Western Seminary MFT Program

Ready to launch your counseling career with Western Seminary’s MFT program? The Master of Arts in Counseling specializes in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. This program helps you become a professional who meets the needs of the whole person.

Western Seminary’s MFT program stands out uniquely among Christian MFT programs. Students can pursue dual licensure paths. The program qualifies you to become both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. You can complete this program in just two years and eight months. Classes fit your schedule with mid-week evening and weekend courses at the San Jose location. The program gives you real-world experience through at least 700 clinical hours. This includes 280 hours of direct client contact. You’ll also undergo personal counseling for a minimum of 30 hours. This helps prepare you better to counsel others.

Program Snapshot

Western Seminary’s MFT program provides a complete educational pathway through 71 units that students can finish in just two years and eight months. You’ll be ready for dual licensure as both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California after completing the curriculum.

The program holds respected accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your degree will meet recognized educational standards across institutions. The program meets all educational requirements for licensed professional counselors in relevant states.

Students can expect to pay $43,807 in total program tuition, with multiple start dates in Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. The program’s flexible structure lets you take courses during mid-week evenings and weekends at the San Jose campus. You can also complete up to 10 credits online through Western Global.

Students interested in specialized training can pursue an optional Addiction Studies Certificate (5-8 credits) that gives you the skills to work with substance abuse and chemical dependency problems. Several California certification boards have approved this certificate program for addiction counseling.

Your studies will include hands-on training through practicum and internship experiences that total at least 700 clinical hours. You must complete at least 280 hours of direct client contact. The program also requires 20 hours of individual counseling and 10 hours of group counseling to support your personal growth.

The curriculum blends biblical and theological foundations with counseling theories and interventions, reflecting its seminary roots. Students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam to show they’re ready to become skilled, compassionate therapists.

Pathways and Specializations

Western Seminary gives you flexible options in their Marriage and Family Therapy program to fit different student needs. You can pick between two in-person tracks based on your situation. The part-time track works well if you need to juggle family, work, and school. Students who want a well-laid-out path to graduation can complete the full-time track in three years.

The seminary lets you specialize beyond the standard MFT program. You can combine theological training with counseling expertise through their dual degree program. This program combines the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA in CMHC). Students typically finish it in four years. This powerful combination helps you serve effectively in both ministry and mental health settings.

Western Seminary’s curriculum is built to meet dual licensure requirements. Graduates can register as both Associate Professional Clinical Counselors and Associate Marriage and Family Therapists in California. You can eventually become licensed in both professions. This dual-track approach opens up more career opportunities in the mental health field.

Students interested in substance abuse treatment can earn an optional Addiction Studies Certificate (5-8 credits). This certificate is a great way to get specialized training for working with chemical dependency issues.

Your MFT degree from Western Seminary opens these career paths:

• Family and couples therapy that focuses on relationship dynamics
• Individual counseling for depression, anxiety, or stress
• Crisis intervention helping families through transitions or trauma
• Community-based work in schools, hospitals, or community centers
• Specialized roles in new fields like digital relationship counseling

Western Seminary’s program prepares you thoroughly. You’ll be ready for licensure and counseling excellence in private practice, church settings, agencies, and schools.

Learning Options and Flexibility

Western Seminary recognizes that graduate students need flexibility to complete their programs. The institution provides multiple scheduling options that fit different life situations.

Students pursuing an MA in Clinical Mental Health degree can choose between two attendance models. The full-time track lets you complete the program in three years, while the part-time option gives you up to five years. This balanced approach helps students manage their family, work, and educational commitments. Master’s Programs require 8+ credits per semester for full-time status and at least 4 credits for half-time status.

Most courses take place in person at the Portland campus on Mondays. This schedule helps you minimize travel time and retain control over your personal and professional commitments. Students at the San Jose location can attend classes during mid-week evenings and weekends, which adds more scheduling flexibility.

Western Seminary smartly integrates technology into its teaching approach. While the program isn’t fully online, students can take up to 10 credits of online coursework through Western Global. A new online pathway cohort option will be available starting summer 2025. This format will have:

• Eight credits per semester via synchronous web conferences
• A three-year cohort model where students progress through classes together
• Annual one-week residency requirements at the Portland campus

The course design follows a standard academic approach—each credit hour combines one hour of lecture with two hours of homework. A typical two-credit class needs six hours of total weekly commitment.

Students can choose from several class formats beyond regular weekly meetings. Options include monthly all-day sessions, intensive courses over 2-4 consecutive days, immersion classes with community activities, and Online Live courses with weekly web conferences. These choices show Western Seminary’s dedication to making education available without sacrificing academic quality or community learning.

Academic advisors work with you each semester to help balance your course load with life’s other responsibilities.

Admission Requirements

Getting into Western Seminary’s MFT program needs specific qualifications and documents. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

The application process follows these steps:

• Submit the online application with a non-refundable $50 application fee
• Provide four references (at least one pastoral)
• Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate or graduate institutions where you earned 7+ credits
• Complete program-specific requirements

June marks the priority deadline for Fall counseling students, and July serves as the final deadline. The MFT program requires additional criteria beyond standard admission requirements. Your application materials submission leads to an interview that usually takes about one hour.

Students whose native language isn’t English need to prove their English skills through TOEFL testing. A GPA below 3.0 might still qualify you for provisional admission if other parts of your application show promise.

Your educational institution must send transcripts directly, either in sealed official envelopes or through secure electronic transmission. A readiness exam that tests your psychology knowledge must be completed before your second semester begins.

Western Seminary takes an integrated look at each candidate. They assess academic qualifications and look for signs that your “personal character, interpersonal relationships, goals, motivation, and potential” line up with a future in counseling ministry.

Why Choose This Program

Western Seminary’s MFT program has built a community with proven results. The program boasts a 100% pass rate on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination for 2021-2022 examinees. Their graduates achieve 100% job placement, which shows how well the program prepares counselors for real-life practice.

The faculty has experienced professionals who combine academic credentials with clinical wisdom. Jessica Stovall’s expertise stands out with her dual master’s degrees and ongoing PhD studies in Counselor Education and Supervision. She provides mentorship based on her years of counseling practice. Her trauma-informed, relational teaching style reflects the program’s core philosophy.

The program’s unique strength lies in blending Christian theology with modern counseling methods. Professor Pali Gill captures this spirit: “I can’t possibly imagine not having Christ at the forefront of my life and teaching”. This combination creates a special lens to understand trauma, abuse, and addiction within a Christian framework.

The program goes beyond academic excellence by focusing on integrated development through personal counseling requirements and extensive clinical experience. Students become more than technically skilled counselors – they experience personal transformation and learn to help others heal genuinely.

Western Seminary develops counselors who ground their clients in God’s story while applying evidence-based, trauma-informed techniques effectively.