Mount Saint Mary’s University MFT Program
Looking to become a licensed therapist in California? Mount Saint Mary’s University has a complete Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program that prepares you to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles provides specialized training in evidence-based practices that help you work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. The program includes 250 hours of direct counseling experience during your Practicum year to build your clinical skills. Your path to licensure requires two years of supervised experience totaling 2,750 hours before you can take the LMFT California Law and Ethics Exam and the LMFT Clinical exam. The MFT program costs $66,480 and creates opportunities in community mental health centers, school-based programs, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, private practice, and many other institutions.
Program Snapshot
Mount Saint Mary’s University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program gives students a balanced mix of flexibility and academic rigor. Students can choose from a 60-unit program that comes in two different formats to fit their schedule and lifestyle.
Program Structure and Timeline
The MFT program at Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles comes in two flexible formats:
- Evening Format (3-year): Working professionals can attend classes Monday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Students complete foundation courses in their first year, clinical classes in their second year, and fieldwork in their final year.
- Daytime Format (2-year): Full-time students attend classes Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This faster-paced option lets students graduate in just two years.
Fall and spring semesters last 16 weeks, while summer sessions run for 8 weeks. Students stay enrolled through all three semesters (fall, spring, and summer) each academic year.
Program Features
The WSCUC-accredited program keeps classes small with 20-25 students, even though 60-100 new students join each term. Students must also undergo personal psychotherapy during their third year while taking fieldwork classes.
Mount Saint Mary’s University has Catholic roots but doesn’t require religious courses. The program welcomes students from all religions, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Specialized Training Options
The ¡Enlaces! Certificate program stands out as a unique part of the MFT specialization. Students learn to counsel Spanish-speaking clients through bilingual courses that build their professional psychological vocabulary and cultural understanding. They get hands-on experience with Spanish-speaking clients during their clinical placement, which helps them serve this community better.
Graduates leave well-versed in evidence-based practices and the recovery model, with a focus on client growth, personalized care, and hope. Clinical training sites often seek out Mount graduates because of their qualifications, compassion, and cultural awareness.
Pathways and Specializations
Mount Saint Mary’s University helps counseling psychology students pursue two different licensure paths. Students can choose the career track that matches their professional goals. The program academically qualifies you for California licensure as either a Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Licensure Pathways
The MFT specialization at Mount Saint Mary’s University teaches clinical assessment in treatment settings of all types. Students learn to plan and implement treatment goals if you have psychological disorders and emotional distress. The program uses evidence-based practices to treat individuals, couples, families, and groups. This ensures graduates have practical skills beyond theoretical knowledge.
¡Enlaces! Specialization
Mount Saint Mary’s University offers a unique ¡Enlaces! specialization to serve Spanish-speaking communities. This certificate program fits within the MFT specialization and needs conversational Spanish proficiency since courses are taught bilingually. Students learn professional psychological terminology in Spanish and understand cultural factors in counseling Spanish-speaking clients. The program teaches about diverse Spanish-speaking cultures and provides clinical placement with Spanish-speaking clients.
Career Opportunities
Graduates can pursue many career paths. Popular positions include:
- Community mental health centers
- School-based programs
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- Private practice settings
- Various service institutions that address clinical and social issues
Salary ranges vary based on career choice, from approximately $42,048 per year as a residential counselor to $88,721 per year as a clinical director. Other roles include health educators ($49,612/year), marriage and family counselors ($53,427/year), substance abuse counselors ($53,650/year), and therapists ($61,727/year).
Mount Saint Mary’s University’s graduates are known as highly qualified, caring, and culturally competent clinicians. They adopt the recovery model that focuses on client empowerment, individual care, and hope. Clinical training sites throughout the region actively seek these graduates because of this strong reputation.
Learning Options and Flexibility
Mount Saint Mary’s University’s counseling psychology education puts flexibility first. The MFT program offers two course formats that fit different schedules and priorities, because students have unique life situations and work commitments.
The Evening Format runs over three years and works well for professionals with busy schedules. Students attend classes Monday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., which lets them keep their day jobs. Fall and spring semester classes meet once a week for 16 weeks, while summer classes meet twice weekly in an 8-week term. Students move through the program in clear steps: foundation courses come first, clinical classes second, and fieldwork (practicum) in the final year.
The Daytime Format lets students finish faster in just two years – perfect for those ready to study full-time. Classes happen on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The program moves at a quicker pace, with foundation courses in year one and both clinical classes and fieldwork in year two. Students stay enrolled through all three semesters each academic year, just like the evening format.
Mount Saint Mary’s University creates a shared learning space where faculty advisors work one-on-one with students to shape programs around their goals. Small class sizes give students personal attention and build a supportive community.
Students have room to customize their experience. They work together with faculty advisors to align their education with career goals. This flexible approach helps graduates build specific skills they’ll need in their practice areas to make real changes in different communities.
The ¡Enlaces! Certificate program offers the same format choices as the regular MFT program. Students pursuing bilingual training can pick either evening or daytime schedules based on what works best for them.
Admission Requirements
Mount Saint Mary’s University welcomes students to their Marriage and Family Therapy program with specific admission requirements. You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The university looks for students with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Students with lower GPAs can explain any circumstances that affected their academic performance.
The application steps are clear and comprehensive. You start by submitting your application and official transcripts from your degree-granting institution. The university accepts electronic transcripts. Your previous institution should send them directly to the school.
Your application package needs a personal essay. This essay should highlight why you want to pursue graduate education, your background experiences, personal strengths, and career goals. The MFT program only accepts new students in fall semester. The priority deadline is March 1st, and after that, admissions continue if spaces remain.
The program doesn’t ask for GRE scores. Faculty might invite promising candidates for an in-person interview. Getting an interview invitation doesn’t guarantee your spot in the program.
Students who plan to practice outside California should check the university’s professional licensure webpage. Each state has different requirements. The university typically takes 4-6 weeks to review complete applications.
Why Choose This Program
The MFT program at Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles offers many benefits beyond a degree. Students get individual attention with average class sizes of 16 students and classes never grow beyond 23 students. This means your voice gets heard and you get answers to your questions.
You’ll work with a dedicated academic advisor who does more than plan schedules. They become your mentor and support system throughout your educational experience. Their guidance helps shape your education to fit your career goals.
Mount’s excellent reputation creates real advantages. Clinical training sites actively seek Mount students because of their qualifications, caring nature, and cultural awareness. The results speak for themselves – Mount Saint Mary’s University graduates are 44% more likely to feel ready for their careers than those from other schools.
The career outlook looks bright. California’s MFT job growth should reach 19% between 2014-2024. California MFTs earn $54,975 on average each year.
Students learn to use evidence-based counseling practices with cultural competence. The program builds critical thinking skills and teaches how research applies to practice. The typical Mount student is bright, hardworking, and curious – someone who wants to make positive changes through education.
Students can access departmental scholarships, Federal Stafford Loans, and Graduate Plus Loans to help with costs. The program’s value shows in the numbers – Mount graduates are 32% more likely to enjoy their student experience than those at similar schools.