MFT Mexico City Satellite Program

Latinos are the fastest growing subgroup in the United States and already comprise more than 12 percent of the total U.S. population and one third of the population in California. The Latino population often struggles to connect with competent mental health providers who possess a sound knowledge of and sensitivity to the unique needs of their community. Unfortunately, the mental health fields have not kept pace with these demographic changes. Given these realities, a significant national need exists to train clinicians to work with this population.

Alliant International University’s MFT Mexico City satellite program is designed to train culturally competent clinicians. This program allows MFT students from the four US-based Marital and Family Therapy program locations (Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego) to complete any or all of their first three semesters at the Mexico City campus. First year MFT master's program students can study in Mexico through the MFT Mexico City satellite program during the Fall and/or Spring and/or Summer semesters. Students then return to their home campuses to continue their second year of coursework and to complete their practicum experience. Students admitted for the Fall semester may choose to get a jumpstart by participating in the CSPP Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion program in Mexico City during the summer of their first year.

What is Included in the MFT Mexico Satellite Program?

Basic Components:

Airport pickup on specified program arrival dates
Seventeen weeks of accommodations in a private home with some meals included
One 4-day trip to culturally vibrant locations
Three local day trips with lunches to museums and sites around Mexico City
Orientation and materials
A welcome dinner and farewell dinner
A minimum of four guest lectures
90 hours of Spanish coursework
Twice monthly round-table discussions with Program Director
Observe up to ten hours of live therapy in local agencies

First Year MFT Coursework

Fall Semester

PSY 6308 Interviewing Techniques (2 units)
PSY 6309 Interviewing Techniques Lab (.5 units)
PSY 6326 Diversity and the Family (2.5 units)
PSY 6312 MFT Theories (4 units)
PSY 6317 Parent-Child Therapy (3 units)

Spring Semester

PSY 6310 MFT Law and Ethics (3 units)
PSY 6313 MFT Techniques (3 units)
PSY 6323 MFT Techniques Lab (1 unit)
PSY 6328 Individual and Family Life Cycle (3 units)

To Participate in this Program

Submit an application to the Marital and Family Therapy program at one of the four locations in the U.S. (Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento or San Diego) and contact the Director of the MFT Mexico Satellite Program, Dr. Jason J. Platt at jplatt@alliant.edu, expressing your interest in this program.

Costs

$4000 program fee per semester in Mexico City (an average of $250 a week). This fee includes the cost of the basic components listed on the front of this sheet.
Standard Alliant US tuition rates for each class taken.

Final Thoughts

In the Chronicle of Higher Education, pollster and social commentator Daniel Yankelovich (2005) asks, “What will higher education look like 10 years from now if it is highly responsive to the demands of society?” He predicts a growing “…need to understand other cultures and languages” and suggests that “{if} colleges are responsive, we will see many more area-study courses by 2015.”

The California School of Professional Psychology’s Marital and Family Therapy program isn’t waiting another decade to prepare students to work in our already globalized and interconnected world.

Come join us in this important, cutting edge program!

Yankelovich, D. 2005. Ferment and change: Higher education in 2015. Chronicle of Higher Education 52 (14): B6.