Program prepares students to become marriage and family therapists. Marriage and family therapists are trained to conceptualize mental health and behavior problems as existing within interpersonal relationships. Consequently, students are trained to treat problems within a person's current interpersonal context. In addition to training in the most prominent marriage and family therapy theories, students are exposed to the biological, intrapersonal, and intrapsychic approaches to problem development and resolution.
Students receive training in the assessment and treatment of the major mental disorders as well.
Graduates of the MFT Program usually work in mental health agencies. However, some set up their own private practices or go on to doctoral work. The degree fulfills the educational requirements for licensure in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist and usually meets the licensing requirements in the other 39 states with Marriage and Family Therapist licensure or certification. The MA in MFT is a non-thesis degree program requiring the successful completion of 49 units of graduate course work, five continuing education courses, a written comprehensive exam, and the accumulation of a minimum of 500 client contact hours and 100 supervision hours. The majority of the students are full-time.