Earn Your Master’s in Clinical Psychology Online from Pepperdine University
The online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) prepares you for a rewarding career helping individuals, couples, and families thrive.
While earning your clinical psychology degree online, you will learn from our esteemed faculty without having to relocate, and you will complete the same highly regarded curriculum and clinical placements that are required of on-campus students.
Pepperdine University was ranked #1 Best Online College for ROI for master’s in marriage and family therapy1 and #3 for Best Online College for ROI for master’s in counseling2 programs in 2020.
Online Clinical Psychology Master’s Program Highlights
8–12 sessions
62–68 units
4
sessions of
field placement
In as few as 27 months, you will be prepared to positively affect the health and well-being of those in need.
On-Campus MA 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.
Clinical Psychology Online Licensure Options: LPC vs. LMFT
Pepperdine’s online clinical psychology master’s program prepares you to pursue licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or a licensed professional counselor (LPC).
The LPC Path
Choose this path if you want to help with:
- A broader scope of mental health issues.
- Diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and addictive disorders.
- Providing service to a larger audience—from individuals, to families, to larger organizations.
The LMFT Path
Choose this path if you want to help people with:
- Issues that stem from marriage and family dynamics and parent-child conflicts.
- Diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and addictive disorders.
- Depression, substance abuse, and trauma, and how they affect couples and families.
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.
Clinical Psychology Licensure Requirements by State
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:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) California Requirements
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC) California Requirements
OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine’s online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program offers an LMFT licensure path or an LPC licensure path to students in the following states outside California.
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.
Admissions Overview
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.
To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You are not required to provide GRE scores as part of your application. Applicants who take advantage of the priority submit deadline will have their application fee waived.
Visit our Application Requirements page for further details.
Cohorts start in:
Winter|Spring|Summer|Fall
Financial Aid
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. To gain a better understanding of the total cost of your degree, Pepperdine offers a calculator tool to approximate the cost of tuition.
Requirements for scholarships vary. For more information about scholarship opportunities, please call our admissions team at Phone Number: 1-855-270-5431.
For more information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid page.
On-Campus Master’s Programs
If you are interested in joining us on campus, we also offer a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology as well as a breadth of traditional on-campus psychology master's programs across multiple campus locations.
Earn Your Master’s. Help People Thrive.
Learn more about earning your master's in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.
Curriculum Overview
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 diagnose clients, formulate clinical cases, develop treatment plans, and facilitate therapeutic processes.
Course Work
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 you complete these foundation courses, you will complete 62 units of master’s-level courses that expose you to the latest theories and advancements being discussed in the field today.
Core courses cover key topics such as multicultural counseling, sexuality and intimacy, and substance abuse treatment.
Foundation courses include PSY 657 Psychopathology and PSY 659 Behavioral Principles and Theories of Learning. You may be able to waive these foundation courses if you have completed them as part of 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.
Here is a sample of course topics you will study in the program:
- Diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
- Assessment of individuals, couples, and families.
- Multicultural counseling.
- Theory of counseling and psychotherapy.
- Trauma in diverse populations.
Read course descriptions for more information about the classes you will take in the online clinical psychology master’s program.
Clinical Training
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.
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 licensure path you choose and state of intended employment will determine the breakdown of hours you must complete as part of your clinical training.
Our dedicated placement team will work with you to find and secure Pepperdine-approved practicum and internship opportunities, where you can observe professional counselors and gain experience working directly with clients.
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 who you’ll collaborate with have a deep passion for inspiring future leaders in the field of psychology.