Pepperdine MFT

[iluvburtsbee]

I am considering my acceptance at Pepperdine (w/ the MFT emphasis), however I have several questions/concerns about the program.. Would anyone attending/have any knowledge about this or a similar program please give me their 2 cents. Thanks.

1. Are funding available for the program?
2. Since classes are only 2-3 days a week, is it feasible to commute an hour for those classes?
3. Are there options to do practicum beyond the Malibu area, perhaps near where I commute from?
4. In order to get a MFT, one must complete 3000 MFT hours and only a certain amount can be done during a MA. Does that mean, one must spend another year doing these hours beyond graduating from Pepperdine, in order to get licensed as a MFT? Their website said the program is 2.5-3 years, does that include the extra hours after graduation?
5. I eventually want to get a doctoral degree (psyd/phd) in clinical psychology, would this 3 year MFT program be a waste a time? Should I transfer to the shorter general MA program they have?

Sorry for all the questions! Just don't want to blindly get into a program, without knowing as much as I can about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

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[Franco]

I am graduating from an MFT program in a few weeks, albeit not from Pepperdine. Thus, there are some questions I can answer and some I cannot because they're specific to Pepperdine.

1. You will have to contact the school.
2. It really depends upon your level of aversion to traffic and which campus you'll be attending (there's one in Encino, the main campus in Malibu and I believe the one in LA also offers MFT, but am not sure).
3. Yes, there are agencies throughout Southern California. I was lucky enough to get one no more than 5 miles away from me. A friend who attended Pepperdine drove from West LA to Oxnard for her practicum.
4. You can accumulate up to 700 hours while working on your master's. Thereafter, you work on your remaining 2,300 hours (if you max the 700 prior to graduation). I have friends for whom it took 1.5 to 2 years post-graduation to accumulate the hours, and have heard of others for whom it has taken much longer. It depends upon where you intern after graduation. If you work in an underserved community, you'll make your hours quick, but would be paid less. You can also intern in a private practice setting where you make a bit more money, but hours may not come as fast as you'd like.
5. If you can get into the Ph.D. program without going through the MA program, you should definitely bypass the MFT step. I'm not sure what the difference is between their shorter program and the 3 year program (some schools are moving from 48 unit MA to 60 unit to graduate). Regardless, whether you go for the shorter term or the long term really would depend upon whether you go for your Ph.D. soon after graduation or much later as well as possible benefits the long term course may provide if you decide to practice a bit before going back to school.

Please post if you have more questions.

Good luck!!!

 

[iluvburtsbee]

Thanks for the detailed response! It's definitely helpful coming from someone who has been through it. Congratulations on graduating soon! What's your career plan like.. besides completing the rest of your practicum hours 😉

 

[BacktoSchoolMFT]

OK. There are a few mistakes here.

I am currently in my second semester at Pepperdine's Irvine graduate practice in the MACLP program (MA Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy). So, I can give you more information if you like!

1. Are funding available for the program?
There are scholarships available, many students I know attend with small grants and additional financial aid (loans). The tuition at Malibu is slightly more expensive, the curriculum is a little different, and it is in a daytime format. The other programs (West LA, Encino, Irvine) are slightly longer, but this all depends on how many undergrad classes you can use to waive the "Foundation" courses (5). The more you can waive, the better. Many students work full-time and take 2 classes, others like myself, work part-time and take 3-4 classes. At $890/unit, it is not a cheap school, and all courses after you are enrolled must be taken in residence.
2. Since classes are only 2-3 days a week, is it feasible to commute an hour for those classes?
For the regular academic year (not summer, which is 2 sessions, 7 weeks each), each semester is about 15 weeks long, and 3-unit classes are once a week (no classes on Fridays) from 4:15-7:00pm OR 7:15-10:00pm. Depending on how many classes you take, you can limit your commute to 1 or 2 days a week, by taking 2 classes on one day. I myself commute about 25 minutes, 3x a week, and also work on campus.
3. Are there options to do practicum beyond the Malibu area, perhaps near where I commute from?
You can do practicum ALMOST anywhere. There is a list of practicum sites that the Clinical Training Coordinators compile of APPROVED practicum sites. If you are interested in a site that is not on the list, you can petition to get it approved. So no, you are not limited to just the Malibu area. I will actually be working at a site approximately 10 minutes from where I live.
4. In order to get a MFT, one must complete 3000 MFT hours and only a certain amount can be done during a MA. Does that mean, one must spend another year doing these hours beyond graduating from Pepperdine, in order to get licensed as a MFT? Their website said the program is 2.5-3 years, does that include the extra hours after graduation?
Yes, you must complete 3000 hours before sitting for the licensing exam. A MINIMUM of 150 hours MUST be done PRE-degree. A maximum of 1,300 hours can be done PRE-degree, with certain breakdown limitations (750 counseling and supervision, 250 wkshops, seminars, training, & 300 personal psychotherapy for you (100 hours actually, but these are triple counted!)). The actual program length depends on many factors, such as your class load and if you had any classes waived. I had two classes waived, and am taking 3-4 classes per semester and will likely be graduating in Summer 2010, roughly 6 semesters total, or 2 years. After graduation, you complete the 3,000 hours as an intern. Depending on you, this can take anywhere from a year to six years. From the time you earn your first hour, you must have at least 104 WEEKS of experience=2 years, but this starts when you are in the program. These are the BBS requirements, NOT Pepperdine's. There are more rules on this that you can read on at
http://www.bbs.ca.gov/app-reg/mft_requirement.shtml
5. I eventually want to get a doctoral degree (psyd/phd) in clinical psychology, would this 3 year MFT program be a waste a time? Should I transfer to the shorter general MA program they have?
If you want to get a doctoral degree the MFT program may or may not be a waste of time. For example, I also want to go into a doctoral degree in the FAR future, say 10 years. I could have gone into the MAP program (the MA Pysychology program), but I would not graduate with the ability to become licensed and my job options would be more limited. At least with the MFT degree, I can graduate, become licensed and work more easily if and before I enter a doctoral program. If you plan on going directly into a doctoral program, the MA Psychology program may be better for you. It is a little shorter and many students who are in this program go directly onto a doctoral program.

