»Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy

Our mission is to provide students with the academic and professional training to become competent, ethical, culturally sensitive, and systems-oriented marriage and family therapists who can effectively assess, diagnose, and treat a diverse population of individuals, couples and families.

For one year, all MFT students conduct individual, couple, and family therapy under direct supervision of licensed mental health professionals at Chapman’s MFT Training Clinic, the Frances Smith Center for Individual & Family Therapy, which opened a new state-of-the-art clinic in January 2011. With 8 large observation rooms, each equipped with digital cameras used to record sessions for instructional purposes, the clinic not only provides students with valuable real-world training, but also strives to improve the quality of life in the greater community.

Very few MFT programs possess an onsite clinic, which enables students to work toward the 3,000 hours they must complete prior to taking the MFT licensing exams in California. Several of our graduates have cited this part of the program as one of the best aspects of their education, as it is very difficult to get this kind of hands on experience elsewhere.

Our faculty are licensed professionals specializing in a broad range of approaches, including family systems, cognitive behavioral, humanistic existential, psychodynamic, and post-modern.  As students will be tested on several different theories as they attain licensure, the availability of multiple areas of faculty expertise has proven invaluable for alumni.

Students are encouraged to take on research and graduate assistantship programs that may provide for the opportunity to publish and/or present their findings at conferences and symposia.  Past research opportunities have included:

• Studying health benefits of meditation and creative movement/conditioning in treating anxiety disorders

• Examining how men and women cope with infertility

According to US News and World Report, a marriage and family therapist is one of the 50 best careers in 2011.  Alumni have gone on to:

• Work in public/non-profit agencies
• Work in governmental or private agencies
• Work in private practice settings
• Work in in-patient facilities
• Teach college courses

This MFT program may also serve as the foundation for further graduate study in psychology or one of the related disciplines, particularly if students also opt to complete an empirical masters thesis as part of their degree.

Prerequisites:

You must possess an undergraduate degree in Psychology (or equivalent discipline) from an accredited college or university or must provide evidence of a satisfactory academic background in all of the following:

    Abnormal Psychology or Child Abnormal Psychology
    Child Psychology or Adolescent Psychology or Developmental Psychology
    Learning Theory or Cognitive Psychology or Physiological Psychology
    Personality Theory or Social Psychology
    Research Methods in Psychology or Psychological Assessment
    Statistics

*You must be enrolled or have completed 4 of the 6 required prerequisite classes by the admission deadline.  All prerequisites must be met by the time you have completed your first semester.

Admission Requirements:

•     Online application for admission (which includes $60 non-refundable application fee)

•     Official transcript from degree granting institution

•     Graduate Admission Test Scores – If your bachelor degree cumulative GPA is between a 2.5 – 2.99, you may be considered for admission by submitting a satisfactory Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score which are listed as previous version test scores and new version comparative test scores, respectively:
                          
                           Verbal:  500/153
                           Quantitative:  550/146
                           Analytical Writing: 5.0/5.0

•     Letters of recommendation – two letters of recommendation are required from persons actively engaged in teaching and/or the practice of counseling who are familiar with your academic and personal qualifications.

•     Statement of intent – approximately three typed pages in length.  Address educational and/or personal experiences that have shaped your career objectives and prepared you to begin graduate studies in marriage and family therapy.

•     Resume – a resume or curriculum vitae is required

•     Non-Discrimination Policy and Licensure Notification Form – complete, sign and submit with application.

•     TOEFL (International Students Only) – applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree outside of the United States are required to achieve an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), minimum 550 (paper-based), or 80 (internet-based).

•     Financial Certification Form (International Students Only)

Giovanna Camponovo -”Besides being very competitive, the program has a good emphasis on cultural diversity, and I don’t mean just the community.  The program itself includes ‘cultural heritage’ as an ingrained component. I’m able to look into my own and other cultures, which is especially important for an MFT in California.”

Christy Zail- “It is rare for a graduate school to have a site on campus where students can complete practicum, and it is one of the great benefits that sets Chapman apart from other institutions.”

Tal Feingold - “The amount of personal attention I’ve received has been impressive.  There’s never been a point where I didn’t have someone to consult.” 

Angela Liang - “Chapman has created a great network within the community to provide students and interns with jobs post-graduation via its alumni who work in various agencies.  The MFT field is important because it offers support, assistance and guidance in areas that are often forgotten yet very important for people to function successfully.  The camaraderie that I have developed with my classmates, as well as the faculty and staff, has been a blessing, adding to both my academic and professional experiences.”

Lea Mendoza – “My training at the clinic was valuable for three reasons.  First, it’s rare to find an MFT training clinic within a master’s program because this is normally found at the doctoral level.  Second, the diversity and depth of experience and knowledge of the clinic’s supervisors enriched my learning experience tremendously.  And third, the clinic’s faculty and staff made themselves available to us to ensure our educational and personal growth and success.”

Kathleen Mates-Youngman - “It’s so important to work in a clinical setting with high-quality supervision during your internship.  And the fact that you can do your hours and get this valuable training right there on campus, under the supervision of your own professors, makes the experience and the education even more valuable.”