Master of Arts - Marriage and Family Therapy - Latinx Family Studies

The Marriage and Family Therapy master’s degree with a specialization in Latinx Family Studies at Pacific Oaks College equips graduates with broad preparation in marriage and family therapy as well as an emphasis on the needs of Latinx children and families.

This MFT specialization is intended to prepare culturally competent mental health professionals to serve the largest ethnic minority group in California. Students not only study traditional mental health theory and practice that prepare them for the MFT licensing exams, but they also learn from each other’s diverse styles of communication, family messages, immigration history, traditions, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.

This program is offered in a “cohort” model, providing a culturally transformational educational experience. Students start the program at the same time and continue with their fellow cohort members throughout their educational journey. Together, faculty and students create a learning community that provides an in-depth education and challenges both the personal and professional development of all participants.

Through partnerships with clinics and community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles and Southern California, students in this marriage and family therapy master’s program receive intensive supervised field experience that can help prepare them to move directly into the workforce as a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate after graduation.

Guided by a faculty body of professionals who represent varied mental health disciplines and extensive academic and community-based experience, students will examine the unique challenges of Latinx communities—including immigration, acculturation, trauma, culture, and advocacy.