Phillips Education Center of Campbellsville 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 Campbellsville University Los Angeles Education Center Phillips MMFT program page, the Phillips MFT tuition and financial aid page, the Phillips application and admissions pages, California MFT program directories, and BBS records. A program specific student handbook was not publicly downloadable at the time of data collection; some handbook level details are drawn from the program page and secondary directory sources and should be verified directly with the program. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: Campbellsville University, Los Angeles Education Center (LAEC) / Phillips Education Center. The Phillips Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program was formerly delivered by Phillips Graduate Institute and Phillips Graduate University, and since 2023 operates as a regional center of Campbellsville University.
Official Degree Name: Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT), Phillips Master of Marriage and Family Therapy track.
Campus Location: Los Angeles Education Center of Campbellsville University, located in the greater Los Angeles area and serving California students.
Program Page Links: Phillips MMFT program page, Phillips MFT tuition and financial aid page, and Phillips Clinical Training and Placement page.
Modality: In person. Classes meet one full day per week (Saturday or a weekday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific) at the Los Angeles Education Center. Students also attend a three hour weekly case conference during the first two terms.
Licensure Track: California LMFT preparation. The program is approved by the California BBS to meet the educational requirements for LMFT licensure. A dual LMFT and LPCC track is not offered.
Accreditation: Campbellsville University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Los Angeles Phillips MMFT program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for LMFT educational requirements and by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). The Los Angeles Phillips track is not COAMFTE or CACREP accredited. Campbellsville University separately offers a COAMFTE accredited MMFT program delivered through its Louisville and online track; prospective students seeking COAMFTE accreditation should confirm which track applies to their enrollment.
Program Length: 60 units. Students typically complete the program in two years across five consecutive terms including summer terms. Part time students can extend the program to six or seven terms.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (effective 2025-2026): Approximately $56,400 in total program tuition, equating to roughly $940 per unit across the 60 unit curriculum, per publicly available program directory materials. A $150 per term technology fee applies to all graduate programs. Books, practicum related costs, and living expenses are additional. Tuition is subject to annual adjustment and should be verified directly with the program.
GRE Requirement: Not required.
Religious Orientation: Campbellsville University is a Christian institution in the Baptist tradition. The Los Angeles Education Center delivers the Phillips MMFT program with a values based educational mission, and public program materials describe the Phillips program's religious orientation as none in curriculum delivery. Prospective students should confirm how the university's broader Christian mission relates to their own program experience with an admissions counselor.
Entering Class Size: Approximately 25 to 35 students per cohort, with Fall and Spring intakes.
Concentrations: The program is delivered as a single MMFT track with clinical and non clinical options. The clinical MMFT track prepares students for California LMFT licensure; the non clinical MMFT track prepares students for non licensure applications of MFT training.
Schedule and Format Details
Weekly Class Day: One full day per week (Saturday or weekday) from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific at the Los Angeles Education Center.
Case Conference: During the first two terms, students attend a three hour weekly case conference in addition to the regular class day.
Pacing: The program is designed for completion in two years across five consecutive terms including summer terms. Part time pacing can extend the program to six or seven terms.
Start Terms: Fall and Spring.
Concentrations and Specializations
Clinical MMFT Track: Prepares students for California LMFT licensure, including the 375 practicum hour clinical training sequence.
Non Clinical MMFT Track: For students who wish to apply MFT training in non licensure contexts such as coaching, education, or program administration. Does not lead to LMFT licensure.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Students complete a minimum of 375 practicum hours at a Phillips approved clinical training agency. Practicum begins after the student completes the first 13 units of coursework.
Practicum Structure: Practicum is arranged through the Clinical Placement Office at the Los Angeles Education Center, which coordinates with a network of Phillips approved training agencies in the greater Los Angeles area.
Training Clinic: The program operates the California Family Counseling Center (CalFam) at 19900 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311. CalFam was founded in 1971 by Clinton E. Phillips, PhD and T. David Jansen, DMin, and serves as the primary in house training facility for the Phillips MMFT program. Pre licensed trainees and associates provide sliding scale counseling services to the community under licensed supervision.
Practicum Arrangement: Placements at CalFam and at additional Phillips approved community sites are coordinated through the Clinical Placement Office at the Los Angeles Education Center.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of personal psychotherapy (individual, couples, or family) during enrollment.
Curriculum Structure
The 60 unit curriculum integrates systemic and relational theory with clinical foundations and supervised practicum. Core areas include counseling theories, human development, psychopathology, marriage and family systems, multicultural counseling, law and ethics, assessment, research methods, substance abuse and co occurring disorders, trauma, and a sequenced clinical practicum. The program emphasizes preparing culturally competent clinicians to meet the needs of diverse California communities.
Culminating Requirements
Students complete two culminating requirements: a capstone research paper and an oral exam taken at the end of the program, per publicly available program materials. Degree completion also requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and successful completion of the 375 practicum hours.
Application Process
Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions. Applicants are encouraged to apply at least 30 days before their intended start term.
Start Terms: Fall and Spring.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA is the official admissions requirement. Applicants whose GPA falls below 3.0 may submit a one to two page Grade Point Average Exemption Statement explaining the circumstances and readiness for graduate study. All applications are reviewed holistically.
Prerequisites: No specific undergraduate course prerequisites are required. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution is required.
Application Components: Online graduate application, official transcripts from all institutions attended, three letters of recommendation, a 500 to 750 word statement of interest, and resume or curriculum vitae. The GRE is not required.
Interview: Required. Qualified applicants complete an interview with program faculty.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the Phillips MMFT program page, the LAEC MMFT program prepares culturally competent and compassionate therapists to meet the unique needs of California communities in private practice, community mental health, and beyond.
✓ The program's weekly class day plus three hour case conference format is designed for working adults who can commit to one full day of in person classes per week.
✓ Cohort size of approximately 25 to 35 students supports close faculty contact and cohort learning.
✓ The Clinical Placement Office supports students in securing practicum placements at Phillips approved community agencies in the greater Los Angeles area.
✓ The program is approved by both the California BBS and the BPPE, ensuring compliance with California academic and regulatory standards.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Classes meet one full day per week (Saturday or weekday), with part time pacing available over six or seven terms.
✓ Students prioritizing affordability: Total program tuition of approximately $56,400 is below the California MFT program average.
✓ Students who value personal therapy as part of training: The program requires 24 hours of personal psychotherapy during the program.
✓ Career changers entering the field: No specific undergraduate course prerequisites are required and the GRE is not required.
✓ Students interested in the Phillips clinical tradition: The Phillips MMFT continues the clinical training legacy of the former Phillips Graduate Institute and Phillips Graduate University within Campbellsville University, including training at the California Family Counseling Center (CalFam) in Chatsworth, founded in 1971.
✓ Students in the greater Los Angeles area seeking a smaller cohort: With 25 to 35 students per cohort and an active Clinical Placement Office, students gain close faculty contact and a supported practicum placement process.
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 Phillips MMFT program, visit the Phillips MMFT 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