Online Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy: Trauma Studies Specialization

M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy: Trauma Studies Specialization

The online Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy: Trauma Studies degree program at Pacific Oaks College combines MFT training with an in-depth understanding of trauma diagnosis and intervention. The program is ideal for students who wish to explore and understand the praxis of trauma, mental health, and social justice. Graduates from this trauma studies online graduate program will be prepared to pursue careers working with various populations in counseling centers, private practice, governmental agencies, and other mental health facilities.

Pacific Oaks’ online MFT programs are structured around the requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), with fieldwork partnerships throughout Los Angeles and Pasadena that allow students to complete supervised hours while enrolled.

Pacific Oaks has established partnerships with mental health facilities throughout Los Angeles, Pasadena, and surrounding areas. This affords students in the online MFT program the opportunity for intensive supervised field experiences, preparing them for a practice that serves diverse populations.

Other Marriage and Family Therapy Specializations

• African American Family Studies
• Latinx Family Studies
• LGBTQIA+ Studies

Licensure

The master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs satisfy all academic requirements set by SB 33 and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) including Business and Professions Code Sections 4980.36c, d e 4980.39, 4980.40, and 4980.41).

Path to LMFT Licensure in California

Pacific Oaks’ trauma counseling master’s program prepares graduates to navigate the structured path toward becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California.

After completing the program, graduates follow a structured path to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences:

Step 1. Register as an Associate MFT (AMFT)
Graduates apply to the BBS for AMFT registration, which authorizes them to begin accumulating post-degree supervised hours toward licensure.

Step 2. Complete 3,000 supervised hours
California requires 3,000 total hours of supervised clinical experience to qualify for the LMFT exams. The hours accumulated during your pre-graduation fieldwork will count toward this requirement.
The remaining post-graduate hours are completed as a registered AMFT in settings such as community agencies, private practices, or mental health facilities.

Step 3. Pass two California exams
Candidates must pass the California Law and Ethics Exam before a subsequent AMFT registration can be renewed, and the California Clinical LMFT Exam before licensure is granted. Both exams are administered through the California BBS.

Step 4. Apply for LMFT licensure
Upon passing both exams and completing the required hours, graduates submit their Application for Licensure and fee to the BBS.

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Specialization

For students aiming to expand their career opportunities, Pacific Oaks offers an LPCC Specialization that qualifies graduates for dual licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California. This track requires completing 280 face-to-face clinical training hours before graduation, alongside five additional course credits:

• MFT 670 Career Development Theories and Techniques (3 credits)
• MFT 681 Advanced Topics in Addictions Counseling (1 credit)
• MFT 683 Advanced Topics in Psychopharmacology (1 credit)

MFT Fieldwork Requirements

To qualify for graduation, online trauma studies students must complete 225 hours of supervised clinical fieldwork. This foundational training provides real-world experience while actively counting toward your state licensure requirements.

Most MFT master’s students secure clinical training placements within community agencies in California in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas.

Students enrolled in this program must complete the required practicum placement at a California-based, program-approved site.

FAQs

What is an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with Trauma Studies Specialization?
This online graduate program combines clinical MFT training with specialized coursework in trauma diagnosis and intervention, including historical trauma, intergenerational trauma, military trauma, and evidence-based trauma treatment.
It is designed for students who want to work with individuals, families, and communities experiencing the mental health effects of trauma.
Graduates are prepared to pursue LMFT licensure through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and to work in counseling centers, community agencies, private practice, and government mental health facilities.

Is the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with Trauma Studies Specialization program offered online?
Yes. This master’s program is offered 100% online to residents of the state of California. 

Is this one of the online MFT programs available in California?
Yes. This program is offered 100% online to California residents. Class meetings are delivered live and synchronously, which means students attend scheduled sessions in real time rather than watching pre-recorded lectures.
This format is intentional; it builds the kind of clinical community and peer engagement that training therapists need. Fieldwork placements are completed through Pacific Oaks’ network of partner agencies in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas.

How long does the master’s degree in trauma counseling take to complete?
The online MFT Trauma Studies program takes two-and-a-half years full time to complete, totaling 61 credits. This is consistent with the credit requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for MFT licensure eligibility. Students who need more flexibility can discuss part-time pacing with Pacific Oaks Admissions.

Where is the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program offered?
The trauma counseling master’s program is offered 100% online, but this program is only offered to residents of California.

What does the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with Trauma Studies Specialization prepare you for?
This Trauma Studies online degree program prepares graduates to sit for California’s exam to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with particular expertise in trauma, trauma diagnosis, and intervention.

What are the requirements to become a licensed MFT in California after graduation?
After completing the program, graduates must: register as an Associate MFT (AMFT) with the BBS; accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised experience (Pacific Oaks students complete 225 pre-graduation hours that count toward this total); pass the California Law and Ethics Exam; and pass the California Clinical LMFT Exam.
The full timeline from graduation to licensure typically takes two to three years depending on employment setting and hours accumulation pace.

What does the Trauma Studies specialization add to a standard MFT degree?
The Trauma Studies Specialization provides clinical depth in areas not typically covered in a general MFT program: historical trauma and its relationship to mental health in oppressed ethnic communities, military trauma and its effects on veterans and their families, poly-victimization, intergenerational trauma transmission, and evidence-based trauma intervention.
These competencies position graduates for work with populations that carry disproportionate trauma loads, including veterans, immigrants, communities of color, and families affected by systemic violence.

Can I also qualify for LPCC licensure through this program?
Yes, with an optional specialization. Students who select the LPCC Specialization add five credits of coursework (Career Development Theories and Techniques, Advanced Topics in Addictions Counseling, and Advanced Topics in Psychopharmacology) and complete 280 face-to-face clinical training hours before graduation.
This track allows graduates to pursue both LMFT and LPCC licensure through the California BBS.

What is the job outlook for marriage and family therapists in California?
Employment of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 13% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately 7,700 openings per year nationally.
California employs more MFTs than any other state; 30,890 marriage and family therapists are employed in California according to BLS data.
Demand is particularly strong in trauma-informed settings, school-based services, and veteran-serving organizations, all areas this program’s curriculum directly prepares graduates for.

How does this program compare to other MFT specializations at Pacific Oaks?
Pacific Oaks offers four MFT specializations. The Trauma Studies specialization is the only one offered fully online.
The African American Family Studies, Latinx Family Studies, and LGBTQIA+ Studies specializations are also available and share the program’s emphasis on social justice and culturally responsive clinical practice.