MA in Clinical Psychology

LMFT Preparation with Impactful Training

Psychotherapists are professionals in a high-demand field, one that requires commitment, integrity, and excellent emotional intelligence. Antioch University Santa Barbara’s CAMFT Award-winning Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program emphasizes authentic relationships and an understanding of diverse identities and perspectives, fully qualifying you to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). At the core of our MFT graduate degree program is a strong emphasis on supporting positive individual and community change, particularly within the three optional concentrations in Healthy Aging, Latinx Mental Health, and Somatic Psychotherapy.

Prepare for multiple roles in the evolving world of psychotherapy that includes therapy and assessment, supervision, management, applied research, administration, and public policy. Our experienced faculty are generally practicing clinicians in their fields and bring a wealth of real-world experience into the classroom, where students receive a high level of personal attention and mentoring in a small-group setting. As a full-time MACP student, you could attend classes one day per week and complete our master’s program in just two years.

This degree is offered by AU Santa Barbara.

Program Overview

Our MA in Clinical Psychology degree provides students with a community-based, holistic approach to psychotherapeutic practice. You will gain practical and theoretical knowledge for a sustainable and successful career in the field of counseling, as well as the skills to work with diverse client needs and perspectives. Graduates of the MACP program and its concentrations also fulfill the requirements for LMFT and LPCC licensure in California, while gaining extensive preparation for licensure through instruction and local community internships.

Degree Requirements

Program Length:

The MA in Clinical Psychology program can be completed in a minimum of 8 quarters (24 months) of consecutive, full-time study in a one-day-per-week schedule. Students can also elect to attend at their own pace, taking as few or as many units as desire so long as they complete their degree within five years of enrollment.

The MA in Clinical Psychology is a 90 quarter unit program. Depending on optional concentrations and LMFT/LPCC track, additional units are required. All MACP concentrations meet California licensing requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs). To complete the degree a student must meet both a unit requirement and a residency requirement.

Residency

Residency is defined as the number of quarters of study for which a student must be enrolled. In the MACP program, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 90 units and 8 full- time quarters, or 16 half-time quarters, or the equivalent. Some of the coursework requirements are satisfied through weekend courses or may be completed online. A full-time quarter consists of 10-15 units. All quarters of residency must be completed for graduation.

Concentrations

Students also have options to pursue their Master’s in Clinical Psychology Degree with a concentration in Latinx Mental Health, in Healthy Aging, or in Somatic Psychotherapy.

The Program also offers a track for students interested in meeting qualifications for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure or a dual track for LMFT/LPCC.

Completion Deadlines

Students must complete their degree within 5 calendar years of the first admission including any leaves of absence or periods of withdrawal. Students are able to transfer up to 9 units of graduate psychology courses taken elsewhere if they meet Antioch University’s requirements for transfer credit. Units must be current and no older than 5 years. To apply for transfer credit, obtain the Permission to Transfer Units Form from the Registrar’s Office.

Course Sequence

First Quarter:

• Theories of Psychotherapy in Context
• Human Development and Diversity
• Multicultural Awareness: Self, Culture, and Context
• Crisis, Disaster, and Emergency Response *

Second Quarter:

• Research Methods
• Psychopathology *
• Clinical Skills I: The Psychotherapeutic Relationship
• Contemporary Theories of Psychotherapy

Third Quarter:

• Lifespan Human Development: The Older Adult *
• Theories of Family Systems
• Clinical Skills II: The Psychotherapeutic Process
• Professional Ethics and the Law

Fourth Quarter:

• Clinical Skills with Families and Couples
• Psychological Assessment: Evaluating Individuals & Systems in Context  *
• Group Theories
• Practicum: Professional Orientation  -w-
• Domestic Violence: Spousal, Elder and Child Abuse

Fifth Quarter:

• Practicum I: Clinical Evaluation and Crisis Intervention
• The Process of Group Psychotherapy
• Intimate Relationships
• Psychopharmacology for Therapists   *

Sixth Quarter:

• Practicum II: Treatment Planning and Clinical Interventions
• Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
• Loss and Bereavement -w-
• Substance-Related Disorders and Other Addictive Behaviors *

Seventh Quarter:

• Practicum III: Case Conceptualization
• Clinical Skills in the Multicultural Context
• Advanced Family Therapy: Special Populations -w-
• Community Mental Health
• Dual Diagnosis: Substance-Related and Co-Occurring Disorders  *

Eighth Quarter:

• Practicum IV: Integrating Clinical Skills
• Advanced Family Therapy: Evidence-Based Practice  *
• Trauma Counseling
• Human Sexuality and Counseling  *

Optional Ninth Quarter for the balance of LPCC coursework:

• Evaluation Outcome and Research  *
• Social and Cultural Factors of Assessment and Evaluation  *
• Career Theories and Practice in the System  *
• Psychopharmacology for Therapists  *

* = online/hybrid or weekend

w = weekend only

View the course sequences for the MACP concentrations in Healthy Aging, Latinx Mental Health, and Somatic Psychotherapy.

