MSW or MFT

[kristela204]

Ugh! I am trying to decide which school to go to since my number one has yet to tell me if I am accepted or not. I could go to Pepperdine for their MFT program or USC for their MSW program.

While I like the ranking of USC, the MSW degree and the potential USC connections, I don't like the $80,000 approx. price tag. I am not getting any financial aid and there are no available assistantships. Additionally, I would like to take the clinical route and pursue licensure as an LCSW, which requires 3200 hours post degree.

I like the clinical focus of the Pepperdine program, the much less expensive $45,000 price tag and that my externship hours will count toward the 3000 hours for licensure. I am concerned that it is not as well-respected of a program and I have heard that MFTs are rarely paid for their clinical training hours.

So, what would you do? My end goal is to provide therapy and gain additional certification to act as a mediator.

Help!

[kimmeth]

I've asked myself a similar question. I've been accepted to the MFT program at SF State and the MSW program at UCLA. I also want to take a clinical/counseling route. After asking both LCSWs and MFTs about their experiences and job opportunities, I've decided to take the MSW route. It seems like there are many more job opportunities with an MSW/LCSW, and the MFT license is not valid out of the state of California. I've even had people with counseling degrees suggest I do the MSW instead. To me, that says a lot.

All that said, Pepperdine sounds like a good option for you. But I think the MSW is the best route in the long run.

Good luck in the decision process! I know it's tough.

[kristela204]

Thanks Kimmeth. I was worried about the MFT transferring to different states since I had heard the same thing and I do not intend to stay in California. It is not true, however, 48 of the states do accept the MFT license and as far as clinical work goes, the rate of billing is the same.

So if you are still thinking about the MFT, I would take a look here: http://www.aamft.org/resources/Online_D ... ntacts.asp.

I have heard some mixed reviews as well. It seems like the younger the therapist the more they said it didn't matter. I do think that the MSW in the beginning is a more employable degree.

[kimmeth]

Thanks for the MFT info! I still think I'm going to take the MSW route, largely because I have a very narrow undergraduate degree (print journalism), so I'm hoping my master's turns out to be much more broad.

Still, it's good to see more states are taking the MFT license.

[goingbigplaces!]

Did you wind up taking the MSW route at UCLA? I am waiting to hear back from them, as well as a number of MFT programs. Please let me know if you have any information to share about the programs you applied to. Thanks!

[prin.anongchanya]

Did you wind up taking the MSW route at UCLA? I am waiting to hear back from them, as well as a number of MFT programs. Please let me know if you have any information to share about the programs you applied to. Thanks!

[prin.anongchanya]

Hello everyone!

I am too just got accepted to Pepperdine MFT Program so I would love to know if you ended up choosing the MFT or MSW program. If you ended choosing the MFT program at Pepperdine would you mind sharing your experience with me?