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Phone: 888.575.6800
Email: online@tuw.edu
Website: http://www.tuw.edu/marriage-family-therapy/

University of La Verne

Psychology Department

The Psychology Department at the University of La Verne is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. It offers programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels: BS in Psychology, MS in Marriage and Family Therapy and PsyD in Clinical Psychology, respectively. As such, the programs are based upon solid foundations of traditional liberal arts education, meaning that they prepare students not only for effective professional lives, but also for rewarding personal lives in the increasingly diverse and globalized world of the twenty-first century.

MS in Marriage and Family Therapy

The Department offers a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy meant to equip students to enter professional practice and to pursue further study. Completion of the program coincides with California marriage and family therapy licensure requirements; it also covers most of the requirements for professional clinical counseling licensure. The program requires a one-year, 225-hour traineeship and 60 semester hours of coursework in the following courses: Research Methods in Counseling; Human Development; Group Counseling; Multicultural Counseling; Professionalism, Ethics and Law in Counseling; Human Sexuality; Psychological Testing; Clinical Psychopathology; Counseling Theories & Skills I and II; Family Therapy; Couples Therapy; Child Therapy; Substance Abuse Counseling; Violence & Abuse in Family Systems; Psychopharmacology; Counseling Older Adults; Supervised Fieldwork in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy I and II; a core competency exam (for no credit and after the first year in the program) and either a thesis or capstone graduate seminar.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
1950 Third St.
La Verne, CA 91750
Phone: 909.448.4478
Email: masterspsyc@laverne.edu
Website: http://sites.laverne.edu/psychology/mft_program/

University of Phoenix – Bay Area Campus

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix – Bay Area Campus, as at other campuses, works with such organizations as the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National Organization for Human Services to ensure that its programs address real needs in the social sciences. Those programs are at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels in psychology, counseling and human services, each equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society as professionals in those fields. They equip graduates to help those who need help, whatever their age or social condition.

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

As at other California campuses of the University, the College at the Bay Area Campus offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy; the degree is not available online, but it does meet California licensing requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework, including but not limited to the following: Graduate Portfolio I and II, Multi-cultural Issues in mental Health Counseling, Individual and Family Development across the Life Span, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, Psychometrics, Introduction to Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Family Systems Theory, Family Interventions, Group Counseling, Psychopharmacology/Biological basis of Behavior, Dependency and Addictions, Orientation to Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Career and Vocational Counseling, Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling and Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling A and B.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, but has been placed on Notice by the organization.

Contact
3590 N. First St.
San Jose, CA 95134-1805
Phone: 800.266.2107
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/human-services/masters/msc-mfct.html

University of Phoenix – Central Valley Campus

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix – Central Valley Campus, as at other campuses, works with such organizations as the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National Organization for Human Services to ensure that its programs address real needs in the social sciences. Those programs are at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels in psychology, counseling and human services, each equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society as professionals in those fields. They equip graduates to help those who need help, whatever their age or social condition.

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

As at other California campuses of the University, the College at the Central Valley Campus offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy; the degree is not available online, but it does meet California licensing requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework, including but not limited to the following: Graduate Portfolio I and II, Multi-cultural Issues in mental Health Counseling, Individual and Family Development across the Life Span, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, Psychometrics, Introduction to Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Family Systems Theory, Family Interventions, Group Counseling, Psychopharmacology/Biological basis of Behavior, Dependency and Addictions, Orientation to Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Career and Vocational Counseling, Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling and Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling A and B.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, but has been placed on Notice by the organization.

Contact
45 River Park Place West
Fresno, CA 93720-1552
Phone: 800.266.2107
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/human-services/masters/msc-mfct.html

University of Phoenix – Southern California Campus

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix – Southern California Campus, as at other campuses, works with such organizations as the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National Organization for Human Services to ensure that its programs address real needs in the social sciences. Those programs are at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels in psychology, counseling and human services, each equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society as professionals in those fields. They equip graduates to help those who need help, whatever their age or social condition.

