Alliant International University MFT Program: Comprehensive Profile and Student Fit Analysis

Sentio University believes in program transparency. Students considering an MFT program investment should have access to as much information as possible about each program to make the best decision for themselves and their future careers.

Program data collected April 2026 from publicly available sources including the program's official website, the COAMFTE directory, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

On-Ground (San Diego, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento): Day, evening, and executive-format classes offered at all campuses. Los Angeles campus offers a one-day-per-week option (Tuesday or Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) or two-day-per-week option (Tuesday and Saturday, morning or evening classes only). All campuses operate on a semester calendar with some eight-week term options available. Practicum placement typically requires three consecutive semesters of commitment.

Online: Fully asynchronous and synchronous course options. Coursework can be completed on flexible schedules to accommodate working professionals and students across multiple time zones. The online program maintains identical curriculum, degree requirements, policies, and procedures as on-ground locations. Students must complete practicum at approved sites in their local communities.

Concentrations and Specializations

Chemical Dependency Specialization: CAADE-accredited specialization available for MFT students. Students prepare to work with individuals, couples, and families facing addiction through coursework and practicum hours at residential treatment centers or intensive outpatient programs. The specialization does not require additional clinical hours beyond the standard MFT practicum requirement.

Graduate Certificates: Currently enrolled MFT students may pursue graduate certificate programs in fields such as Infant-Preschooler Mental Health and Latin American Family Therapy; certificate coursework can be applied toward the MFT degree with certification awarded upon completion of requirements.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Students complete a minimum one-year practicum commitment across three consecutive semesters. The practicum requires a minimum of 300 direct client contact hours, with at least 150 hours involving couples, families, or groups. Practicum students receive a minimum of 100 supervision hours (at least 50 of which must be via direct observation or recorded sessions). Upon completion of practicum and degree coursework, graduates accumulate 800 to 1,300 total supervised clinical experience hours applicable toward California licensure. The program does not operate its own in-house training clinic; placements are student-arranged in coordination with the program, with practicum sites located in students' local communities. Professional development requirements include 50 hours of approved workshops, colloquia, seminars, and related activities; up to 25 of these hours may consist of personal counseling or psychotherapy with a licensed mental health professional outside the university (per the program catalog).

Culminating Requirements

Students must pass a comprehensive examination as part of their degree program. Full-time students typically complete the exam in their second year's June term. The program offers remediation plans for students who require additional support.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Rolling admission; applications accepted year-round. Specific start dates may have associated deadlines; contact Admissions for deadlines tied to individual terms and campuses.

Undergraduate GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with undergraduate or graduate GPA below 3.0 may petition for exemption from this academic requirement.

Prerequisite Courses: No specific prerequisite courses required. The program welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds; a psychology degree is not required for admission.

Application Components: Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended; resume or curriculum vitae; two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with applicant's work, academic abilities, or potential for professional accomplishment (may be from professional or personal references if applicant has been out of school for several years); personal narrative essay (2 to 4 pages for Master's applicants).

Interview Requirement: Required for admitted finalists; format varies by program and campus.

Program Start Terms: Enrollment available at multiple points throughout the year (semester and eight-week term enrollment periods); specific start dates vary by format and campus.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ One of few COAMFTE-accredited online MFT programs in the nation: The Master's in MFT coursework is offered completely online and is one of only a few such programs in the nation to be COAMFTE-accredited, providing flexibility without sacrificing accreditation quality.

✓ Flexible scheduling across multiple modalities: Day, evening, and executive-format classes are offered at each campus, with the Los Angeles campus offering a one-day-per-week option or two-day-per-week options to accommodate working professionals.

✓ Preparation for licensure in multiple states: A degree from a COAMFTE-accredited graduate program makes it easier to complete the licensure requirements and obtain MFT licensure in a new state.

✓ Contemporary family lens: The program recognizes the evolving American household and positions graduates to work with diverse family structures.

✓ Specialization option in chemical dependency: MFT students have the option to earn a CAADE-accredited specialization in chemical dependency.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Evening and executive formats are available at all four on-ground campuses, and the fully online program allows asynchronous participation.

✓ Career changers entering the field: The program explicitly welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds and does not require a psychology undergraduate degree.

✓ Students seeking an accelerated path: The program can be completed in as little as two years through intensive scheduling.

✓ Students seeking strong practicum infrastructure: The program provides structured program-arranged placement coordination with community-based sites and requires substantive supervision (minimum 100 hours including direct observation).

✓ Students planning to practice in multiple states: COAMFTE accreditation facilitates licensure portability across state lines.

✓ Students interested in serving specific populations: Chemical dependency specialization plus graduate certificate options in Latin American Family Therapy and Infant-Preschooler Mental Health.

✓ Students in California: Multiple on-ground campus locations (San Diego, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento) offer in-person learning for California-based students.

✓ Students interested in a fully online format: Alliant's completely online MA in MFT is COAMFTE-accredited with asynchronous and synchronous options.

Making Your Decision: What to Do Before You Apply

Salary data and job market projections are useful inputs to your program search, but they cannot tell you what a school is actually like to attend. Marketing materials, program websites, and admissions presentations are designed to present a program favorably. The most reliable way to cut through that and understand what a program actually delivers in the classroom is to ask to sit in on a live class session, whether in person or online, before you commit. Every program that is confident in the quality of its instruction should not only allow this but actively welcome it. If a program is reluctant to let prospective students observe a class, that reluctance is itself informative. The California MFT job market rewards clinical skill, and the training environment you choose over the next two to three years will shape the kind of therapist you become. Take the time to see it for yourself before you decide.

For a detailed comparison of every MFT program in the state, explore The Absurdly Complete Guide to MFT Programs in California.

To learn more about Alliant International University's MFT program, visit their official website at https://www.alliant.edu/marital-and-family-therapy/ma. If you are comparing MFT programs in California, you can explore Sentio University's MFT program to see how our Deliberate Practice training model compares.

Disclaimer: This profile was prepared by Sentio University for informational purposes only. Sentio University is an MFT program in California and a peer institution to the program profiled above. All information was drawn from publicly available sources and the program's own published materials as of April 2026. Sentio University makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. Prospective students should contact the program directly to verify all details, including admissions requirements, tuition, accreditation status, and clinical training structure. This profile does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. For a full list of California MFT programs, visit our California MFT Program Directory.

About the Authors

Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more

Alexandre Vaz, PhD is the Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University and cofounder of the Deliberate Practice Institute. He is co-editor of The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books) and the author of over a dozen books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training. Dr. Vaz is the founder and host of Psychotherapy Expert Talks. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portugal. Learn more