Campbellsville University MFT Program
Looking to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California? Campbellsville University has created an MFT program that aligns perfectly with California’s licensure requirements for aspiring therapists. The program gives you everything you need – from clinical skills to cultural awareness and ethical foundations to work as a mental health professional.
The Campbellsville University counseling program stands strong with full approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Students get hands-on clinical experience through 375 hours of practicum experience. You’ll provide direct clinical service in classroom settings and at approved community agencies. This practical training opens doors to meaningful careers in clinical and community settings of all types.
Students benefit from the program’s involvement with the MFT Leadership Collaborative, which promotes and mentors graduate students heading toward careers in public mental health. This guide will help you understand the program’s structure, specialization options, flexible learning pathways, admission requirements, and compelling reasons to choose Campbellsville University to begin your MFT education.
MFT Program Snapshot
Phillips Graduate Institute’s Marriage and Family Therapy program has achieved excellence in training skilled therapists for almost 50 years. The program now functions as part of Campbellsville University’s Los Angeles Education Center and prepares students for California MFT licensure.
Students complete a 60-unit structure over five terms. Classes run one full day weekly, with options for Saturdays or weekdays from 8am to 5pm. The first two terms include a three-hour weekly Case Conference. This schedule helps students learn deeply while giving working professionals needed flexibility.
The program builds its academic foundation on a systemic/relational point of view. Students learn about various theoretical frameworks to help individuals, couples, families, and larger systems. The learning combines traditional academic teaching, hands-on skills training, and professional growth.
The program’s exceptional training facilities make Campbellsville University counseling stand out. Students can watch live therapy sessions by licensed faculty through one-way mirror observation rooms in the advanced training facility. This feature helps students develop their clinical skills from day one.
Students begin their practicum experience at clinical placement sites in their second term. They spend about 15-20 hours weekly in clinical training, experience, and supervision. The onsite community counseling center, the California Family Counseling Center (CalFam), has served as a key training site since 1971.
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) provides regional accreditation through Campbellsville University. The curriculum meets all California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for state licensure.
The program began its mission to help students make meaningful changes in others’ lives while supporting their professional and personal development. Graduates are respected in the mental health field for their exceptional professionalism and clinical skills.
Pathways and Specializations
The systemic/relational viewpoint is the basis of Campbellsville University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. Students naturally blend this fundamental approach throughout their studies as they take a closer look at both 49-year old concepts and advanced developments in marriage and family therapy practice. The program emphasizes systemic/relational theories as its main theoretical foundation, while presenting various frameworks that help individuals, couples, families, and larger systems develop and grow.
Campbellsville University’s MFT program gives graduates the tools for diverse professional paths. Many choose private practice, while others excel in settings like inpatient and outpatient facilities, employee assistance programs, hospitals and health maintenance organizations. Campbellsville MFT alumni also work effectively in community and public mental health facilities, schools and early childhood centers, social services agencies, courts, and correctional facilities.
A notable trend shows more MFTs cooperate with other healthcare providers as members of detailed teams that deliver integrated healthcare services. This interprofessional approach shows how mental health care delivery continues to evolve and places graduates at the vanguard of shared practice.
The institute’s research programs and community services, including the valuable MFT Consortium Programs, actively support professional growth. These initiatives improve the educational experience by connecting students with broader professional networks and resources.
Phillips transferred its Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy program to a partner university after 49 years of excellence. Students now benefit from both institutions’ combined strengths. The program, offered through the Phillips Education Center of Campbellsville University (previously Phillips Graduate University), maintains its steadfast dedication to producing global leaders in family therapy.
Graduates have built remarkable success stories. Over five decades, thousands of program alumni have become recognized leaders in family therapy and made meaningful contributions locally and globally.
Learning Options and Flexibility
The counseling program caters to working professionals. Students enjoy exceptional scheduling flexibility that maintains high academic standards and clinical training quality. Classes meet one full day weekly—either Saturday or a weekday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Students can complete the 60-unit curriculum in two years as full-time learners across five consecutive terms with one or two summer terms. A part-time option lets you spread your studies over six or seven terms with a personalized academic plan. You must maintain continuous enrollment in practicum once you begin, whatever path you choose.
Your schedule starts with a three-hour Case Conference during the first two terms. Multiple time slots make it easy to find one that works for you. Clinical placement experience begins as early as your second term. You’ll spend approximately 15-20 hours weekly in clinical work, training, and supervision.
The program takes an all-encompassing approach to education that happens at three levels:
- Traditional academic instruction
- Hands-on skills training
- Personal and professional development
Campbellsville uses a cohort model where you study with the same group of 12-15 students throughout the program. This creates a dynamic learning environment. Students experience systemic concepts firsthand as they reflect on their cohort process during academic study.
Campbellsville University programs blend academic knowledge and theory with practical experience smoothly. Professional development and personal growth complement the learning journey.
Admission Requirements
Campbellsville University has clear guidelines to select candidates who can succeed in the MFT field. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The program requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, but students with lower grades can submit a “Grade Point Average Exemption Statement” to explain any circumstances that affected their academic performance.
Good news – Campbellsville University doesn’t require GRE scores. Your application package should include a completed form, professional resume, and official transcripts from all schools you’ve attended. There’s also an $80 non-refundable application fee.
You’ll need three recommendations written in the last six months. These should come from people who know your academic and professional abilities well. Personal therapists, family members, and friends can’t write these recommendations.
The program asks for a 400-700 word Statement of Interest. This statement should show why you want an MFT degree and how your life experiences have prepared you for this field.
Transfer students can bring up to twelve graduate-level credits earned in the last five years with grades of “B” or better. The school reviews applications continuously until programs fill up. Using priority application dates gives you a better chance to start in your preferred term.
Why Choose This Program
The Campbellsville University counseling program opens up excellent career opportunities in an ever-changing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that marriage and family therapy jobs will grow 13% from 2024-2034, which is substantially faster than other occupations. The program’s graduates can expect strong financial rewards, with a national median salary of $63,780 and top earners making $111,610.
Campbellsville University’s success goes beyond just career benefits. Student feedback tells a compelling story – all surveyed students said their degree improved their job prospects and they would recommend the school to others. The program’s reputation for producing excellent licensed therapists comes from its unique three-pronged teaching approach.
Licensed professionals who actively practice in various specializations make up the faculty team. Their real-world experience enhances classroom learning and helps students build successful careers. Students get hands-on experience through the program’s signature Case Conference course, where they watch real therapy sessions through a one-way mirror.
The program creates an environment that helps students grow both personally and professionally. A graduate perfectly captured this spirit: “This is not a school where learning just takes place from a page, but rather, from the experience itself”. The supportive atmosphere consistently receives praise, with an alumnus describing it as a “wonderful community with excellent teachers” that is “supportive and inclusive”.