Chapman University MFT Program

Chapman University’s Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program is one of the best MFT graduate programs in California. The program holds prestigious national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). This accreditation will give you quality education measured against professional standards and makes it easier to get licensed if you move to another state.

You’ll need to complete 60 credits (20 courses) designed to prepare you for California marriage and family therapist licensure. The program is also approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for both MFT and Professional Clinical Counseling licensure.

Students can finish the program in 2.5 years when starting in fall or 3 years full-time, with part-time options available. Classes usually run Monday through Thursday from 4-6:50 p.m. or 7-9:50 p.m., and some Friday sessions happen from 1-3:50 p.m..

The Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy, Chapman’s on-site training clinic, makes this MFT masters program unique in California. Students complete three semesters and one interterm of practicum here, gathering at least 300 hours of direct client contact (120 must be relational). The clinical experience has:

• Video-based supervision and case presentations
• Live observation of therapy sessions
• Experience with individual, couple, and family therapy

Classes stay small with 25-30 students, which creates better opportunities to participate in discussions and connect with faculty. The program accepts 20-30% of applicants twice a year—fall (January 15 deadline) and spring (September 15 deadline).

Students must finish a capstone project in their final semester, pass a comprehensive exam covering six core competency areas, and take part in at least 16 hours of personal therapy to graduate. The program focuses strongly on multicultural competence, ethical practice, and systems-oriented training.

Chapman graduates have a competitive edge toward completing the 3,000 supervised hours needed for California MFT licensing exams since few MFT programs in California have an on-site clinic.

Pathways and Specializations

Chapman University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program provides multiple pathways to boost your professional development beyond regular coursework. Students must maintain membership in professional organizations throughout their studies, including the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and/or the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).

Students benefit from faculty expertise across several therapeutic approaches:

• Family systems
• Cognitive behavioral
• Psychodynamic
• Post-modern approaches

This diverse faculty expertise is a great way to get preparation for licensure exams that cover multiple theoretical frameworks. Faculty members conduct research in specialized areas like South Asian community issues, LGBTQIA+ clients, infertility coping, medical family therapy, and adolescent mental health.

Chapman’s MFT program stands out as one of only two MFT programs in California with a chapter in Delta Kappa, the International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society. This connection helps strengthen your professional network and develop leadership skills.

Students who complete at least 12 credits of coursework can join external traineeships to gain additional clinical experience. The program requires development of a theory of change paper starting in MFT 556, which continues through three semesters of practicum.

The program aims to create therapists who are multiculturally competent, ethical, and systems-oriented while teaching them to review research critically in the field.

Learning Options and Flexibility

Chapman’s MFT program gives you flexible ways to complete your degree based on your needs. You can choose between a 2.5-year track (fall start only) or a 3-year track, unlike many other MFT masters programs in California. The program also has part-time options if you need to balance other commitments.

Working professionals can easily attend evening classes that run Monday through Thursday from 4-6:50 p.m. or 7-9:50 p.m. Some classes are held on Fridays from 1-3:50 p.m. Your schedule will vary in the final year when you attend supervision meetings and work with clients.

The program supports you with technology through:

• Campus computer labs
• Loaner computers from Frances Smith Center and Leatherby Libraries
• Service Desk technical assistance

You can transfer up to 12 semester credits from previous graduate coursework, so you might finish the program faster. After you complete your onsite practicum, you can join external traineeships to gain more clinical experience.

The program lets you complete the required 300 direct client contact hours (including 120 relational hours) through both in-person and telehealth formats. This flexibility helps you work toward California’s requirement of 3,000 supervised hours for licensure while keeping a good work-life balance.

Admission Requirements

Chapman’s MFT program accepts applications twice a year. Students can apply by two deadlines: January 15 for fall and September 15 for spring admission. The program accepts about 20-30% of all applicants.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or an approved mental health field to qualify. Students with degrees in other fields must complete four prerequisite courses:

• Introduction to psychology
• Abnormal psychology
• Developmental psychology/human development
• Research methods/statistics

You should complete at least three of these courses before applying and score a C+ or higher in each.

