Why Cal Lutheran?

Outstanding Students, Faculty, and Staff

• Diversity of strong students from all over the U.S. (e.g., UC Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara; Yale University; The New School) and abroad (e.g., University of London, University of Guadalajara)
• Excellent core psychology faculty who value teaching, research, and service.
• All faculty have active clinical practices and years of clinical experience and expertise in treating a variety of populations.
• Attentive and kind administrative staff that are easily accessible.

Flexible Options

• Two-year full-time program or three-year part-time program
• Two campus locations:
  • Oxnard Center: Day classes on Tuesday and Thursdays (9am-4pm)
  • Thousand Oaks/Westlake Center: Late afternoon and evening classes Monday through Thursday (4pm-10)
• Starting in Fall 2019, the Psychological Trauma sequence will be offered online

Classes and Curriculum

• Very small entering class sizes of 25 students per cohort that allows for personal contact and discussion with professors and opportunities to develop close relationships with classmates and colleagues.
• Optional concentration areas such as Latino counseling, family mediation, recovery model, attachment theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and psychological trauma.
• Clinically focused curriculum designed to meet all of the education requirements set forth by the Board of Behavioral Sciences and has been designed to align with the AAMFT Core Competencies.
• Technology-equipped state of the art classrooms: computers, projectors with writable capabilities, internet access, and video and sound equipment.

Clinical Training

• Two onsite training clinics staffed by our second-year Psy.D. and M.S. Counseling (MFT) students (with 21 licensed supervisors) located in Oxnard and Westlake Village that provide extensive low-fee community services to underserved communities (almost 15,000 scheduled appointments last year). These centers have computerized scheduling systems, computer workstations, digital recording in all 28 therapy rooms, the capability of streaming live therapy sessions, iPad kiosks for clients to complete the OQ-45 evaluation tool (which is recorded directly to our online database), fully stocked play therapy rooms, family therapy rooms, and group rooms.
• Practicum training can occur at these onsite counseling centers.
• Diverse optional externship settings include hospitals; schools; and specialized facilities for domestic violence, at-risk children, youth, and families; and developmental disabilities.

Resources

• Updated technology and computer labs with extensive online and physical library resources
• Student Council actively involved in program development, professional development, community service, and providing programmatic feedback to the Director of the MS Counseling Program and Dean
• Library access to 270 full-text online journals, 2279 physical volumes, 2709 full text e-books, and 2941 online videos for both students and faculty.
• Interlibrary loan is easily accessible from computers on and off campus. 

Our Graduates

• M.S. Counseling (MFT) graduates had higher pass rates than California state averages on the LMFT Law and Ethics Examination and the LMFT Clinical Exam administered during 2021. Source: www.bbs.ca.gov/exams.
• Program graduates are working in hospitals, medical centers, non-profit organizations, schools and universities,  inpatient facilities, police departments, specialized treatment facilitates (e.g., domestic  violence, eating disorders, addictions), public or governmental agencies (i.e., Department of Children and Family Services, Foster Care, Department of Public Social Services, Department of Veterans’ Affairs), court systems, or private practice.
• Choose to further your education by completing a doctorate in Marital and Family Therapy, Clinical Psychology, or a related field.

California Lutheran University

• Ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report in Best Colleges 2020 (Ranked 9^th among Western Regional Universities and 4^th among California Regional Universities)
• Welcoming of diversity of all types: age, dis(ability) status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, language, nationality, political view, race, religion sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and spirituality.
• Program benefits from the resources and support of the full university (online registration, computer support, academic support services, fitness center, etc.)
• Private, not for profit university
• WASC accredited

Ventura County

• Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Westlake Village are located in Ventura County between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CA.
• Oxnard campus is 15 minutes from Ventura beach, 40 minutes from Santa Barbara or Malibu. Or 60 minutes from Santa Monica. Temperature is between 60 and 75 year round.
• Biking, hiking, running, swimming, surfing, and farmers’ markets – all possible during study breaks or days off!
• In August 2015, Ventura County was ranked in the Washington Post as the most desirable county to live in America. This ranking was based upon natural amenities, such as mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water.
• In March 2015, the City of Ventura was ranked 1^st place in Men’s Journal as the Best Place to Live Now. This ranking highlighted the city’s location between Malibu and Santa Barbara, unique Main Street, largest employer being the Patagonia headquarters, nearness to the beach, and great weather.