MFT Masters Program at CSU East Bay
Looking to start your therapy career with an MFT masters program? CSU East Bay lets you complete your Marriage and Family Therapy training in just 2 years. The program takes about 5 semesters of full-time study. This quickest timeline makes the program especially appealing if you want to start your career without spending too many years in school.
CSU East Bay’s program stands out from other marriage and family therapist programs because of its dual focus. We trained psychotherapists who plan to get their California Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) internship licenses. The program costs less than many alternatives too. You’ll pay $14,352 for the MFT-only track or $21,528 for the combined MFT/School Counseling pathway. Students looking at MFT programs in the Bay Area will find CSU East Bay’s practical approach valuable. The program includes hands-on fieldwork experience in your second year of training. This combination of classroom learning and ground clinical skills will prepare you well for your career.
Program Snapshot
CSU East Bay’s MS in Counseling with MFT option requires 60 units of coursework based on university and program requirements. Students move through their studies together in a cohort model that creates a supportive learning community.
Students attend classes at the Hayward campus in a set sequence during fall and spring terms. The flexible schedule meets different needs with morning, evening and weekend classes. New students start their experience each fall as part of the yearly intake.
CSU East Bay provides three unique concentrations beyond standard MFT training within its counseling master’s structure:
- Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) – The core program meets California BBS licensing requirements and lets students add coursework to qualify for LPCC
- School Counseling – This track has preparation for the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential
- School Psychology – Students get training and a School Psychology Credential
The program has strong clinical training. Students complete a minimum of 225 direct client contact hours for MFT traineeship requirements. Students who want LPCC licensure can do 280 more hours. All fieldwork comes with supervised experience – one unit of supervision for every five client hours. This gives students about 45-50 hours of quality supervision.
Graduates can apply for an MFT Intern License with California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. Full licensure needs 3,000 hours of supervised experience and passing BBS written and oral exams.
The program upholds high standards through its accreditations. The MFT program follows Board of Behavioral Sciences rules. The School Counseling track has accreditation from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and follows American School Counselor Association competencies. CSU East Bay aims to become the first public university in the Bay Area with Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) accreditation.
Pathways and Specializations
CSU East Bay shapes marriage and family therapy education through three unique concentrations. Students can shape their career paths based on their interests and goals.
Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
CSU East Bay’s MFT masters programs help students get California MFT and/or LPCC internship licenses. The program takes a relational approach to counseling. It emphasizes multicultural diversity, shared treatment, wellness, resiliency, and recovery. Students complete this option in two years full-time or three years part-time with summer classes. Students can take extra units to meet LPCC licensing standards.
School Counseling Concentration
This concentration readies candidates for a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling. Students can choose between a full-time program lasting two years with summer courses or a three-year part-time option with summer courses. They can also complete fieldwork that prepares them for Associate Marriage and Family Therapy Registration. Graduates learn to conduct individual and group therapy, provide consultation, and build prevention and intervention programs.
School Psychology Concentration
The program stands out as the only nationally accredited Master’s/Specialist program in the San Francisco Bay Area by the National Association of School Psychologists. Students commit to three years of full-time study. The first two years focus on coursework. The third year requires a full-time 1200 hour-minimum School Psychology Internship. The program’s philosophy centers on training students in evidence-based practice to promote social justice and equity for diverse school communities.
These pathways give students flexibility within the marriage and family therapist programs landscape. Each concentration creates different professional paths—from psycho-educational assessments and psychological counseling to school counseling programs and student achievement advocacy.
Hands-on experience remains vital in all three pathways. Students build practical skills and theoretical knowledge at one of the Bay Area’s leading MFT programs.
Learning Options and Flexibility
The MFT programs at CSU East Bay strike a perfect balance between comprehensive training and smart scheduling. Students complete the MFT concentration through a two-year cohorted format that takes about five semesters. This cohort system creates supportive learning communities where students learn and grow together.
The class schedules work well with different student priorities. First-year MFT students attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 8:00pm, with some weekend sessions. The second year brings a slight change to Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 8:00pm. Students also complete 12-20 hours of weekly fieldwork, based on their placement site.
Students pursuing dual concentrations follow similar but unique paths. The School Counseling/MFT program runs Tuesday through Thursday, with classes from 10am to 8:00pm. These students start their fieldwork in year one, spending 2-3 days each week in schools. School Psychology/MFT students take a three-year path with gradually increasing fieldwork hours.
The marriage and family therapist programs at the university follow a set cohort sequence in fall and spring terms. Students can attend classes during day or evening hours, and some weekend sessions make the program more accessible.
CSU East Bay’s MFT programs in the Bay Area excel at balancing structure with flexibility. The university understands the challenges of clinical training and creates schedules that help students complete all requirements within their concentration’s timeline.
Admission Requirements
Students can enter MFT masters programs at CSU East Bay only during fall semesters. The university has specific requirements that candidates need to meet.
Applicants should have:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- A 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA[142]
Students need to submit both university and department applications separately. The personal statement should be 2-4 double-spaced pages. It should explain your understanding of the MFT role, your field experience, personal strengths, challenges, and career goals after graduation.
The program requires three reference letters, with at least one recommendation from faculty members. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is now optional rather than mandatory[142].
Students should complete these prerequisites before starting their coursework:
- Elements of Statistics and Probability
- Psychopathology
- Developmental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Applications go through three rounds of rolling reviews. The program invites selected candidates for interviews until all spots are filled.
These requirements match professional standards of marriage and family therapist programs in California.
Why Choose This Program
CSU East Bay’s MFT program stands out uniquely among California’s educational offerings. The program ranks consistently among top global universities for Marriage and Family Therapy education. Students find a transformative learning environment through interactive classes, rich research opportunities, and outstanding faculty members.
The faculty brings expertise in a variety of therapeutic approaches. Their knowledge spans strength-based interventions, cognitive behavioral techniques, postmodern approaches, multicultural counseling, group therapy, couples therapy, brief therapy, child therapy, and consultation. Students develop versatile clinical skills through this broad exposure.
Social justice remains at the program’s heart. CSU East Bay shapes marriage and family therapists who encourage resilience through strength-based interventions. These therapists help clients navigate daily challenges and severe pathologies effectively. This matches California’s reputation as the leading destination for MFT education.
The program attracts international students with its high graduate employability rate. Graduates build careers in mental health agencies, hospitals, private practice, crisis centers, and educational institutions.
CSU East Bay’s MFT program delivers excellent education quality with hands-on learning. Students and faculty create lasting professional bonds through the cohort-based format, building a supportive community throughout their educational experience. The program’s affordability makes it more available to aspiring therapists than other Bay Area options.