Licensure & Career Outlook

Students in the foundational MA in Clinical Psychology Program gain the professional skills to achieve a high level of competency in psychotherapeutic diagnosis, treatment planning, and counseling for individuals, couples, and families.

Board of Behavioral Sciences Educational Requirements

Students awarded the MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University meet the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) curriculum requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of California. Students interested in licensure in a state other than California should contact that state’s professional licensing body for information on academic and clinical training requirements for licensure in that state. Although our accredited degree generally meets out-of-state requirements, most states have specific course or training requirements unique to that jurisdiction.

BBS regulations specify the coursework and professional training experience that must be completed within a 90 unit degree. Degree requirements for all students include 225 hours of face to face hours of clinical training experience. Students enrolled in the Healthy Aging Concentration must complete 75 clinical training hours in face-to-face contact and/or client advocacy with older adults and their families. Students enrolled in the Latinx Mental Health Concentration must complete 75 clinical training hours in face-to-face contact and/or client advocacy with Latinx or Hispanic clients.

Students awarded the MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University will have met the California BBS curriculum and training requirements leading up to licensure.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement

The Psychology Program requires all students in the Clinical Program to engage in personal therapy. This requirement is based upon the belief that psychotherapy is a vital component of the training and growth of psychotherapists, and that it is the professional responsibility of every therapist to identify, address, and work through personal issues that may have an impact on clinical interactions with future clients.

Graduate students in the MACP program are required to complete 20 hours of personal individual, couples, family, or group therapy during the course of the program and must begin before the end of their second quarter. This requirement is met by seeing a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Licensed Psychologist, or a Board Certified Psychiatrist. A completed Psychotherapy Documentation form is filed with the Office of Student Services to verify the completion of the personal psychotherapy requirement. Psychotherapy hours earned prior to beginning the program are not eligible for meeting this requirement. Students are advised to plan for this requirement and to complete their hours early in their enrollment in order to finish prior to graduation.

Clinical Training

Clinical traineeships are an integral component of the MACP program. These experiences prepare students for psychotherapy and counseling work, and the training is completed under the supervision of a licensed professional.

The clinical training portion includes:

• 225 hours of face-to-face counseling experience with individuals, couples, families, and/or groups are required.
• The Healthy Aging concentration requires that 75 of the 225 client hours include in-person contact and/or client advocacy with older individuals and their families.
• The Latinx Mental Health concentration requires that 75 of the 225 client hours include in-person contact and/or client advocacy with Latinx or Hispanic clients.

Admissions

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Application Deadlines

AUSB practices rolling admission. Completed applications are reviewed on an on-going basis and admission decisions are provided promptly. The Priority Deadline guarantees priority consideration for specific financial aid programs and scholarships, as well as the earliest decision notification. International applicants are encouraged to apply by the Priority Deadline.

Application Requirements

• Complete the online admissions application.
• Official transcript indicating Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
• One essay
• Two letters of recommendation
• The program does not require that applicants submit GRE scores.

Admission Review Process

Phase One

An application will be reviewed once the following are received by the Office of Admissions:

• Online admission application (including application fee or fee waiver)
• Unofficial or official transcript indicating Bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university
• Admissions essay
• At least one letter of recommendation

Phase Two

Upon recommendation from the Admissions Committee, an applicant is scheduled for a group interview. The group interview lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours and includes members of the Admissions Committee and between 3 and 6 applicants.  An individual interview is offered to applicants that reside out of state. As part of the process, at the time of the group interview, each applicant is also asked to respond in writing to a brief essay question.

Phase Three

Upon successful completion of the interview and recommendation from the program, the applicant is notified via email of an offer of admission. Additionally, applicants who are not granted admission will be notified via email as well.

Antioch University Santa Barbara particularly seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to building a student population diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, class, physical abilities, learning styles, sexual orientation, professional backgrounds, and community experiences.

Cost

Please note: Additional fees for all AUSB programs may include (but are not necessarily limited to) charges for materials, late registration, enrollment maintenance, parking, graduation, transcripts, tuition payment plan, late payments, late registration, and returned checks.
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Financial Aid

A majority of AUSB students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AUSB.
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BA-to-Grad Pathway

Eligible undergraduate students can fast track their graduate degree, including our MBA, MFA, MA in Clinical Psychology, or PsyD in Clinical Psychology programs, by applying for admission through one of AUSB’s Pathway programs. Those accepted receive grants applied toward BA tuition. Learn more about our BA Pathway programs.