California Lutheran University MFT Program

Looking to build your therapy career at California Lutheran University’s MFT program? The numbers speak for themselves – 89% of students would recommend this school to others. This program gives you a detailed path to become a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Cal Lutheran’s MFT program keeps its cohort size small at 25 students. You’ll get individual-specific attention throughout your learning experience. The two-year program packs 60 credit hours of coursework and 225 hours of practical experience. These prepare you well for LMFT licensure. The results are clear – 80% of students see better career opportunities after graduating. The annual tuition runs at $50,670.

This guide walks you through the program’s structure, admission requirements, and specializations. You’ll learn what sets it apart from other MFT programs, whether you’re just starting to explore or ready to apply.

MFT Program Snapshot

California Lutheran University’s MFT program stands out because of its unique educational approach that focuses on understanding human experiences in different contexts. Students learn to respect diverse lifestyles, beliefs, values, and aspirations while training in multiple theoretical models.

The program uses a cohort model where you study with the same group of peers throughout the curriculum. This setup creates a supportive learning community during your educational experience.

Students get exceptional clinical training through a 12-month practicum at the on-site Community Counseling Center. This affordable community facility lets you work with various marital, family, and child issues. You can earn up to 750 hours toward California licensing requirements during your practicum.

You need 60 credits to graduate. The program offers flexible completion options – two years (full-time) or three years (part-time). Classes are available at two convenient locations:

• Thousand Oaks: Late afternoon and evening classes (Monday-Thursday, 4:00-7:00 p.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m.)
• Oxnard: Daytime classes (Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.)

Students choose a six-credit clinical specialization to build expertise in their preferred area. Current specializations include Psychological Trauma, Attachment Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Private Practice, Recovery Model, and Latino/a Counseling.

The program’s success shows in its graduates’ outstanding performance on California LMFT licensing exams. Cal Lutheran graduates achieved a 90% overall pass rate on the Law and Ethics Exam (compared to 73% statewide) and a perfect 100% pass rate on the Clinical Exam (versus 74% statewide) in 2024.

WASC accreditation and California Board of Behavioral Sciences approval make this program an excellent choice to prepare you for a career in the faster growing field of marriage and family therapy.

Pathways and Specializations

California Lutheran University’s MFT program gives you specialized skills through a unique six-credit clinical specialization requirement. Students get advanced training in specific therapeutic approaches that meet educational standards from both the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

The program teaches a relational and systemic model for counseling services. Students learn to understand client problems in their broader relational contexts instead of viewing them in isolation. This approach helps you build expertise that works in a variety of therapeutic settings.

The program rotates clinical specializations based on current trends and student interest. Recent offerings include:

• Psychological Trauma – The first course covers basic concepts, models, and theories of trauma. The second course focuses on trauma assessment and treatment methods (available online since Fall 2019)
• Attachment Theory – Students learn about forming lasting connections. The first course introduces theory basics while the second applies these ideas to therapeutic work with couples, families, and individuals
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Students learn detailed cognitive-behavioral intervention that combines change and acceptance strategies, including crisis management and suicide risk assessment
• Private Practice – Students get essential business knowledge to start and run a successful practice, including financial management, client record-keeping, and marketing strategies

Past specializations have included Recovery Model (serious mental illness approaches), Latino/a Counseling (cultural context in therapeutic work), and Family Mediation.

Graduates find work in many settings. BLS projections show the field will grow by 13% from 2024-2034. MFTs work in hospitals ($72,720 average salary), private practice ($42,610-$111,610 range), government agencies ($79,110-$84,500), outpatient care centers, schools, and mental health facilities. New opportunities are opening up in telehealth therapy, military support services, and specialized treatment programs.

The curriculum meets all BBS educational requirements. Students graduate ready for licensure with specialized expertise that makes them more valuable in this fast-growing field.

Learning Options and Flexibility

The California Lutheran University MFT program puts flexibility first with scheduling options that fit different lifestyles. Students can choose between a two-year (24-month) full-time track or a three-year (36-month) part-time option. This setup helps you maintain a good balance between your studies and other life commitments.

Fall and Spring terms follow a standard 15-week semester format, with a shorter 6-week Summer session. Clinical practicum courses run on their own schedule that starts in late July and runs for at least one full year.

The time you’ll spend in class depends on your chosen track. First-year full-time students attend about 12 hours of weekly classes during Fall and Spring, which drops to 9 hours in year two. Part-time students start with 9 weekly class hours in their first year and move to 6 hours after that.

You can pick between two campus locations:

• Thousand Oaks: Evening classes run Monday through Thursday from 4:00-10:00 PM, perfect if you work during the day
• Oxnard Center: Classes happen Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Students stay with their chosen campus location throughout the program.

The program stands out by combining classroom learning with hands-on work at the Community Counseling Center. This mix gives students a chance to work with clients of all types and tackle various challenges. You’ll practice both as an individual therapist and with a partner, building up to 750 hours that count toward California’s licensing requirements.

The program keeps cohorts small at around 30 students to build strong connections between classmates and faculty. This close-knit setting makes it easy to get individual attention and have meaningful discussions during your training.

Admission Requirements

The California Lutheran University MFT program welcomes new students each fall. Students should note the priority deadline of January 15. The general deadline falls on February 10, with a final deadline on March 3.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution serves as the basic requirement. The program looks for students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Students need to complete two key prerequisites: a statistics course with a B- or better grade (3 credit hours) and psychology courses totaling 9 credit hours. These courses must be from the past seven years.

A complete application package requires:

• Official transcripts from all institutions attended
• Two professional recommendations from non-personal sources
• A personal statement (3-5 pages) that discusses your values, interests, and professional goals
• Current resume or CV
• Completed prerequisite requirement form

The program invites qualified candidates to the Oxnard campus after reviewing their applications. This gives candidates a chance to meet faculty members, the core team, and current students.

International students must meet additional criteria. They need their transcripts evaluated by a NACES member company and must prove English proficiency. The minimum required scores are: Duolingo 120, TOEFL 88, or IELTS 6.5.

Students must complete a Live Scan background check before starting their practicum. Previous convictions could affect clinical placement options and professional licensure.

Why Choose This Program

Cal Lutheran’s MFT program offers several unique advantages in today’s expanding mental health field. The program demonstrates its value through excellent job market prospects, with mental health industry growth projected at 25% by 2029. California employs over 34,820 mental health professionals, which creates abundant opportunities for graduates.

Students from Cal Lutheran consistently achieve higher scores than state averages on licensing exams. Recent MFT graduates reached remarkable 83-100% pass rates on the Law and Ethics exam (versus 76-85% statewide) and 88-100% on the Clinical exam (compared to 81-83% state average).

The program’s on-site Community Counseling Center turns classroom theory into practical skills and helps students develop their professional identity throughout their training. This hands-on experience prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings – from private practice to public agencies, hospitals, schools, and specialized treatment facilities.

The small cohort model (approximately 30 students) encourages strong connections with faculty and peers. Faculty members apply their years of clinical experience to their teaching methods, which keeps the education relevant to current practice.

These advantages help explain why 80% of students see better career prospects after completing this degree. Cal Lutheran proves to be an excellent choice for MFT education in a field that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes as “growing much faster than average”.