Santa Clara University’s MFT Program Guide
Looking to advance your mental health career with a masters in counseling psychology program from a great school? Santa Clara University has two excellent Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology that can help you reach your professional goals. The university equips students with specialized training that prepares them for clinical work in hospitals, schools, public agencies, and private practice.
Santa Clara University’s 51-unit Master of Arts in Counseling is perfect for professionals who want more experience in mental health or plan to pursue doctoral studies. Students who want to become licensed therapists can choose the 90-unit Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program, which prepares them for LPCC or MFT licensure. These masters programs help graduates maintain ethical standards while building expertise in assessment, diagnosis, treatment approaches, and cultural competence. This guide covers everything you need to know about Santa Clara University’s masters counseling psychology programs.
Program Snapshot
Santa Clara University’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology is a detailed program that prepares future therapists for California licensure. Students need 90 quarter units (equal to 60 semester units) to graduate. Full-time students usually complete the program in three years. Students with other commitments can opt for part-time study.
The program gives you four different tracks that align with your career goals:
- MFT Track (Marriage and Family Therapy)
- LPCC Track (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor)
- Combined MFT/LPCC Dual-Track
- No Track option (for those not seeking licensure)
Students can enhance their education by choosing one of four emphasis areas that work like academic minors: Latinx Counseling, LGBTQ Counseling, Health Psychology, or Correctional Psychology. Students who don’t pick an emphasis can take various electives to expand their expertise in specific areas.
The program lets you start your journey in Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer quarters. Most classes take place on campus, and some courses offer a hybrid format for extra flexibility.
Class sizes remain small with 15-25 students, and the program holds WASC accreditation. The program’s total tuition costs $61,290, and students can access financial aid options.
MFT track students must complete 225 hours of face-to-face counseling, while LPCC track students need 280 hours. Both tracks require 550 total hours at placement sites during the academic year.
Your final quarter includes a take-home essay exam that helps blend your learning into a personal and professional statement. Students typically take this comprehensive exam one quarter before their final term.
Pathways and Specializations
Santa Clara University’s Counseling Psychology program lets you choose from several specialized paths that align with your career goals.
The MFT track prepares you to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California under the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. You can complete much of your 3,000 training hours before you graduate.
Looking at the LPCC track, you’ll qualify as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. The LPCC license stands out as a “portable degree” – your California training could help you get licensed in other states. The main difference lies in timing – you must complete all 3,000 required hours after graduation.
Students who want the best of both worlds can take the joint MFT/LPCC track to pursue both licenses at once. Most students finish this combined program within the standard 90 units. Some emphasis areas might need extra units (91.5-93 units).
Students who want thorough training without getting licensed can choose the “No Track” option.
Santa Clara also offers four optional emphases:
- Correctional Psychology – You’ll learn to work with at-risk youth and adults in correctional settings, community programs, and rehabilitation facilities.
- Health Psychology – The focus stays on applying psychology to health promotion, disease prevention, stress management, and positive psychology.
- Latinx Counseling – You’ll learn culturally sensitive counseling for Latinx populations. Some classes might run partially or fully in Spanish.
- LGBTQ Counseling – This track provides specialized training in gender issues, sexual identity diversity, and challenges that LGBTQ individuals and communities face.
These specializations open doors to careers in rehabilitation counseling, academic advising, career counseling, and clinical psychology positions. Industrial-organizational psychology and forensic psychology rank among the fastest-growing fields for psychology graduates.
Graduates from Santa Clara’s masters in counseling psychology program step into their careers with expertise that matches their goals, ready to work in hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, or private practice.
Learning Options and Flexibility
Santa Clara University’s counseling psychology master’s programs give students the freedom to study at their own pace. The programs work around your schedule, making it easier to manage your studies alongside work and personal life.
The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program takes place mostly on campus. While Santa Clara offers some online graduate programs, this particular program uses a mix of in-person and hybrid classes. Right now, you won’t find fully online options for this program.
Santa Clara lets you choose between full-time and part-time study. Your program length will depend on which path you take:
- Full-time track: You’ll finish in about 3 years
- Part-time track: You’ll take fewer courses each term over a longer period
Classes run in the afternoons, evenings, and some weekends. This schedule works well for professionals who want to earn their master’s without giving up their day jobs.
The program’s flexibility extends to its start dates. You can begin your studies in any quarter—Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer. There’s no need to wait for the traditional fall start.
The Master of Arts in Counseling takes about 2 years to complete with 51 units. The more complete 90-unit Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology usually takes 3 years. Whatever masters in counseling psychology program you pick, Santa Clara’s flexible format lets you arrange your education to match your career goals and personal needs.
Santa Clara’s approach combines academic excellence with practical scheduling options. This makes advanced clinical psychology studies available to more people, even those with busy professional lives.
Admission Requirements
Santa Clara University’s masters in counseling psychology program has several admission criteria you need to meet. All applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The process begins when you create an online application and submit a non-refundable $50 application fee.
Your application package needs these components:
- Statement of Purpose: A clear, two-page document that shows your dedication to social justice, multiculturalism, and diversity. This must be your original work that explains why you want to enter the mental health profession and what makes Santa Clara University your choice.
- Current Resume/CV: This should list your educational background, relevant experiences (jobs, internships, community service), and applicable language skills or research projects.
- Official Transcripts: You must submit one official transcript from each post-secondary institution you attended.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: These letters should come from people in supervisory roles such as professors, instructors, or job supervisors—not from friends, family members, or personal therapists.
Students from other countries have extra requirements to meet. Those who earned degrees outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by approved credential evaluation services. On top of that, they need to prove their English language proficiency with minimum scores of TOEFL IBT 90 or IELTS 6.5.
Santa Clara’s counseling psychology masters programs in California offer multiple application deadlines throughout the year. You can start your program in Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer quarters.
Why Choose This Program
Santa Clara University’s masters in counseling psychology program stands out with its commitment to available education and psychological support that guides students toward rewarding careers. The program builds on four essential values: strong ethical standards, social justice principles, transformative education, and encouraging a diverse community.
The university’s prime location in Silicon Valley creates exceptional career prospects. 77% of graduates find employment within six months after completing the program. Their median annual salary reaches $71,900, while California’s clinical and counseling psychologists earn around $108,350 per year.
The program’s diversity shines through its numbers – racial-ethnic minorities make up 47% of degree recipients, which is 11% higher than the national average. This welcoming environment makes learning richer through different cultural views and insights.
Santa Clara University holds the #60 spot among National Universities and ranks #13 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. The faculty helps students become catalysts for positive change in their clients’ lives. Students get practical skills to work effectively in community agencies, correctional institutions, mental health facilities, and private practice.
This masters program excellently prepares students for MFT or LPCC licensure. The university’s impact speaks through its alumni – 85% say they were well-prepared for their post-college journey.