Sac State’s MFT Program

The Marriage and Family Therapist field in California grows faster than ever. Job opportunities will expand by 27% between 2022 and 2032. This makes Sac State’s MFT program a smart investment for your career. The program awards a Master of Science in Counseling through its nationally accredited 60-unit curriculum. Graduates work successfully in public agencies, colleges, schools, and private practices.

Sac State’s Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program makes financial sense. In-state students pay just $7,392 in graduate tuition. The returns can be impressive – Marriage & Family Therapists in Sacramento earn an average of $90,643 annually. The program meets California’s educational requirements for both Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials. This opens up many opportunities among the 3,240 job openings expected each year across the state.

Program Snapshot

Sac State’s MFT program offers a 60-unit Master of Science in Counseling that focuses on Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. Students gain hands-on experience through practical courses, complete a 100-hour clinical practicum, and spend 600 hours in field training.

This full-time, three-year curriculum at Sacramento State requires students to take 9-12 units each fall and spring semester. Students move through the program together in cohorts, which helps them build strong peer relationships and support networks. Competition for admission runs high with an acceptance rate of less than 20%, and only about 20 students make it into each concentration per application cycle.

The three-year program costs around $33,000 in in-state tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an extra $420 per unit. Class schedules spread across day, late afternoon, and evening hours to fit different student schedules.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited this program nationally. The curriculum lines up with COAMFTE standards but doesn’t hold COAMFTE accreditation. Despite that, the program meets California State Board of Behavioral Sciences’ educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure.

The on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services lets students counsel off-campus clients with video and audio feedback options. Final-year trainees provide counseling services at local agencies, state mental health facilities, community organizations, schools, hospitals, and non-profit groups.

Faculty members weave diversity throughout the curriculum and help students develop multicultural counseling skills. Graduates end up ready to work in community agencies, county and state organizations, hospitals, private practice, or as business consultants.

Pathways and Specializations

Sacramento State’s Counseling Program has a specialized pathway in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC) concentration that gives you dual licensure opportunities. You’ll get all educational competencies the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences requires to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California.

Students move through courses together in a structured cohort model. They build professional relationships that often last well beyond graduation. The program wants students to pick just one concentration when they apply. Multiple specializations aren’t practical because of the specific coursework and fieldwork requirements.

Your career options will grow and diversify after graduation. MFT graduates can take many different paths:

• Therapeutic Roles: You can work as a couples therapist, family therapist, individual therapist, or crisis intervention specialist
• Community-Based Positions: Mental health services are available in schools, hospitals, or community centers
• Specialized Areas: You can focus on emerging fields such as:
  • Child and adolescent mental health
  • Addiction counseling
  • Geriatric family therapy
  • Digital relationship counseling

The program features a detailed 60-unit curriculum. It combines 45 units of core classes shared by all concentrations with 15 units of MCFC-specific specialization courses. Students get to network with peers from other mental health concentrations, which broadens their view.

The curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to developmental and preventative concerns. Faculty members champion diversity and weave multicultural counseling skills throughout the program. This helps you work with family structures and cultural backgrounds of all types – a skill that becomes more valuable as our world grows more connected.

Your hands-on experience starts with a 100-hour practicum in your second year’s spring semester. It continues with 600-800 hours of internship experience in your final year. Faculty and site supervisors guide you through both experiences. This preparation helps you work in community agencies, hospitals, private practice, and non-profit organizations.

Learning Options and Flexibility

Sacramento State’s MFT program uses a well-laid-out, immersive learning approach that builds strong clinical skills through consistent student involvement. The Sac State MFT program stands apart from programs with part-time or online options. Students must dedicate full-time commitment over three years and take 9-12 units each fall and spring semester.

Students advance through coursework together in a cohort model. This promotes valuable support networks and professional connections that last beyond graduation. Students learn collaboratively, which leads to deeper discussions, shared experiences, and mutual growth throughout their educational trip.

Classes run during day, late afternoon, and evening hours to fit different schedules. Students should note that all instruction takes place in-person on the Sacramento State campus. No online or hybrid options exist currently. The program runs only on a full-time basis without summer classes.

Hands-on training is the foundation of your education through:

• A 100-hour clinical practicum during your fourth semester
• 600 hours of field experience during your final year

Faculty advisors and the Internship Coordinator help students find suitable placements for these vital practical components. Most internship spots are unpaid, but some offer compensation. Students take the field study course (EDC 480) alongside their internship. This helps them become skilled under supervision from both site supervisors and university faculty.

The CSU MFT programs including Sac State provide some scholarship opportunities, though they’re limited. The program qualifies for financial aid and student loans through Sacramento State’s Financial Aid Office. Lower costs than many private institutions and available financial support make this comprehensive education available to more students.

Admission Requirements

The Sac State MFT program selects candidates through a competitive process that accepts only 20 applicants per concentration. The program maintains a selective acceptance rate below 20%.

Simple requirements include:

• A baccalaureate degree
• Good academic standing at your last institution
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in your last 60 semester units

Students must complete a two-stage screening process. The first stage requires a complete application package submission by the January deadline (priority: January 5; final: January 15). The required materials include:

• University application via Cal State Apply
• Concentration-specific written statement (2-4 pages, APA format)
• Resume/CV detailing relevant experience
• Personal statement (2-3 pages)
• Two recommendation forms from professional references
• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended

Faculty invites successful candidates to an in-person Interview Day. The day includes interviews, group activities, and writing samples. This complete evaluation helps faculty assess academic qualifications and counseling aptitudes.

The admission team evaluates your entire application package and Interview Day performance. A strong application that highlights your understanding of intersectionality, counseling approaches, and professional goals will help you stand out among other CSU MFT program applicants.

Why Choose This Program

The Sac State MFT program gives you clear advantages for your counseling career. This 20-year-old program stands out because it’s COAMFTE-arranged, which means you get quality education that meets professional standards. This arrangement helps you get ready for your marriage and family therapist license.

You’ll move forward with your peers in a cohort model that creates a supportive environment. Students build professional relationships that last well beyond graduation. This setup promotes a close community that you need to grow in the counseling field.

Sacramento State’s on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services lets you work with actual clients from outside campus. You get video and audio feedback that really improves your clinical skills before you graduate.

Our faculty members champion diversity and weave multicultural counseling skills into every course. This prepares you to help people from all backgrounds. The program focuses on:

• Equitable access, inclusive practices, and social justice advocacy
• Clear communication and high expectations
• Built-in mentorship through faculty advising and leadership opportunities
• Hands-on learning that promotes ethical standards

The CSU MFT programs—especially Sacramento State’s—give you great value compared to private schools. You get high-quality education that prepares you for licensure and work in treatment centers of all types.