California Baptist 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 CBU MS in Counseling Psychology program page, the CBU application requirements page, the CBU online program page, the CBU accreditation page, the CBU Division of Psychology page, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

On-Campus Format: Evening classes typically meet Monday through Thursday, with some Saturday sessions depending on the term. The schedule is designed to accommodate students who work during the day.

Online Format: The online MS in Counseling Psychology combines synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Clinical practicum hours must still be completed in person at approved placement sites.

Pacing Options: Students may complete the program in 2 years full-time, 3 years at a moderate pace, or 4 years part-time, per the program page.

Concentrations and Specializations

Core MFT Track: The default pathway within the MS in Counseling Psychology, aligned with California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure.

LPCC Pathway: Students may complete additional coursework and fieldwork to qualify for LPCC or dual LMFT/LPCC licensure.

Forensic Psychology Concentration: An optional concentration adding approximately 18 units for students interested in forensic practice.

Dual Degree Options: Students may pursue a dual degree combining the MS in Counseling Psychology with the MA in Counseling Ministry (for integrated clinical and congregational practice) or the MS in Sport and Performance Psychology.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours: Specific direct client contact, relational, and supervision hour totals are not itemized on the program's public pages. The program states that clinical training complies with California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure. Students should request current fieldwork requirements directly from the program.

Training Clinic: Not publicly listed as a dedicated in-house MFT training clinic. Practicum is completed at approved community partner sites.

Practicum Arrangement: The program states it maintains over 100 established relationships with partner organizations spanning community mental health, school-based, church-based, and other clinical settings. Each placement is pre-approved by the department to meet BBS and CBU standards, and students are supervised by licensed clinicians at the site.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Required. Per the CBU Counseling Psychology courses page, students must complete either 24 hours of individual psychotherapy or 50 hours of group psychotherapy with a licensed psychotherapist or a registered associate. The therapy must be completed outside the campus community, and students may not see any therapist who has a teaching relationship with California Baptist University.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum is designed around CBU's faith-integrated approach to counseling psychology, per the CBU MS in Counseling Psychology page:

Core Coursework: Counseling theory and practice, marriage and family therapy, human development, multicultural counseling, assessment, psychopathology, law and ethics, and research methods, taught with an explicit faith-integration framework.

Fieldwork Sequence: Practicum I (PSY555) and Practicum II (PSY570) provide supervised clinical experience, with additional supervision available through PSY534.

Culminating Requirements

Program materials reference a comprehensive examination as the culminating requirement, typically taken concurrently with practicum during the final year of the program. A thesis or portfolio is not listed as a required culminating component on the program's public pages. The specific structure and scheduling of the comprehensive examination is not publicly itemized; students should confirm current culminating requirements directly with the program.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: CBU operates on rolling admissions with priority and standard deadlines for each term. Fall: priority May 15, standard August 1. Spring: priority November 1, standard December 1. Summer: priority March 1, standard April 1. Admissions decisions are typically made within 5 to 10 business days of a completed application.

Start Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, or 2.75 in the last 60 to 90 units. Applicants with lower GPAs may be considered with additional materials.

Prerequisites: General Psychology (preferred) or Life Span Development, completed with a grade of C or better, prior to or during the first semester of graduate enrollment. A psychology undergraduate degree is preferred but not required.

Application Components: Graduate application with a $45 fee, official transcripts from a regionally accredited institution, documentation of minimum GPA, and either a 500-word statement of purpose addressing educational goals and program fit or a virtual/in-person interview covering the same topics. Additional materials may be requested at the program's discretion.

Interview: Optional but recommended. Applicants may substitute a 500-word statement of purpose in place of the interview, or vice versa.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the CBU MS in Counseling Psychology page, the program integrates counseling theory and Christian faith, with faculty teaching from a biblically rooted perspective.

✓ The program describes itself as one of CBU's oldest and largest graduate programs, having trained counselors for more than 40 years.

✓ The program states it maintains over 100 established partnerships with clinical placement sites spanning community mental health, school-based, church-based, and other settings.

✓ Multiple pacing options (2, 3, or 4 years) and both on-campus and online formats are offered to accommodate different student needs.

✓ Optional concentrations and dual-degree pathways (Forensic Psychology, Counseling Ministry, Sport and Performance Psychology) allow students to extend their training in specific directions.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students who want explicit Christian faith integration in their clinical training: CBU's program is openly faith-integrated and teaches from a biblically rooted perspective.

✓ Inland Empire and Southern California students seeking a regional option: CBU's Riverside campus serves Riverside, San Bernardino, and surrounding counties.

✓ Students who need an online option: The online MS in Counseling Psychology offers distance-friendly coursework, with in-person practicum at approved local sites.

✓ Working professionals seeking evening coursework: On-campus classes meet in the evenings, Monday through Thursday, with some Saturday sessions.

✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): Additional coursework and fieldwork allow qualification for LPCC or dual LMFT/LPCC licensure.

✓ Students interested in forensic or sport psychology pathways: Optional concentration and dual-degree tracks expand the program's focus areas.

✓ Students interested in ministry-integrated counseling: The dual MS/MA in Counseling Ministry pairs clinical training with pastoral preparation.

✓ Career changers entering the field: The GRE is not required and only a general psychology or development prerequisite is expected.

✓ Students who prefer flexible pacing: The program may be completed in 2, 3, or 4 years.

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 California Baptist University MFT program, visit their official website at the CBU MS in Counseling Psychology 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