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The Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) at Pepperdine University offers two paths to licensure to support your career goals: the licensed professional clinical counselor track and the licensed marriage and family therapist track.
The online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology prepares you for a rewarding career helping individuals, couples, and families thrive. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to earn your licensure as an LPC or LMFT.
While earning your clinical psychology degree online, you will learn from our esteemed faculty without having to relocate. You will also complete a highly regarded curriculum and engage in clinical placements.
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Prepare to positively affect the health and well-being of those in need by completing the following curriculum requirements:
8–12
sessions
62–68
units
4
sessions of field placement
Graduate ready to earn your LPC or LMFT licensure in as few as 27 months.
On-Campus MA in Clinical Psychology MFT Programs
Pepperdine’s MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy prepares you to be a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Offered in a daytime or evening format with over 130 clinical practicum sites, pursue your passion through meaningful service and purpose at Pepperdine GSEP.
Visit our on-campus site to learn more and apply to the on-campus program. Note that on-campus and online MA in Clinical Psychology program applications are separate. Access the online application here.
Pepperdine’s online clinical psychology master’s program prepares you to pursue licensure as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT).
Choose this path if you want to help with:
Choose this path if you want to help people with:
FAQ: Does the curriculum differ for each path?
It doesn’t. Foundational courses are the same regardless of the licensure path you wish to pursue. You will have the opportunity to customize your degree through electives.
The program is designed to ensure that upon graduation, you will have met all academic requirements to sit for the LMFT or LPC licensure exams in the state of California. Visit the following pages for an overview of the requirements for each license:
OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program offers an LPC licensure path, an LMFT licensure path, or both licensure options in certain states. View which licensure paths are available in the following states outside of California.
Alaska
LPC
Arizona
LPC
Delaware
LPC
Georgia
LPC
Idaho
LPC
Illinois
LPC
Maryland
LPC
New Hampshire
LPC
New Jersey
LPC
Oklahoma
LPC
Oregon
LPC
Tennessee
LPC
Texas
LPC
Virginia
LPC
Washington D.C.
LPC
West Virginia
LPC
The licensure paths available to students outside of California are tied specifically to the program’s ability to operate within certain states. Based on your state of residence, you may be restricted in which licensure path you can pursue. You will be asked to declare a licensure path when you apply for the program, and based on the approval in your state, you may not be able to change your path while enrolled.
Licensure requirements vary by state, therefore Pepperdine University strongly encourages you to contact the licensing board in the state in which you intend to practice prior to enrolling in the OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine program. Learn more about LMFT licensure requirements or LPC licensure requirements in your state.
Pursue Your Purpose
Learn more about the online master’s in psychology curriculum from Pepperdine University.
Pursue Your Purpose
Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.
Jump to:
Licensure
Admissions Overview
Curriculum
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OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine seeks students who are committed to cultivating a deep understanding of human behavior while advancing their capability to serve those in need. We accept applications on a rolling basis and offer you the option to start earning your psychology degree at various times throughout the year.
Visit our Application Requirements page for further details.
Cohorts start four times per year in winter, spring, summer, and fall.
You will need to complete 62 to 68 units to graduate. To gain a better understanding of the total cost of your degree, Pepperdine offers a calculator tool to approximate the cost of tuition.
Financial aid opportunities are available for Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology students. Students may utilize military education benefits, employer tuition assistance, federal student loans, private loans, or scholarships to assist with program expenses.
Requirements for scholarships vary. For more information about scholarship opportunities, please call our admissions team at +1-855-270-5431.
For more information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid page.
If you are interested in joining us on campus, we offer an on-campus Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology as well as a breadth of traditional psychology master’s programs at multiple campus locations. Note that the on-campus and online programs have separate applications.
Earn Your Master’s Online. Help People Thrive.
Learn more about earning your master’s in clinical psychology online from Pepperdine University.
Access Your Application
Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.
Jump to:
Licensure
Admissions Overview
Curriculum
Request Info
Our curriculum focuses on current applied methods of psychotherapy, offering a practice-based course of study with clinical training in or near your community. You will learn about various topics, including the social and psychological implications of socioeconomics and how poverty and social stress affect the ability of individuals, couples, and families to thrive.
Regardless of the licensure path you wish to pursue, our foundation courses are the same. You will have the opportunity to choose electives that most interest you during the program.
