Facebook pixel Master's in Clinical Psychology with a Latinx Focus at Pepperdine GSEP Skip to main content
Pepperdine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology
group of students at commencement

MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with Latinx Communities

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with Latinx Communities degree program will prepare students to serve Latinx individuals, couples, families, and communities as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) in California.

This cohort-based program is administered through Aliento, The Center for Latinx Communities. Through a clinical and practice-based course of study that includes Latinx-specific content and experiential Spanish-language development courses, students will learn the academic and applied foundations of marriage and family therapy, and community, liberation, and counseling psychologies within a Latinx mental health context.

Program Benefits

Top Program in the US

Consistently listed as a top choice for graduate programs in Clinical Psychology by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Campus Locations

The Clinical Psychology (Latinx) program is offered at three different campus locations in West Los Angeles, Irvine, and Calabasas.

Quick Facts

Format: Evening
Term: Fall
Location: West Los Angeles, Irvine, Calabasas
Length: 2.5-3 years / 60-72 units
Tuition: $1,565 per unit

 

 

Supervised Clinical Experience

Students gain practical experience working directly with local Latinx communities.

Clinical training staff provide resources and assist students in applying to practicum sites.

 

130+ Clinical Practicum Sites

With more than 130+ high-quality site partners, CLP students experience hands-on clinical practice as a signature component of a comprehensive approach to preparing licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) or licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC).

 

Values Centered

Students are empowered to make a lasting impact through academic excellence, social purpose, and meaningful service.

 

Top-Ranked Program

This program and Pepperdine as an institution are among the highest-ranked in the US.

 

Meets LMFT and LPCC Requirements

Upon graduation, students will have met all educational requirements to sit for the LMFT or LPCC licensure exams in the state of California.

 

No GRE or Standardized Tests Required

We offer an equitable admission process that considers your ability and commitment to succeed rather than test scores.


#1

Most Chosen CLP Masters Program in the US

3

Campus Locations: West Los Angeles, Irvine, & Calabasas

1

Start Term: Fall

$10K

Up to $10K Available in Scholarships

130+

Clinical Practicum Sites

30

Latinx-Specific LMFT Credits

12:1

Student: Faculty Ratio

14

GSEP Average Class Size

 

Take the Next Step

Reach out to us to learn more about Pepperdine's MA in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy with Latinx Communities program.

Get in Touch

Fill out the Request Information form to learn more and get in contact with an enrollment officer.

Attend an Info Session

Experience an in-depth overview and meet program leaders.

Start Your Application

Submit the application form early to meet scholarship and enrollment deadlines. It takes fewer than 15 minutes.

 

Deadlines

APR
25

Fall 2025: Early Application Submit  - Submit the application form by this date to be eligible for a $2,500 scholarship.

MAY
30

Fall 2025: International Application Complete - Submit your completed application form and all supplemental application materials by this date.

 

 

partnership

Antiracism and Antidiscrimination Statement

The Aliento and GSEP psychology division stand in solidarity against racial inequities and injustice and other forms of discrimination and oppression. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment that is enriched and strengthened by diversity including but not limited to race, ethnicity and national origin, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, age, ability status, and religion. GSEP also encourages all community members to engage in critical learning and reflection to strengthen our capacity for being effective, active, and outspoken against all forms of racism and intersectional oppression.

female in class

Curriculum Overview

Employing the practitioner-scholar model of professional training, our MA in Clinical Psychology with Latinx Communities degree program pairs rigorous coursework with in-depth clinical training, where students observe professional counselors, develop key clinical skills, and gain experience working directly with clients in the underserved Latinx community.

female therapist

Program Details

  • Up to 30 Latinx-specific LMFT credits
  • Spanish-language development courses for students with elementary-to-advanced proficiency
  • Opportunity for participation in a Spanish Immersion Program to gain experience in a Latin-American country
  • Community service projects directly assisting local communities
  • Opportunity for bilingual supervision for students providing services in Spanish during their clinical practicum experience (note: dependent on individual site)
  • Dedicated placement team to help find and secure practicum and internship placements
  • Semi-cohort based, providing a sense of community among peers

male in therapy session

Expand Your Career Possibilities

Therapists and counselors are needed in many clinical and professional settings, including community counseling and advocacy centers, schools, government agencies, and private practice. After earning your degree, you may pursue professional licensure and employment in a variety of roles.

scholarships form

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Pepperdine GSEP generously offers over $6,000,000 in scholarships every year, with the majority of students receiving financial assistance. There are numerous scholarship opportunities that are both merit and need-based in addition to discounts for meeting application deadlines.

