BA in Human Development

• Offered at our main campus in Pasadena, as well as online and at convenient academic centers in Salinas, Sacramento, Visalia, Porterville, and Santa Cruz.
• Designed as a part-time program typically extending over two years. May be possible to complete in as little as one calendar year.
• A part-time, "bachelor's completion" program for students who have completed some college coursework. Applicants should have at least 60-70 transferable semester units and may transfer in up to 94 units toward the 124 required for BA completion. Mature students may also qualify for our admission by life experience (ABLE) program, which offers the option of documenting experience-based learning for transfer credit.
• In keeping with the Pacific Oaks philosophy that every individual has a unique identity and potential, the BA in Human Development curriculum teaches students to see every child individually, as opposed to providing a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Graduates are taught to uncover what is unique about each child's skills, background, family, and culture; what each child needs to build confidence and competence; and how best to respect and support each child's potential and growth.
• Students may apply for simultaneous enrollment in both the BA program and one of our Teacher Credentialing programs that lead to the Preliminary MSEL or Education Specialist Level 1 teaching credential in the state of California.

MA in Human Development

• Offered at our main campus in Pasadena, as well as online and at convenient academic centers in Salinas, Sacramento, Visalia, Porterville, and Santa Cruz.
• May be completed in as little as two years, part-time.
• Program builds competence in human development, knowledge of the social and political contexts of development, communication skills, integration of theory into practice, and research--preparing graduates to take on leadership roles in a range of settings serving young children and their families.
• Graduates are prepared to work in a vast range of settings and many of our graduates have gone on to become community college instructors, administrators, supervisors, and teachers in early childhood settings worldwide--helping to spread our inclusive, strength-based approach.
• Students complete a master's project/thesis based on their individual field experiences--providing an original contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of human development.
• Students may apply for simultaneous enrollment in both the MA program and one of our Teacher Credentialing programs that lead to the Preliminary MSEL or Education Specialist Level 1 teaching credential in the state of California.
• Applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college may apply for a BEquivalency. Mature students with strong leadership experience may qualify for documentation of a BEquivalency by completing at least 60 transfer units including all general education transfer requirements, and documenting their experience-based learning in a Pacific Oaks Assessment of Experience seminar.

MA in Marital and Family Therapy

• Offered at our main campus in Pasadena, as well as online and at convenient academic centers in Sacramento and Visalia.
• May be completed in as little as 2 1/2 years when starting in the spring semester, or 3 years, when starting in fall.
• Curriculum adheres to the guidelines and meets the requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences--preparing graduates to sit for the California MFT licensing exam.
• Program provides a solid foundation in a vast spectrum of mental health theory and practice, including theories of human development, personality, and marriage and family therapy; the impact of society and culture on families; assessment , diagnosis, and intervention with adults, children, families, couples, or groups; cross-cultural competence; and the legal and ethical issues relevant to clinical practice.
• Students may select our specializations in African American Family Studies or Latina/o Family Studies, to gain marketable expertise and cultural competence in these critical and underserved areas.
• 100 percent of students secure clinical training placements within community agencies--enabling students to complete the pre-graduate portion of the 3,000 supervised hours required for the California licensing exam in Marriage and Family Therapy.
• Students complete 36 hours of personal therapy with a licensed mental health professional--20 hours before and 16 hours during their clinical training placements.
• Students complete a Master's Thesis Project over the course of three consecutive semester classes, conducting qualitative research such as interviewing participants from the community regarding an issue of relevance to mental health theory and practice, and then comparing and contrasting the information gathered with established research literature on the topic.

MA in Marriage and Family Therapy - Latina/Latino Family Studies

• Offered in Pasadena.
• Classes meet six weekends per semester (Friday through Sunday)
• An intensive three-year program consisting of 56 semester units.
• A "cohort" model in which all students progress through the program together at the same pace--creating a growing trust, intimacy and bonding among students within the specialization.
• The only master's program of its kind in California, equipping graduates with broad preparation in Marital and Family Therapy as well as a special educational emphasis on the diverse mental health needs of Latina/Latino children and families.
• Open to all students who are passionate about serving Latina/o families and studying MFT theories in context with the issues that impact the Latina/o population, such as: immigration, acculturation, trauma, culture, history, liberation psychology, and advocacy.
• Faculty consists of diverse professionals who represent varied mental health disciplines and extensive academic and community-based experience.
• The educational experience of the Comadre-Compadre Cohort model is an intensely dynamic, intellectually relevant process. Faculty and students comprise a community that uniquely challenges both the personal and professional development of all its participants.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Bi-cultural Development

• Offered in Pasadena and online.
• A part-time program consisting of 15 semester units.
• Program provides a powerful professional development opportunity for applicants with a master's degree in any field to build their competence in developmental theory, understanding of diversity, communication, and application of theory in practice--from one of the nation's leaders in the field.
• The following certificate options are offered:
  • Bi-cultural Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Leadership in Education and Human Services
  • Social and Human Services

Post-Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education

• Offered in Pasadena and online.
• A part-time program consisting of 15 semester units.
• Program provides a powerful professional development opportunity for applicants with a master's degree in any field to build their competence in developmental theory, understanding of diversity, communication, and application of theory in practice--from one of the nation's leaders in the field.
• The following certificate options are offered:
  • Bi-cultural Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Leadership in Education and Human Services
  • Social and Human Services

Post-Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Education and Human Services

• Offered in Pasadena and online.
• A part-time program consisting of 15 semester units.
• Program provides a powerful professional development opportunity for applicants with a master's degree in any field to build their competence in developmental theory, understanding of diversity, communication, and application of theory in practice--from one of the nation's leaders in the field.
• The following certificate options are offered:
  • Bi-cultural Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Leadership in Education and Human Services
  • Social and Human Services

Post-Graduate Certificate in Social and Human Services

• Offered in Pasadena and online.
• A part-time program consisting of 15 semester units.
• Program provides a powerful professional development opportunity for applicants with a master's degree in any field to build their competence in developmental theory, understanding of diversity, communication, and application of theory in practice--from one of the nation's leaders in the field.
• The following certificate options are offered:
  • Bi-cultural Development
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Leadership in Education and Human Services
  • Social and Human Services