Why Cal Lutheran?

Outstanding Students, Faculty, and Staff

• Diversity of strong students from all over the U.S. and abroad.
• Excellent core psychology faculty who value teaching, mentoring, research, and service.
• All faculty have years of clinical experience.
• Attentive and supportive administrative staff that are easily accessible.

Flexible Options

• Two-year full-time program or three-year part-time program
• Two campus locations:
  • Oxnard Center: Day classes on Tuesday and Thursdays (9am-4pm)
  • Thousand Oaks/Westlake Center: Late afternoon and evening classes Monday through Thursday (4pm-10pm)

Classes and Curriculum

• Very small entering class sizes of 30 students per cohort that allows for personal contact and discussion with professors and opportunities to develop close relationships with classmates and colleagues.
• Specialization courses offered to enable students to gain extra training in a clinical area and advance their knowledge in a specialized clinical topic. Specialization courses change from year-to-year based on trends in the field and student interest in different topics. Our recently offered specializations are: Attachment theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), sychological Trauma, and Private Practice. Other Specializations Options Offered Previously include Recovery Model and Latina/o Counseling.
• Clinically focused curriculum designed to meet all of the education requirements set forth by the Board of Behavioral Sciences and has been designed to align with the AAMFT Core Competencies.
• Classroom equipped with technology and integrated across the curriculum.

Clinical Training

• Two onsite training clinics staffed by our second-year Psy.D. and M.S. Counseling (MFT) students (with 21 licensed supervisors) located in Oxnard and Westlake Village that provide extensive low-fee counseling community services to underserved communities (on average, about 10,000  scheduled appointments each year). These centers offer advanced clinical training with intensive supervision, providing individual, child, adolescent, adult, couple, family, and group therapy, as well as Spanish-speaking services and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). 
• Practicum training
  • Prepares students for post-graduate work and California licensing requirements.
  • Advanced practicum training can occur at these onsite counseling centers.
  • Diverse optional externship settings include hospitals; schools; and specialized facilities for domestic violence, at-risk children, youth, and families; and clients with developmental disabilities.
  • The program has a dedicated staff member, the Coordinator of Clinical Training, who supports students during their practicum. This coordinator facilitates the effective coordination of clinical activities with sites and supervisors, ensuring that students complete their clinical hours and fulfill degree requirements.

Resources

• Updated technology and computer labs with extensive online and physical library resources.
• Student Council actively involved in program development, professional development, community service, and providing programmatic feedback to the Director of the MS Counseling Program and Dean
• Library access to 1,045 full-text online journals, 3,162 physical volumes, 14,349 full-text e-books, and 8,610 online videos for both students and faculty, all on psychology and psychology-related topics.
• Interlibrary loan is easily accessible from computers on and off campus. 

Our Graduates

• M.S. Counseling (MFT) graduates had higher pass rates than California state averages on the LMFT Law and Ethics Examination and the LMFT Clinical Exam administered during 2022 and 2023. Source: www.bbs.ca.gov/exams.
• A continued steady increase in employment rates and salary information for Marital and Family Therapists can be found at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor has named this profession as one of the top 30 fastest growing professions. 
  
• Program graduates are working in hospitals, medical centers, non-profit organizations, schools and universities, inpatient facilities, police departments, specialized treatment facilitates (e.g., domestic  violence, eating disorders, addictions), public or governmental agencies (i.e., Department of Children and Family Services, Foster Care, Department of Public Social Services, Department of Veterans’ Affairs), court systems, or private practice. The majority of our students secure a job before graduation.
• Choose to further their education by completing a doctorate in Marital and Family Therapy, Clinical Psychology, or a related field.

California Lutheran University

• Ranked #12 for Best Regional Universities in the West by the U.S. News & World Report in 2024 2024
• Welcoming of diversity of all types: age, dis(ability) status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, language, nationality, political view, race, religion sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and spirituality.
• Program benefits from the resources and support of the full university (guaranteed cohort registration, computer support, academic support services, fitness center, etc.)
• Private, not for profit university
• WASC accredited

Ventura County

• Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Westlake Village are located in Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CA.
• Oxnard campus is 15 minutes from Ventura beach, 40 minutes from Santa Barbara or Malibu. Or 60 minutes from Santa Monica. Temperature is between 60 and 75 year round.
• Biking, hiking, running, swimming, surfing, and farmers’ markets — all possible during study breaks or days off!
• In August 2015, Ventura County was ranked in the Washington Post as the most desirable county to live in America. This ranking was based upon natural amenities, such as mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water.
• In March 2015, the City of Ventura was ranked 1st place in Men’s Journal as the Best Place to Live Now. This ranking highlighted the city’s location between Malibu and Santa Barbara, unique Main Street, largest employer being the Patagonia headquarters, nearness to the beach, and great weather. 

Our Interview Process: Not Just a Number

At the Graduate School of Psychology, we’re committed to creating a supportive, collegial learning community — and that starts with our admissions process.
 
Graduate admissions can sometimes feel impersonal or leave you with unanswered questions. Even if you’re familiar with our university, understanding the unique aspects of our graduate program can be challenging.
 
That’s why we offer in-person interviews to give you the chance to meet faculty, staff, current students, and other applicants. You’ll also get a tour of our campus and our on-campus Community Counseling Clinic, where you will acquire your supervised clinical hours. You will also have the opportunity to ask candid questions about the program and the transition to graduate school.
 
Our interview process lasts half a day, with a 25-minute individual interview and a 50-minute group interview. Throughout the day, we ensure you have plenty of time to get your questions answered.
 
Before your interview, we encourage you to attend one of our MFT Program Info Sessions. These sessions are comprehensive and allow you to ask questions directly to our MFT Program Specialist and Graduate Admissions Counselor. We’re here to discuss anything — from career goals to practicum opportunities, living in Southern California, and licensing requirements. Learn more about how to apply
 
*We offer accommodations for virtual interviews for applicants living outside the U.S. or those unable to travel during scheduled interview days.