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

As at other California campuses of the University, the College at the Southern California Campus offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy; the degree is not available online, but it does meet California licensing requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework, including but not limited to the following: Graduate Portfolio I and II, Multi-cultural Issues in mental Health Counseling, Individual and Family Development across the Life Span, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, Psychometrics, Introduction to Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Family Systems Theory, Family Interventions, Group Counseling, Psychopharmacology/Biological basis of Behavior, Dependency and Addictions, Orientation to Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Career and Vocational Counseling, Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling and Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling A and B.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, but has been placed on Notice by the organization.

Contact
3090 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-3099
Phone: 800.888.1968
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/human-services/masters/msc-mfct.html

University of Phoenix – Sacramento Campus

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix – Sacramento Campus, as at other campuses, works with such organizations as the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National Organization for Human Services to ensure that its programs address real needs in the social sciences. Those programs are at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels in psychology, counseling and human services, each equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society as professionals in those fields. They equip graduates to help those who need help, whatever their age or social condition.

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

As at other California campuses of the University, the College at the Sacramento Campus offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy; the degree is not available online, but it does meet California licensing requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework, including but not limited to the following: Graduate Portfolio I and II, Multi-cultural Issues in mental Health Counseling, Individual and Family Development across the Life Span, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, Psychometrics, Introduction to Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Family Systems Theory, Family Interventions, Group Counseling, Psychopharmacology/Biological basis of Behavior, Dependency and Addictions, Orientation to Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Career and Vocational Counseling, Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling and Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling A and B.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, but has been placed on Notice by the organization.

Contact
2860 Gateway Oaks Drive
Sacramento, CA 95833-4334
Phone: 800.266.2107
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/human-services/masters/msc-mfct.html

University of Phoenix – San Diego Campus

College of Social Sciences

The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix – San Diego Campus, as at other campuses, works with such organizations as the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National Organization for Human Services to ensure that its programs address real needs in the social sciences. Those programs are at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels in psychology, counseling and human services, each equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to society as professionals in those fields. They equip graduates to help those who need help, whatever their age or social condition.

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

As at other California campuses of the University, the College at the San Diego Campus offers a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy; the degree is not available online, but it does meet California licensing requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 60 credits of coursework, including but not limited to the following: Graduate Portfolio I and II, Multi-cultural Issues in mental Health Counseling, Individual and Family Development across the Life Span, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, Psychometrics, Introduction to Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Family Systems Theory, Family Interventions, Group Counseling, Psychopharmacology/Biological basis of Behavior, Dependency and Addictions, Orientation to Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Career and Vocational Counseling, Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling and Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling A and B.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, but has been placed on Notice by the organization.

Contact
9645 Granite Ridge Dr., Ste. 200
San Diego, CA 92123-2658
Phone: 800.473.4346
Email: None, but contact forms are provided.
Website: http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/human-services/masters/msc-mfct.html

University of San Diego

School of Leadership and Education Sciences

The School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego offers non-degree certificates and credentials, undergraduate minors and degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels in three departments: Leadership Studies; Learning and Teaching and School, Family & Mental Health Professions. It also administers the Army and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps programs. The School seeks to maintain focus on moral and ethical implications of personal, professional and community life and works to prepare students to face the challenges that will be presented to them in all such fields throughout their endeavors.

Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Marital and Family Therapy that seeks to equip students to conduct holistic systems-oriented therapy. A non-thesis degree, it requires 60 units of coursework and a year-long clinical practicum including at least 500 client contact hours, of which a minimum of 250 must be with couples or families. Courses include Evidence Based Practice in Family Therapy, Family Therapy Theories I and II, Psychopathology in the Family, Ethical & Legal Issues in Family Therapy, Human Diversity in Family Therapy, Family Development, Systemic Treatment of Children, Families of Children with Special Needs, Developmental Psychopathology, Psychopharmacology and Systems, Couples & Sex Therapy, Systemic Treatment of Substance Abuse, Family Violence, Aging Issues in Family Therapy, Social Neuroscience for Family Therapists, Spiritual Issues in Family Therapy, Practicum in MFT 1 through 3, an elective and 6 units of continuing education classes.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of College and School. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and meets the guidelines of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Contact
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Phone: 619.260.4538
Email: tcouncil@sandiego.edu
Website: http://www.sandiego.edu/soles/academics/ma-marital-family-therapy/index.php

