Dr. Nichola Ribadu serves as the Department Chair as well as Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences (CFS) at Loma Linda University's School of Behavioral Health. She is the former Director of the Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy program and an active member of the School's COAMFTE Work Group, a committee that meets regularly to support the University's accreditation efforts. In this role, she provides an inside look at the accreditation process and how the department's collaborative work supports quality, consistency, and growth across its Marital and Family Therapy programs.
What Does It Mean to Be COAMFTE-Accredited?
COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) sets national standards that guide best practices in marriage and family therapy education. Programs that hold accreditation meet rigorous expectations in curriculum design, faculty qualifications, and student learning outcomes. This ensures that students receive high-quality, systemic, and evidence-based training that prepares them to work with individuals, couples, and families in diverse contexts.
At Loma Linda University, all four Marital and Family Therapy programs within the School of Behavioral Health are COAMFTE-accredited:
- Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy (MS On-Campus)
- Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy (MS Online)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Systems, Families, and Couples (PhD)
- Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT Online)
"Professional accreditation ensures our curriculum is rigorous and distinctly systemic," Dr. Ribadu explains. "It allows us to demonstrate that what we say we do is truly happening, and that our students are graduating with a clear MFT identity."
For students, COAMFTE accreditation provides assurance that their education meets or exceeds the standards set by the marriage and family therapy profession. At the master's level, it supports preparation for licensure and helps ensure that their training is recognized across states. For instance, graduates of COAMFTE-accredited programs meet the educational criteria required by most state licensing boards. Completing a COAMFTE-accredited program also opens a pathway toward becoming an AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) Approved Supervisor once post-degree clinical and supervision requirements are met. The CFS doctoral students have a pathway toward becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor built into their curriculum.
For the University, accreditation affirms that its programs continue to uphold nationally recognized standards of quality, integrity, and professional excellence in marriage and family therapy education.
Accreditation at Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University's Marital and Family Therapy programs have been COAMFTE-accredited for more than two decades. The current accreditation cycle runs from November 2018 through October 2025. Every eight years, programs undergo a comprehensive review process that includes preparing detailed self-studies, submitting outcome data, and hosting on-site visits from COAMFTE reviewers.
In preparation for renewal, the department submitted its self-study in the fall of 2024, followed by site visits in the spring of 2025. The doctoral programs hosted their review on April 28–29, and the master's programs on May 5–6. During these visits, COAMFTE reviewers met with faculty, students, and administrators to assess how the programs align with the Accreditation Standards, Version 12.5, which include areas such as mission alignment, student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, and program evaluation.
Dr. Ribadu describes the accreditation process as a collaborative and data-driven effort. Program directors, the director of clinical training, faculty, and the program coordinator work together to review outcomes, interpret data, and make adjustments to curriculum and goals as needed. These discussions take place on a month-to-month basis, allowing the department to stay responsive to student learning, program development, and evolving COAMFTE standards. She notes that accreditation is an ongoing, evidence-based process that keeps programs connected to their mission and focused on student learning.
The Department now awaits the final accreditation results, expected later this month. In the meantime, faculty, program directors, and leadership continue to build on the program's strengths and uphold the shared commitment to quality, integrity, and growth that reflects both COAMFTE standards and Loma Linda University's mission.
Living the Mission: Furthering the Teaching and Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ
One of COAMFTE's core expectations is that accredited programs demonstrate alignment between the mission of the University, the School, the Department, and each program. This alignment ensures that the values guiding marriage and family therapy education reflect the larger purpose of the institution.
At Loma Linda University, this connection centers on the mission to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Each MFT program identifies goals and student learning outcomes that reflect both COAMFTE's professional standards and the University's spiritual commitment to service and healing. Dr. Ribadu explains that the Department's mission and program objectives demonstrate how clinicians are being prepared to think systemically and serve within their communities while furthering that larger ministry.
This alignment is apparent in the way that the MFT programs integrate academic rigor with compassion, service, and community care. Faculty and program directors design learning experiences that uphold accreditation standards while embodying the mission and values that define Loma Linda University. In doing so, the Department prepares students not only to think systemically but also to practice in ways that promote healing, wholeness, and meaningful service.
Interviewed and written by Audrey I. Perez, AMFT, Systems, Families, & Couples PhD Student