The program doesn’t specify a minimum GPA requirement. However, students with GPAs under 3.3 need to submit GRE scores (Verbal: 153, Quantitative: 146, Analytical Writing: 4.5).

A complete application needs several items. You’ll submit a $60 non-refundable fee, official transcripts, two recommendation letters, a three-page personal statement, and a resume. The program invites selected candidates for interviews. Most applicants hear back within 6-10 weeks.

Students from non-English speaking institutions must provide language proficiency scores (e.g., TOEFL iBT: 94, IELTS: 7.0). They also need to submit a Financial Certification Form.

Program Outcomes

Chapman’s MFT program students graduate at higher rates than other MFT programs in California. The program’s graduation numbers are a big deal as it means that 83-96% of students finish their degree within three years. Recent graduating classes have achieved perfect job placement rates.

The program focuses on five key goals: detailed relational/systemic knowledge, skilled clinical practice, diversity respect, evidence-based practice, and ethical standards use. These goals lead to clear student achievements in systemic theory knowledge, diversity awareness, research understanding, and legal/ethical expertise.

Students at Chapman’s MFT program regularly win prestigious national awards. Many have earned the competitive AAMFT Minority Fellowship that offers mentorship and financial support to improve mental health services in underserved communities. The program’s students also receive grants like the California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth.

Recent graduating classes have achieved 87-100% licensure rates. These numbers stand out because California’s average LMFT clinical exam pass rates range between 66-82%.

Chapman’s educational foundation helps alumni build successful careers. They create professional networks that lead to referrals and consultation opportunities throughout their careers.

Why Choose This Program

Chapman University’s MFT program stands out from other graduate programs in California with its unique advantages. Above all, it has COAMFTE accreditation, a distinction shared by only 11 other MFT programs in the state. This accreditation will give students easier interstate licensure mobility and better training through strict standards.

The program’s state-of-the-art training clinic has eight large observation rooms with digital recording technology. Most MFT masters programs in California lack this facility, which helps students complete their 3,000 supervised hours needed for licensure.

Students at Chapman have become top clinicians and leaders in the field. They consistently win prestigious national honors, including the AAMFT Minority Fellowship and AFTA Multicultural Equity Initiative Award.

The faculty has licensed professionals who specialize in a variety of therapeutic approaches:

• Family systems
• Cognitive behavioral
• Psychodynamic
• Post-modern

Small classes of 25-30 students ensure individual attention. Students receive supervision through case reports, video reviews, and live observations from licensed MFTs with AAMFT Approved Supervisor Designation.

The program’s Competency Model received recognition in the Journal of Contemporary Family Therapy, which shows Chapman’s dedication to excellence in MFT education.

Get Started

Chapman University stands out as an exceptional choice among MFT graduate programs in California. The program prepares aspiring therapists through rigorous clinical training. Its all-encompassing approach combines academic excellence with hands-on experience that readies students for therapeutic practice.

The program distinguishes itself through its steadfast dedication to clinical excellence and student support. Students get a unique experience at the Frances Smith Center. These training opportunities are rare in other programs and give graduates a significant advantage toward California’s 3,000-hour licensure requirement.

Chapman’s program fits different schedules with full-time and part-time options plus evening classes. Students can start their educational experience during two application periods each year based on their timeline.

The program’s results tell a good story. High graduation rates, strong licensure exam performance, and excellent job placement numbers show the value of this educational investment. Chapman’s combination of COAMFTE accreditation, on-site training facilities, and expert faculty supervision puts it ahead of most MFT masters programs in California.

Chapman University creates effective, ethical therapists ready to serve California’s varied communities. The program achieves this through well-laid-out clinical training and detailed theoretical preparation.