University of San Francisco

School of Education

The School of Education at the University of San Francisco offers more than a score of graduate degree programs, as well as continuing education programs, on campus and online. In them, it seeks to train students to advocate for social justice and make positive impacts on the populations most in need. Programs are available in Catholic Education Leadership, Digital Technologies for Teaching & Learning, Higher Education & Student Affairs, Human rights Education, International & Multicultural Education, Learning & Instruction, Marriage & Family Therapy, Organization & Leadership, School Counseling, Special Education, Teacher Education and TESOL.

MA in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy

The School offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy that seeks to prepare students to address the various mental health needs of adults, children and families successfully. The degree requires 60 credits, usually taken over 8 semesters. Required courses include Individual and Family Lifespan Development; Counseling across Cultures; Cognitive and Behavior Therapies: Theory and Practice; Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues; Individual and Family Psychopathology; Intermediate Techniques in Cognitive and Behavior Therapies; Individual and Systems Assessment; Advanced Techniques in Cognitive and Behavior Therapies; Family Systems Therapy; Alcohol and Substance Abuse; Group Work in Clinical Settings; Couples Therapy; Research Methods; Child and Parent Therapy; Community Mental Health: Concepts of Recovery, Wellness, Systems of Care and Advocacy; Adult Life Transitions Therapy; Human Sexuality; Therapy in Later Life; Clinical Psychopharmacology; Child, Elder and Adult Abuse Issues and Traineeship I and II.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
University of San Francisco School of Education
Counseling Psychology Department
2130 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117-1071
Phone: 415.422.6868
Email: dlsellers@usfca.edu
Website: http://www.usfca.edu/soe/programs/counpsych/mft/

University of Southern California

Rossier School of Education

Established in 1909 as the Department of Education and renamed in 1998 after alumni donations, the Rossier School of Education emphasizes the improvement of urban education at the local, national and global levels. It offers eight master’s degree programs (Master of Arts, Master of Education and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy), four doctoral programs (EdD and PhD) and four other programs in teaching, leadership, professional development, therapy and educational policies, ensuring that its graduates are admirably equipped to lead others to greater knowledge and understanding and to train those who will do so.

Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

The School offers a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy meant to equip students for generalist therapy work in a pluralistic society. It also prepares students to sit for California MFT licensure. Students will typically take two years, including two summer terms, to complete the 60 units of coursework required for the degree. The courses include The Counseling Process; Professional Identity, Law and Ethics for Counselors; Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy; Theories in Counseling; Measurement Procedures for Counselors; Psychopathology for Marriage and Family Therapy; Career Development: Theory and Process; Psychopharmacology and the Effects of Substance Abuse; Research Methods and Data Analysis for Counselors; Counseling through the Lifespan; Master’s Seminar; Child and Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence; Couples Counseling; Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents; Perspectives on Human Sexuality; Group Counseling: Theory and Process; Cross-Cultural Counseling: Research and Practice; Practicum in Counseling and Fieldwork in Counseling.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
3470 Trousdale Pkwy.
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Phone: 213.740.0224
Email: info@rossier.usc.edu
Website: http://rossier.usc.edu/programs/masters/mmft/

University of the West

Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology at the University of the West highlights multicultural understandings of human thought and behavior, integrating Eastern and Western theories and practices within the institution’s emphasis on Buddhist ideologies and community responsibility. The Department offers Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Psychology that reinforce the University mission to teach the whole person and promote concern for and action towards ensuring social justice and a healthy respect for cultural difference. Curricula conduce to multidisciplinary understandings and international perspectives within a changing and energetic global community.