GSEP welcomes federal and state aid eligibility and veteran benefits which may further reduce tuition cost.

The Financial Aid Office is available to answer questions and help you navigate funding your education at GSEP through numerous scholarship, grant, loan, and other opportunities. 

To help determine your total cost of tuition and living expenses for this specific program, please refer to our GSEP tuition calculator

Alumni and Faculty Spotlight

"Our faculty members bring richness and depth to both their research and their teaching. Many of our faculty have private practices or work in practice actively, making a huge difference for our students." – Dr. Thema Bryant, Professor and 2023 President, American Psychological Association.

 

What Our Alumni Are Saying

 

Noeli Cardenas Zamora headshot

"The education I received at GSEP is unmatched by anything I could have imagined. Before I graduated, I had a job offer at my internship."

-Noeli Cardenas Zamora, MA in Clinical Psychology MFT With Latinx Communities '16

Sofia Alonso Baez headshot

"Talk with your professors; they can guide you on things you should pursue. The little tips and tricks I gained during that time are relevant to my practice."

Karla Carillo, MA in Clinical Psychology MFT With Latinx Communities '16

Karla Carillo headshot

"As a first-generation Latinx in graduate school, I was used to figuring things out on my own. One time Dr. Serrano looked at me and asked if I needed an extension. After that gesture, I opened up and reached out for help when needed."

-Karla Carillo, MA in Clinical Psychology MFT With Latinx Communities '17

Grecia Vazquez headshot

"Aliento offers a lot of support and nuances necessary to our community. I knew this was the right program because my values aligned with Aliento."

-Grecia Vazquez , MA in Clinical Psychology MFT With Latinx Communities '19

Why Pepperdine

Passion and Purpose Driven

Since our founding in 1937, Pepperdine University has had one mission: to strengthen students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in a learning environment where academic excellence is rooted in a Christian faith and values.

Our graduate programs empower students to transform into the best possible expression of themselves for meaningful work and purposeful lives. That legacy is alive today more than ever, as we help students all over the world gain the skills they need to achieve personal fulfillment, lead with purpose, and make a lasting impact in the lives and communities they serve.

Reputable University

GSEP offers prestigious programs at one of the top universities in the US, committed to the highest standards of academic excellence. Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful places to study, Pepperdine is where you're inspired to learn as you learn to inspire.

#29

Best-Value Schools
U.S. News & Report

#9

Best College Value in the West/SW
Kiplinger

#10

 Most Entrepreneurial Universities
Forbes

 

Distinguished Faculty

  • GSEP faculty are nationally-recognized scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements, industry expertise, educational experience, and scholarly credentials.
  • Professors are accomplished professionals who balance theory and real-world application in a practitioner-based curriculum informed by their desire to prepare students to make a difference.
  • Average class size of 14 students and a 12:1 faculty-student ratio provides a supportive educational setting, meaningful interactions, and long-term professional and personal connections.

Alumni Network

  • Extensive Pepperdine alumni network creates influential business connections with more than 110,000 professionals. Our alumni network has 32 chapters and affinity programs in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Pepperdine alumni, faculty, staff, and parents make themselves available to offer the resources you need and help graduates build professional, personal, and purposeful relationships with Pepperdine people all over the world.
  • As a Pepperdine alumnus, you have exclusive access to the PeppConnect Mentoring Program, a global network of alumni who are willing to mentor and offer career or industry advice.

Student and Career Support

  • GSEP Student Services supports our rigorous curricula through academic advising, records, writing support, library, student groups, and much more.
  • Students are further supported through our Office of Student Accessibility, world-class facilities, and highly competitive programs, all of which contribute to our exceptional programs and rankings.
  • GSEP Career Services operates from an innovative model of career education and holistic career counseling for today's rapidly changing job market helping students and alumni construct their career narrative, build lifelong employability skills, and connect with alumni and industry leaders.
  • The Office of International Students Services (OISS) values our international students for what they bring to our campus—diversity, global perspective, cultural respect, determination, and a wonderful sense of adventure. We welcome students from all nationalities, faiths, and education systems, as they provide a diverse perspective in our classrooms.