If you have any further questions regarding Pepperdine's programs please post!

 

[Kingkou23]

5. I eventually want to get a doctoral degree (psyd/phd) in clinical psychology, would this 3 year MFT program be a waste a time? Should I transfer to the shorter general MA program they have?
If you want to get a doctoral degree the MFT program may or may not be a waste of time. For example, I also want to go into a doctoral degree in the FAR future, say 10 years. I could have gone into the MAP program (the MA Pysychology program), but I would not graduate with the ability to become licensed and my job options would be more limited. At least with the MFT degree, I can graduate, become licensed and work more easily if and before I enter a doctoral program. If you plan on going directly into a doctoral program, the MA Psychology program may be better for you. It is a little shorter and many students who are in this program go directly onto a doctoral program.

If you have any further questions regarding Pepperdine's programs please post!

I was admitted to the M.A. in Clinical Psychology program (summer) and already put in my deposit and enrolled in classes which start in 2 weeks. From reading this, I am starting to regret it! I don't know if this program is the right one for me since I am planning on pursuing a doctorate (Psy. D in Clinical Psychology and eventually end up doing my post doc in Neuropsychology) right after my masters. I have no intention in completing the 3000 hrs since I don't care to become a licensed MFT thus I feel like I should have applied for the MA Psychology program and spent less time on my masters???

ugh, I am so confused now and I want to call Pepperdine and ask if there is any way that I could transfer to the MAP program! HELP!!!

 

[BacktoSchoolMFT]

Don't worry!!!!!

You can transfer to the MAP track. Many students go through the program and take some time to decide which track they would rather be on.

The great thing about the program is that there are many classes that apply to both tracks. Take these classes in the meantime while you think your decision over.

Many students transfer to the MFT track, and many students decide to go with the MAP track. I have known a few students who even graduate with a MAP degree and come back to do MACLP...now THAT is expensive!

I would suggest that you talk to your Student Advisor (in your admission packet) and discuss this with them so that they can help you decide on your schedule of classes.

So...don't worry, congratulations, and good luck!

I can tell you that I love the program and have had great instructors thus far.

Which campus are you on?

 

[psychometric]

I am considering my acceptance at Pepperdine (w/ the MFT emphasis), however I have several questions/concerns about the program.. Would anyone attending/have any knowledge about this or a similar program please give me their 2 cents. Thanks.


Let me just ask why you would pay that much for a program you can also attend at a Cal State University?

 

[BacktoSchoolMFT]

I am considering my acceptance at Pepperdine (w/ the MFT emphasis), however I have several questions/concerns about the program.. Would anyone attending/have any knowledge about this or a similar program please give me their 2 cents. Thanks.


Let me just ask why you would pay that much for a program you can also attend at a Cal State University?

quite honestly, applying to Pepperdine was a last minute decision. I live 10 minutes away from cal state Fullerton, but missed the deadline. i applied to Pepperdine only, albeit expensive, it is a great program. no regrets

 

[Kingkou23]

Don't worry!!!!!

You can transfer to the MAP track. Many students go through the program and take some time to decide which track they would rather be on.

The great thing about the program is that there are many classes that apply to both tracks. Take these classes in the meantime while you think your decision over.

Many students transfer to the MFT track, and many students decide to go with the MAP track. I have known a few students who even graduate with a MAP degree and come back to do MACLP...now THAT is expensive!

I would suggest that you talk to your Student Advisor (in your admission packet) and discuss this with them so that they can help you decide on your schedule of classes.

So...don't worry, congratulations, and good luck!

I can tell you that I love the program and have had great instructors thus far.

Which campus are you on?

Yeah, I called the next day and was so relieved to find out that I was able to switch between programs. I really think that the MAP program is more suited for my needs since I have no plan on becoming an MFT. I was going to go for my doctorate after I got my masters and now I just saved myself year or two! Now I should be done by next summer or fall! I'm so happy I can change between the two!

I'm going to the West L.A. campus...