Master of Arts in Psychology

The Master of Arts in Psychology degree the Department offers prepares students to work as professional counselors and to sit for the California Marriage and Family Therapy license. Two tracks are available: Multicultural Counseling with Generalist Focus and Buddihst Psychology. Both require a minimum of 60 units of coursework. Classes include Professional Seminar in Multicultural/Buddhist Marriage Family Therapy; Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis; Psychopathology: Assessment and Diagnosis in Counseling I and II; Theories and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy I and II; Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy; Seminar: Counseling of Multicultural Groups; Marriage/Couples and Family Counseling I and II; Psychological Testing; Adult Development and Aging; Psychopharmacology; one of Advanced Counseling Group Process and Skills, Advanced Child and Adolescent Interventions in Therapy, Advanced Couples Counseling, Advanced Family Therapy or Advanced Seminar in Culture and Psychotherapy; 6 units of fieldwork; 12 hours of electives and either a comprehensive exam or a thesis.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
1409 Walnut Grove Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Phone: 626.571.8811×113
Email: hiroshis@uwest.edu
Website: http://www.uwest.edu/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123&Itemid=163

Vanguard University of Southern California

School for Graduate and Professional Studies

The School for Graduate and Professional Studies at Vanguard University of Southern California offers programs in Clinical Psychology, Education, Nursing, Organizational Psychology and Religion that further the University’s mission as an affiliate of the Assemblies of God. Emphasis in the programs is on fostering a deep connection to Christian ideologies as professional competencies are developed and enhanced. The School makes much of fostering a caring and compassionate community among its adult learners, using a sense of Christian solidarity to offer more than academics to those returning to school after life in the workforce.

Master of Science in Clinical Psychology

The School offers a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology that seeks to equip students to work as Christian mental health care professionals. Class sizes are sharply limited, allowing for individualized attention. The 60-unit program prepares students to sit for the California Marriage and Family Therapy license. Courses in the program, which should take five to eight semesters to complete, include Clinical Foundations I; Advanced Psychopathology; Ethical and Legal Issues; Family Psychotherapy; Research Methodology; Advanced Developmental Psychology; Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy; Psychodynamic Theory and Treatment; Cognitive-Behavioral Theory and Treatment; Current Psychotherapy Topics; Professional Skills in Clinical Practice; Addictive Behaviors; Psychotherapy and Diversity; Violence, Abuse and Trauma; Psychology, Theology and Spirituality; Couples Psychotherapy; Group Psychotherapy; Clinical Psychopharmacology; Psychosocial Stressors and Mental Health; Psychological Testing; Case Conceptualization (for two semesters) and a Comprehensive Project completed in place of the traditional master’s thesis.

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Contact
55 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 714.556.3610×6440
Email: asha.harrington@vanguard.edu
Website: http://www.vanguard.edu/graduatepsychology/

Webster University

Irvine Campus

An extension of the central Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, the Irvine Campus offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management; a Master of Business Administration degree and Master of Arts degrees in Business and Organizational Security Management, Counseling, Human Resources Management, International Business and Management & Leadership, as well as several certificates. Available to Campus students are a library, a bookstore, a computer lab, writing help and an academic resource center as well as the same slate of online resources available to all University students. Emphasis is on balancing academic and applied knowledge for personal and professional success.

Mater of Arts in Counseling

The Campus offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling that the University allows several emphases: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Community Counseling; Family Life Counseling and Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. Students seeking the last will need to complete 60 credit hours of coursework in Foundations of Counseling: The Helping Relationship; Human Growth and Development; Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling; Theories of Counseling; Assessment; Techniques of Group Counseling; Lifestyle and Career Development; Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice; Research and Program Evaluation; Psychopharmacology; Psychopathology; Psychodiagnostics; Family Systems Theory; Human Sexuality Theory and Sexual Counseling; Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling; Counseling Learning Practicum I and II; an internship and electives to round out the required hours. A Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam is also required of students in the program; it is to be taken after completing the core counseling courses (the first nine listed above).

Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Contact
32 Discovery, Ste. 250
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: 949.450.9066
Email: Irvine@webster.edu
Website: http://www.webster.edu/irvine/academic-programs/counseling.html

Western Seminary

Counseling Department, San Jose and Sacramento Campuses

The San Jose and Sacramento Campuses of Western Seminary both host a Counseling Department. Both focus on offering a program in Marriage and Family Therapy to students within the broader Christian educational context of the Seminary of which they are part. Biblical and theological studies are incorporated into all programs as an outgrowth of their being offered at a seminary, ensuring that all students are grounded in the highest principles of Christian theology and are therefore inculcated with a compassionate outlook that is of benefit to any mental health care professional.

Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy

The Department at both the San Jose and Sacramento Campuses offers a Master of Arts degree in Marital and Family Therapy. The program equips students to be Christian counselors and sit for California MFT licensure; it also permits students to seek licensure as Professional Clinical Counselors. It requires 73 credits; eight are in Biblical and five in Theological Studies. The remaining 60 are in Clinical Foundations: Basic Counseling Skills/Interventions, Psychological Theory & Techniques, Family Systems Therapy, Psychotherapeutic Systems, Psychopathology, Legal and Ethical Issues, Human Life Span Development, Introduction to Integrative Issues, Advanced Integration, Spiritual Development and Assessment, Group Counseling, Social and Cultural Foundations, Marriage Counseling, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Career and Lifestyle Development, Human Sexuality, Research in Counseling & Family Studies, Tests and Measurements, either Psychopharmacology (Sacramento campus) or Physiology and Pharmacology of Addiction (San Jose campus), Counseling Addictions, Counseling Practicum I through III, Counseling Violence and Abuse Issues, Human Services and Emergency Preparedness: Crisis Management.

Accreditation
The Seminary is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The program meets the standards of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Contact
San Jose Campus
469 El Camino Real #205
Santa Clara, CA 95050

Sacramento Campus
290 Technology Way, Ste. 200
Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: San Jose- 877.900.6889, Sacramento- 916.488.3720×305
Email: San Jose- sanjose@westernseminary.edu, Sacramento- lfrederick@westernseminary.edu
Website: https://www.westernseminary.edu/admissions/degrees-and-programs/graduate-degrees/m-a-in-marital-and-family-therapy-mft

The Wright Institute

The Wright Institute was founded by Nevitt Sanford in 1968. It currently offers two programs: a PsyD program in Clinical Psychology and an MA program in Counseling Psychology. Both seek to educate students to the highest levels of professional proficiency in the field, sending them out into the world as lifelong learners who are willing and able to serve the public good through meeting the needs of their communities and the people in them. They do this though creating an intellectually rigorous environment that yet is respectful for individual difference and emphasizes mentoring.

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

The Institute offers a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology meant to help diverse students become culturally sensitive mental health service providers. The degree comes at the end of a two-year (including summers) small-cohort program with a prescribed curriculum of 60 instructional units. Students take Community Mental Health; Research Based Practice; Counseling Theories and Techniques; Common Therapeutic Factors; Individual & Family Development; Clinical Assessment & Measures; Diagnosis & Empirically Supported Treatments; Child & Adolescent Counseling; Family Therapy I and II (Traditional and Postmodern, respectively); Multicultural Awareness & Sensitivity; Addictions Counseling; Family Violence & Protection; Group Counseling; Aging & Long Term Care; Law & Professional Ethics; Crisis, Disaster & Trauma Counseling; Sexual Development & Health; Couples Counseling; Psychopharmacology/Bio Bases and three semesters of both MFT Professional Development Seminar and Practicum (which the seminar supplements). Tuition is $950 per instructional unit.

Accreditation
The Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Contact
2728 Durant Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 510.841.9230
Email: mesherick@wi.edu
Website: http://www.wi.edu/ma-program

Finding an ideal program is of vital importance for future career goals and the benefit of those who need the help only good counseling can offer. Hopefully, the above information about the top marriage and family counseling degree programs in California (S-Z) will help in making the best choice.

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