Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy: Evening Format

The first step in the process, and the best way to get all of your questions answered, is to attend an information meeting. For a schedule of upcoming meetings and to RSVP to the meeting of your choice, visit our information meeting page. If you're unable to attend, contact us at 310.258.2850 to set up an appointment.

We operate on a "rolling admissions" basis. This means we review and accept applicants as the complete application file is received. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline. You will receive a decision via mail within three to four weeks after the submission of your completed application.

Priority and Scholarship Application Deadlines:

Fall: June 1
Spring: October 1
Summer: February 1

No. You can send in different pieces of your application as they are completed. We will hold any materials that arrive under your name, but will only begin tracking you and corresponding with you as an applicant when we receive your completed application.

At GSEP, we utilize a holistic approach in our thorough review of each and every application. This means that we do not disqualify any applicant based on any one part of their application. However, our priority is always to accept applicants of quality.

References should come from individuals who are familiar with your professional and academic abilities. Recent college graduates should have at least one academic recommendation, while applicants who have been out of college more than three years may use either academic or professional recommendations. Letters can be sent in lieu of the forms provided in the application booklet.

Foundation courses are waived for applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology or a closely-related field. Applicants who have taken undergraduate or graduate-level courses judged to be equivalent in content to foundation level courses may petition to waive such courses.

Previously taken courses will qualify for waiver consideration if they were taken no earlier than seven years prior to admission and a grade of "B" or better was earned. Applicants without recent course work (within the last seven years) in psychology, however, will be required to complete foundational courses in preparation for the core curriculum. Foundational courses are offered as part of the master's program.

You'll need to:

1. Send all international transcripts to be evaluated by either the International Education Research Foundation (www.ierf.org) or World Education Services, Inc. (www.wes.org) for a comprehensive report that they will send directly to Pepperdine. This process can take a few weeks.

2. Submit all original certified transcripts in English to Pepperdine directly.

3. If your first language is not English, you must submit a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). If taking the computer-based TOEFL test, you will need a minimum score of 220. If taking the Internet-based TOEFL test, you will need a minimum score of 79. Information concerning the availability of this test outside of the US can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA or online at www.toefl.org. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam.

The MA in Psychology program provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the principles of psychology within the framework of a strong clinical emphasis. This program prepares individuals for doctoral study in psychology or positions in human services, vocational counseling or marketing.

The MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy provides the knowledge and experience needed to work as a clinician, in private practice or with an agency, by preparing students for licenses as a Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) in the state of California. As part of the curriculum, students are required to gain supervised counseling experience in approved clinical settings. This program is designed for students who wish to gain knowledge and develop skills necessary for providing high quality psychotherapeutic services in a variety of settings.

As a full-time student taking 6 units each semester, one can complete the MA in Psychology in as few as 1.5-2 years, or the MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in as few as 2.5-3 years.

Both programs offer great flexibility. Each student can progress at his or her own pace, taking fewer or more courses each term, depending on each individual's preference. Part-time students may take as few as 3 units per term and full-time students may take 12 or more units per term.

Classes in the evening format program are offered in the late afternoon and evening. Each class meets once per week from 4:15-7 PM, or from 7:15 -10 PM. Classes are offered Monday-Thursday. During the summer term, classes meet twice per week.

While the courses are offered in the evening, near the end of the program, students begin clinical training. Many of our clinical practicum sites only offer supervision and clinical counseling hours during weekdays. Students will need to adjust their daytime schedules to meet the practicum site schedule requirements.

At Pepperdine, we offer evening format psychology courses at our Irvine, Encino, and West Los Angeles Graduate Campuses. Once enrolled, students can take courses at any and all of our three campuses.

Yes. With approval from the MA in Clinical Psychology program director, it is possible to change between the evening format MA in Psychology and MA in Clinical Psychology programs once enrolled in the program. Nine courses are common to both programs and eligible credit can be transferred.

Yes. The best way to learn about opportunities for grants, loans, scholarships, and assistantship positions is to attend one of our information meetings, as most meetings include a financial aid presentation. Call 310.568.2317 to confirm.

Yes. MFT Clinical Training and Professional Development staff assist students in locating Pepperdine-approved clinical practicum sites. The clinical training staff visit and evaluate established and potential sites, while maintaining the Field Placement Directory, online practicum site directory (Handshake), which lists sites approved by Pepperdine.

There is a separate application process for admission into the doctoral program. Applicants to the doctoral program must have a completed master's degree, or will have completed a master's degree prior to starting the program. Acceptance to one of the master's in psychology programs does not guarantee admission to our doctoral program.

The Pepperdine MFT program is designed to ensure that our graduates will have met all academic requirements to sit for the MFT or LPCC licensure exams in the state of California. An overview of licensure requirements can be found here.

Overall, our graduates have been quite successful in pursuing licensure in other states; however, because licensing requirements vary across states, we strongly recommend that you contact the licensing board in the state in which you are interested in working prior to starting the Pepperdine MA in Clinical Psychology program.