Rhombus 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 Rhombus University MA in Counseling Psychology program page, the Rhombus University 2024-2025 school catalog, DEAC accreditation records, and California BBS records. A standalone clinical training handbook was not located on the public web; the school catalog functions as the primary institutional document. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

Online Format: The program is fully online. Weekly synchronous video sessions are held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The remainder of coursework is completed asynchronously on a flexible schedule.

Trimester Calendar: Rhombus operates on a three-trimester year. The Fall trimester runs September 1 through December 31, Spring runs January 1 through April 30, and Summer runs May 1 through August 31.

Pace: Students typically enroll in two to three courses per trimester. Rolling admissions allow students to begin coursework at any point during any trimester.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours: Per the catalog, students complete a minimum of 280 hours of face-to-face counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups during the program practicum sequence (CO-621, CO-622, CO-623). For students on the LMFT pathway, no more than 75 of those hours may come from client advocacy. Additional supervised experience required for California LMFT or LPCC licensure is completed post-degree.

Training Clinic: Rhombus does not operate an in-house training clinic. Students secure practicum sites in their local communities.

Practicum Arrangement: Students identify and secure their own practicum placements at nonprofit counseling agencies with qualified licensed supervisors (minimum two years licensed, with the supervisor training coursework required by the California BBS). Rhombus reviews and contracts with each site. For students without access to a local site, the catalog notes a contracted relationship with New Visions Counseling Center as an alternative placement option.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Yes. Per the catalog, students must complete 20 hours of individual personal counseling during the first year of the program, at the student's expense, as a prerequisite for practicum courses.

Curriculum Structure

The 60-unit MACP curriculum integrates counseling theory, clinical training, and biblical integration per the Rhombus University 2024-2025 catalog:

Core Coursework: Counseling theories, human development across the lifespan, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, ethics and law, assessment, group counseling, marriage and family systems, research methods, and biblical integration with counseling practice.

Clinical Sequence: Three practicum courses (CO-621, CO-622, CO-623) completed sequentially at an approved community site with licensed supervision.

LPCC Addition: Students who wish to add LPCC preparation complete a Vocational Counseling course (one additional 3-unit course).

Culminating Requirements

Per the catalog, students must pass a comprehensive examination with a minimum score of 70 percent, complete all practicum courses with competency-based clinical evaluation, and complete the required 280 hours of supervised clinical practicum.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions. Students may apply and enroll at any time during any of the three trimesters.

Start Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer trimesters.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA for admission. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA once enrolled to remain in good academic standing and to qualify for graduation.

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. No specific prerequisite courses are required for admission.

Application Components: Completed application with $90 fee (includes background check), official transcripts showing the conferred bachelor's degree, a 1 to 2 page essay addressing purpose and stance on the biblical perspective of psychology, three letters of recommendation, valid photo identification, a signed acknowledgment of Rhombus University's statement of faith, a signed technology requirements acknowledgment, and completion of the internal entrance exam after interview.

Interview: Yes. An approved interview conducted via Zoom with a school official is required as part of admissions.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the Rhombus University Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Programs page, the MA in Counseling Psychology is designed to prepare graduates for California LMFT and LPCC licensure from a Christian, biblically integrated perspective.

✓ The program is delivered fully online to serve students across California and beyond who need flexibility.

✓ The program operates on a rolling, year-round trimester calendar that allows students to begin at any point during any trimester.

✓ Biblical integration is woven throughout coursework, reflecting Rhombus University's institutional identity.

✓ The program is listed on the California BBS approved program list for LMFT educational requirements.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students seeking a Christian, biblically integrated MFT education: Rhombus teaches counseling psychology explicitly from a biblical philosophy and requires acknowledgment of the university's statement of faith.

✓ Students who need a fully online format: Rhombus delivers the entire program online with no residency requirement, suitable for students who cannot relocate or commute.

✓ Students who value flexible, self-paced scheduling: Rolling trimester enrollment and a single weekly synchronous session allow students to structure study around work and family commitments.

✓ Students seeking a lower tuition option: At approximately $25,000 in tuition for the 60-unit curriculum, Rhombus offers one of the lower sticker prices among California-approved LMFT programs.

✓ Students interested in dual LMFT and LPCC preparation: Adding a single Vocational Counseling course allows graduates to prepare for LPCC licensure alongside LMFT.

✓ Students who already have community-based clinical site access: Because Rhombus does not operate an in-house clinic, students who can identify a qualified nonprofit practicum site in their area are well positioned for the clinical sequence.

✓ Career changers entering the field: The GRE is not required, no prerequisite coursework is required for admission, and the minimum undergraduate GPA for admission is 2.5.

✓ Students who value personal therapy as part of training: The program requires 20 hours of personal counseling during the first year.

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 Rhombus University MFT program, visit their official website at the Rhombus University Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Programs 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