The Chicago School 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 Chicago School MA in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy program page, the MCFT Program Guidebook, the Chicago School locations and accreditation pages, the COAMFTE directory, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: The Chicago School (formerly The Chicago School of Professional Psychology)
Official Degree Name: Master of Arts in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy, per the program page.
Campus Locations: Los Angeles campus at 707 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017, and the Anaheim campus per the locations page. The program is also offered in a fully online format with required in-person residencies. San Diego appears in some COAMFTE accreditation records as a historical or current California cohort site; prospective students should confirm current campus availability directly with the admissions office.
Program Page Links: MA in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy, Los Angeles campus page, Anaheim campus page, and Online campus page.
Modality: On-campus (in-person) at the Los Angeles and Anaheim campuses and a fully online format that requires two in-person residencies during the program. Both on-campus and online students complete their required practicum in California.
Licensure Track: LMFT. The program is designed to meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational requirements for LMFT licensure. A dual MFT and LPCC track is not listed on the current program page.
Accreditation: Institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Program-specific accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), per the Chicago School accreditation page. The most recent COAMFTE reaffirmation listed is 2022 with the next scheduled review in 2028.
Program Length: 60 credit hours, typically completed in approximately 3 years following the recommended fall start curriculum per the MCFT Program Guidebook.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (effective 2025-2026): The Chicago School tuition and fees page lists master's program tuition at $1,458 per credit hour. Based on the 60-credit MCFT curriculum described in the Program Guidebook, total tuition is approximately $87,480 before institutional fees, residency travel costs (for online students), books, and living expenses. Annual adjustments apply.
GRE Requirement: Not required. The GRE is optional and applicants may submit scores if they wish to strengthen their application.
Religious Orientation: None. The Chicago School is a secular, nonprofit graduate institution.
Entering Class Size: Not publicly listed.
Concentrations: The MCFT curriculum emphasizes systemic and relational therapy approaches. Named concentrations or specialization tracks are not separately listed on the current program page; the Program Guidebook should be consulted for elective pathways.
Schedule and Format Details
Los Angeles and Anaheim On-Campus Formats: Cohort-based, primarily in-person training on each California campus. Specific class day and time blocks are published in the program guidebook and may vary by cohort.
Online Format: A fully online pathway delivered primarily through asynchronous and synchronous online coursework, with two mandatory in-person residency experiences during the program. California-based online students complete their practicum in California, which supports the LMFT educational pathway.
Concentrations and Specializations
Systemic and Relational Focus: Curriculum emphasizes systemic, couple, and family therapy theory and practice consistent with COAMFTE accreditation standards.
Elective and Emphasis Pathways: Detailed in the MCFT Program Guidebook rather than on the marketing program page. Prospective students should review the guidebook to understand specific elective options.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: The MCFT Program Guidebook specifies practicum as ten credit hours completed over four semesters (or eight terms) within a 12-month clinical field placement, with a minimum of 300 face-to-face direct client hours, including at least 100 relational hours (work with couples or families). These minimums align with COAMFTE standards and California BBS educational requirements.
Training Clinic: A dedicated in-house training clinic is not featured on the program page. Fieldwork is completed at community-based partner agencies through the program's practicum seminar sequence.
Practicum Arrangement: Placements are coordinated through the program's practicum seminar, with students supported in securing sites at Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and other California community agencies. Both on-campus and online students complete practicum within California.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Not publicly listed on the program page. Prospective students should confirm this directly with the admissions office or review the Program Guidebook.
Culminating Requirements
Students complete a Written Comprehensive Examination and a formal Competency Evaluation that includes a case presentation with a video submission during the practicum seminar. A thesis is not listed as a required culminating component.
Application Process
Application Deadlines: The program page indicates multiple start dates and rolling admissions. Specific term deadlines should be confirmed with the admissions office.
Start Term: Multiple entry points throughout the year for the online format, with a recommended fall start for the standard on-campus pathway.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. A bachelor's in psychology is not required, and specific prerequisite courses are not listed on the program page. Applicants should confirm foundational coursework expectations with the admissions office.
Application Components: Online application through the Chicago School application portal, a $50 application fee, official transcripts from all colleges attended, resume or CV, personal essay, and three letters of recommendation.
Interview: Required. Applicants complete an admissions interview as part of the selection process.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the program page, the MA in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy prepares graduates to provide systemic, relational, and culturally responsive therapy to individuals, couples, and families.
✓ The program is accredited by COAMFTE, which supports portability of graduates' credentials across states that recognize COAMFTE-accredited degrees.
✓ Students can choose among multiple California delivery options, including Los Angeles, Anaheim, and a fully online format with in-person residencies, per the Chicago School locations page.
✓ The program emphasizes community-based training, with practicum placements across hundreds of partner agencies in California.
✓ Graduate Achievement Data, including graduation, licensure, and employment outcomes, is published annually in accordance with COAMFTE requirements.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Students planning to practice in multiple states: COAMFTE accreditation supports license portability, since many states explicitly recognize COAMFTE-accredited master's degrees for LMFT licensure.
✓ Students interested in a fully online format: The Chicago School offers a fully online MCFT pathway with required in-person residencies, with California-based practicum completion for students planning California licensure.
✓ Students seeking geographic flexibility in Southern California: Los Angeles and Anaheim campuses provide in-person options for students commuting from the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas.
✓ Career changers entering the field: A bachelor's degree in psychology is not required, and specific prerequisite courses are not listed, making the program accessible to applicants from a range of academic backgrounds.
✓ Students seeking strong practicum infrastructure: Practicum placements are coordinated through the program's practicum seminar, drawing on a broad network of California partner agencies.
✓ Students who value systemic and relational training: The curriculum is built around couple, family, and systemic therapy, consistent with COAMFTE accreditation standards.
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 Chicago School MFT program, visit the official program 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