Upon graduation, you will know how to:
The course catalog includes 6 units of core courses that build the foundation of your clinical psychology education and frame the concepts you’ll explore throughout the program. After these foundation courses, you will complete 62 units of master’s-level courses that expose you to the latest advancements being discussed in the field today.
Foundation courses include Psychopathology and Behavioral Principles and Theories of Learning. You may be able to waive these courses if you completed them for your undergraduate degree. To qualify for a waiver, course work must have been completed within the last seven years at a regionally accredited institution, and you must have earned a grade of “B” or better.
Consider how people’s identities and backgrounds relate to mental health and treatment. Explore how counselors can take into account clients’ race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and ableness.
Learn how to interview, formulate clinical cases, develop treatment plans, and facilitate therapeutic processes consistent with major theoretical approaches. Gain practical skills through examination of clinical case material and supervised exercises.
Sample Course Topics
Read course descriptions for more information about the classes you will take in the online clinical psychology master’s program.
Curious to know what your schedule might look like? Check out a sample course sequence (PDF).
As part of the program, you will take four terms of clinical practicum, where you will receive clinical training under the supervision of a licensed therapist or counselor at an approved clinical site near your community. Ahead of your clinical practicum, you will take the Preparation for Practicum course, which will introduce you to key skills needed while working directly with clients.
For students in California intending to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), 225 hours must be spent directly with clients. For students in California intending to pursue licensure as a professional clinical counselor (LPC), 280 hours must be spent directly with clients.
The licensure path you choose and state of intended employment will determine the breakdown of hours you must complete as part of your clinical training.
As a student, you will work with our dedicated placement team to find and secure Pepperdine-approved practicum and internship opportunities, where you can observe professional counselors and gain experience working directly with clients.
All students outside of California will be required to complete 700 total placement hours, including the 225 (LMFT) or 280 (LPC) hours spent directly with clients.
The MA in Clinical Psychology program and GSEP psychology division stand in solidarity against racial inequities and injustice and other forms of discrimination and oppression. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment that is enriched and strengthened by diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity and national origin, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, age, ability status, and religion. GSEP also encourages all community members to engage in critical learning and reflection to strengthen our capacity for being effective, active, and outspoken against all forms of racism and intersectional oppression.
Passionate and Purpose-Driven Faculty
Graduate School of Education and Psychology faculty are active clinicians and experts in their disciplines who are dedicated to helping you grow as you pursue your career as a counselor or marriage and family therapist. The practitioners and professors you’ll collaborate with have a deep passion for inspiring future leaders in the field of psychology.
Admission to the MA in Clinical Psychology program is holistic, focusing on your potential to cultivate a deep understanding of human behavior. We accept applications on a rolling basis for cohorts starting in winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Application Checklist:
No. Your diploma will simply state that you earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.
The curriculum is grounded in clinical excellence and professional ethics, not religious doctrine. You do not need to be Christian to attend or succeed in the program.
The program is designed for working professionals and can be completed in as few as 27 months (approximately 2.5 years). This timeline prepares you to pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) immediately upon graduation.
Generally, no. The 27-month timeline is already an accelerated, full-time pace designed to balance coursework with the rigorous clinical hours required for licensure.
While both tracks fall under the MA in Clinical Psychology and share a core framework, they differ in their treatment philosophy and scope of practice:
The program utilizes a scholar-practitioner model that combines convenient digital learning with rigorous hands-on training.
The coursework is 100% online. You will attend classes via live video and complete assignments digitally, meaning no campus visits are required to earn your degree. However, the program requires in-person clinical practicums, which you will complete at a local site in your own community rather than on the Pepperdine campus.
Pepperdine’s curriculum is primarily designed to meet the rigorous licensure requirements for California (e.g., LMFT and LPCC). Because licensing standards vary significantly by state, this degree may not automatically qualify you for licensure in other jurisdictions.
A Master’s in Clinical Psychology opens doors to a variety of impactful careers in mental health. Graduates often work in private practice, hospitals, schools, or community clinics. Common career paths include:
The primary difference lies in the academic focus and career preparation:
This degree makes you a competitive candidate for doctoral programs, but transfer credits are not guaranteed.
Pepperdine University partners with 2U to support the delivery of these online programs. Pepperdine University has full control over the programs, including all core academic functions. Click here to learn more about 2U’s roles and responsibilities.
