Azusa Pacific University MFT Program: Comprehensive Profile and Student Fit Analysis

Sentio University believes in program transparency and that all prospective students should have access to detailed, objective information about MFT programs to make the best possible decision for their education and career.

Program data collected April 2026 from publicly available sources including the APU MFT program page, the APU graduate catalog MFT section, the APU Student Financial Services costs page, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

Evening Cohort Format: The traditional pathway meets in the evenings to accommodate working professionals, with sections available at the Azusa, Orange County, San Diego, and Inland Empire campuses.

Daytime Cohort Format: A newer daytime pathway is available at the Azusa and Orange County campuses for students who prefer a traditional daytime schedule.

Pacing: Students typically complete the degree in 2 to 3 years. The program allows completion within up to 4 years to accommodate part-time students and those balancing professional and family responsibilities.

Concentrations and Specializations

Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 Certificate: Embedded in the core curriculum. Students completing the relevant coursework receive the Level 1 Certificate in this empirically supported couples therapy model.

Dual LPCC/MFT Licensure Pathway: One additional course fulfills California's educational requirements for LPCC licensure in addition to LMFT, per the APU graduate catalog.

Optional Certificate in Substance Use Disorders: An 11-unit add-on certificate available after or alongside degree completion.

Optional Certificate in Play Therapy: A 9-unit add-on certificate comprising three courses selected from six available options.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours: Per the APU MFT graduate catalog page, students complete a minimum of 300 hours of direct client contact for MFT licensure. Dual-license students complete an additional 300 hours toward LPCC. Supervision is provided at a ratio of 1 hour of individual supervision (or 2 hours of group supervision) per 5 hours of direct clinical work. Clinical placement runs 12 to 30 months depending on pacing.

Training Clinic: Not publicly listed as an in-house MFT training clinic. Clinical placements are completed at community-based partner sites.

Practicum Arrangement: Students secure placement sites with support from the program's director of clinical training and through the Introduction to Clinical Practice course sequence. Sites are off-campus community partners with licensed supervisors.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: 40 hours of personal psychotherapy are required. Students may substitute 20 hours of group therapy for up to 20 of the 40 required individual hours, per the APU MFT graduate catalog page.

Curriculum Structure

The 63-unit base curriculum consists of core coursework in systemic theory, assessment, clinical methods, law and ethics, Christian spiritual formation and psychotherapy, research, and supervised clinical practice, per the APU MFT graduate catalog page:

Core Systemic and Clinical Coursework: Systemic and relational theory, human development, psychopathology, assessment, multicultural practice, couples and family therapy (including the Gottman-informed sequence), and law and ethics.

Christian Spiritual Formation and Psychotherapy: A required course integrating faith with clinical practice, reflecting APU's institutional mission.

Clinical Practice Sequence: Multi-semester supervised practicum at approved community sites with concurrent case-consultation and supervision courses.

Optional Add-On Certificates: Students may extend the 63-unit base with certificates in Substance Use Disorders, Play Therapy, or the dual LPCC pathway.

Culminating Requirements

Students must pass a two-part comprehensive examination covering (1) law and ethics and (2) clinical content. Students who do not pass the comprehensive examination cannot graduate. The program is non-thesis.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Fall enrollment priority deadline is March 1. Spring enrollment deadline is October 1, with admission based on seat availability at regional campuses. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until cohorts fill. Application fee: $45.

Start Terms: Fall and Spring.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale for regular admission.

Prerequisites: Applicants without a psychology bachelor's degree must complete Abnormal Psychology with a grade of B or better, taken within the past eight years. The prerequisite may be waived on a case-by-case basis.

Application Components: Online application, official transcripts from all institutions, a professional interest essay addressing background, reasons for pursuing MFT and APU specifically, preparatory experience, strengths and weaknesses, and professional goals, and two letters of recommendation from professionals familiar with the applicant's academic or clinical capabilities (e.g., professors, clergy, supervisors, or employers). International applicants must submit TOEFL iBT of at least 90 (with minimums of 22 Reading, 22 Speaking, 22 Listening, and 24 Writing) or equivalent IELTS scores, an Affidavit of Financial Support, a bank statement, a passport copy, and a foreign credential evaluation.

Interview: Required. Qualified applicants are invited to an in-person interview following faculty file review.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the APU MFT program page, the program prepares students for California LMFT licensure through a curriculum grounded in Christian faith integration, systemic family psychology, and evidence-based therapeutic models.

✓ The program embeds the Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 Certificate into the core curriculum, per the APU MFT program page.

✓ APU offers four regional campus locations (Azusa, Orange County, San Diego, and Inland Empire) for geographic flexibility, per the APU MFT program page.

✓ The program offers both traditional evening cohorts and a newer daytime cohort option to accommodate working professionals and daytime learners, per the APU MFT program page.

✓ APU is a Yellow Ribbon School and offers a $500-per-term alumni discount (up to $2,000 over the program) for APU undergraduate alumni, per the APU MFT program page.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students seeking faith-integrated training: APU is an evangelical Christian university, and the curriculum includes a required course in Christian Spiritual Formation and Psychotherapy.

✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Evening cohorts are available at all four campuses, with up to 4 years to complete the degree.

✓ Students interested in couples therapy: The embedded Gottman Method Level 1 Certificate offers structured training in one of the most empirically supported couples therapy models.

✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): A defined dual-license pathway adds only one course to meet California's educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC.

✓ Students in Southern California seeking geographic flexibility: Four campuses (Azusa, Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Diego) cover most of Southern California.

✓ Career changers entering the field: Applicants without a psychology degree can satisfy the prerequisite with a single Abnormal Psychology course, and the GRE is not listed as required.

✓ Students interested in niche clinical specializations: Optional certificates in Substance Use Disorders and Play Therapy allow students to develop targeted post-licensure expertise.

✓ Students who value a personal therapy component: The program requires 40 hours of personal psychotherapy, which is relatively uncommon among California MFT programs.

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 the Azusa Pacific University MFT program, visit their official website at the APU MA in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy page. 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