Veteran and Military Support

Pepperdine has served veterans and their family members for over 75 years and is proud to support nearly 500 enrolled veterans, service members, and dependents. 

As an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, we proudly offer tuition support to Yellow Ribbon-eligible students. Pepperdine invests almost $3M annually to help cover 100% of tuition costs for eligible students.

Under the Yellow Ribbon program, Pepperdine in the VA matches all remaining tuition costs. Pepperdine also does not limit the number of eligible students who can utilize the Yellow Ribbon program. 

  Passion and Purpose Driven

Passion and Purpose Driven

Since our founding in 1937, Pepperdine University has had one mission: to strengthen students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in a learning environment where academic excellence is rooted in a Christian faith and values.

Our graduate programs empower students to transform into the best possible expression of themselves for meaningful work and purposeful lives. That legacy is alive today more than ever, as we help students all over the world gain the skills they need to achieve personal fulfillment, lead with purpose, and make a lasting impact in the lives and communities they serve.

  Reputable University

Reputable University

GSEP offers prestigious programs at one of the top universities in the US, committed to the highest standards of academic excellence. Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful places to study, Pepperdine is where you're inspired to learn as you learn to inspire.

#29

Best-Value Schools
U.S. News & Report

#9

Best College Value in the West/SW
Kiplinger

#10

 Most Entrepreneurial Universities
Forbes

 

  Distinguished Faculty

Distinguished Faculty

  • GSEP faculty are nationally-recognized scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements, industry expertise, educational experience, and scholarly credentials.
  • Professors are accomplished professionals who balance theory and real-world application in a practitioner-based curriculum informed by their desire to prepare students to make a difference.
  • Average class size of 14 students and a 12:1 faculty-student ratio provides a supportive educational setting, meaningful interactions, and long-term professional and personal connections.
  Alumni Network

Alumni Network

  • Extensive Pepperdine alumni network creates influential business connections with more than 110,000 professionals. Our alumni network has 32 chapters and affinity programs in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Pepperdine alumni, faculty, staff, and parents make themselves available to offer the resources you need and help graduates build professional, personal, and purposeful relationships with Pepperdine people all over the world.
  • As a Pepperdine alumnus, you have exclusive access to the PeppConnect Mentoring Program, a global network of alumni who are willing to mentor and offer career or industry advice.
  Student and Career Support

Student and Career Support

  • GSEP Student Services supports our rigorous curricula through academic advising, records, writing support, library, student groups, and much more.
  • Students are further supported through our Office of Student Accessibility, world-class facilities, and highly competitive programs, all of which contribute to our exceptional programs and rankings.
  • GSEP Career Services operates from an innovative model of career education and holistic career counseling for today's rapidly changing job market helping students and alumni construct their career narrative, build lifelong employability skills, and connect with alumni and industry leaders.
  • The Office of International Students Services (OISS) values our international students for what they bring to our campus—diversity, global perspective, cultural respect, determination, and a wonderful sense of adventure. We welcome students from all nationalities, faiths, and education systems, as they provide a diverse perspective in our classrooms.
  Veteran and Military Support

Veteran and Military Support

Pepperdine has served veterans and their family members for over 75 years and is proud to support nearly 500 enrolled veterans, service members, and dependents. 

As an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, we proudly offer tuition support to Yellow Ribbon-eligible students. Pepperdine invests almost $3M annually to help cover 100% of tuition costs for eligible students.

Under the Yellow Ribbon program, Pepperdine in the VA matches all remaining tuition costs. Pepperdine also does not limit the number of eligible students who can utilize the Yellow Ribbon program. 

 

Accreditations and Recognitions

WASC logo

AICCU logo

US News National Universities 2024

US News Best Collages Veterans 2024

Yellow Ribbon Program logo

Contact Us

Sabrina Delgado headshot

Sabrina D. Castellon
Enrollment Officer
Pepperdine GSEP

310.568.2357
Email 
Schedule a Phone Appointment

Take The Next Step

Learn more about Pepperdine's MA in Clinical Psychology MFT with Latinx Communities program.