SFSU MFT Program: Essential Guide for 2025-26 Applicants
Looking to build a rewarding career in counseling? The SFSU MFT Program gives you a nationally accredited path to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. The Department of Counseling’s specialization holds accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). This ensures your education meets the highest industry standards.
The MFT programs in San Francisco shine brightly among other California MFT programs with their quality training. SFSU helps you develop a complete understanding of human relationships. You’ll gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Our graduates work in community mental health centers, hospitals, private practice, crisis centers, and educational settings. The program also prepares you for licensure through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), a vital step in your professional path.
This piece covers everything about the SFSU MFT program requirements and potential program costs as you prepare your 2025 application. Let’s explore program specifics, specialization options, learning flexibility, admission criteria, and compelling reasons to make SFSU your choice for counseling education.
Program Snapshot
The SFSU MFT Program gives students two different paths to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Their Clinical Psychology Masters Program has managed to keep running continuously, making it one of the longest-running MFT programs in San Francisco.
Students can choose between two options – the M.S. in Psychology with Clinical Psychology concentration and the M.S. in Counseling with Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) concentration. Both programs prepare students completely for LMFT licensure. The Psychology track has WASC accreditation, while the MFCC specialization holds the prestigious CACREP accreditation.
Both paths usually take two years of full-time study to complete. The MFCC track offers more flexibility with part-time options, though students might need up to seven years to finish. Classes in both programs create close-knit learning environments. The Psychology program has about 8 students per cohort, and the MFCC specialization ranges from 10-25 students.
Students pay different tuition costs for each track. The M.S. in Psychology program costs about $16,812, while the MFCC program costs between $14,352 and $21,528. International students pay $16,094 for first-year tuition plus around $18,270 for yearly living expenses.
Both programs substantially focus on theoretical and applied training from psychodynamic, family systems, multicultural, and community psychology points of view. Students start their hands-on clinical practice within their first month, which gives them immediate professional experience.
These programs meet all educational requirements needed for LMFT licensure in California through the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Graduates find jobs in a variety of settings including community mental health agencies, schools, universities, hospitals, private practice, and advocacy organizations.
The SFSU MFT Program stands out among California MFT programs because it has ended up building a strong reputation, earning solid accreditation credentials, and showing steadfast dedication to culturally-informed, inclusive counseling approaches.
Pathways and Specializations
SFSU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program features specialized training tracks that match your career goals and interests. Each path gives you distinct advantages as you pursue licensure in the mental health field.
The M.S. in Psychology program lets you choose between two paths. The Clinical Focus track follows a traditional training model and prepares you to work as a mental health clinician in community settings right after graduation. The Clinical/Research Focus track blends clinical training with advanced research components. This track works best if you plan to pursue doctoral studies or a career in clinical research. Only two students can join this specialized track each year, and you need at least one year of research experience.
Students find the M.S. in Counseling with MFCC concentration valuable because of its all-encompassing approach to therapy. You’ll learn culturally-informed ways to help families, couples, and individuals throughout their lives. MFCC students receive specialized training beyond general counseling in:
- Multicultural and social justice approaches to couples and family systems
- Child and adolescent therapy techniques
- School-based therapeutic interventions
- Advanced theory in systemic-familial counseling
You can combine the MFCC specialization with Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) if you want dual licensure paths. This combination takes 2.5-3 years minimum to complete.
Graduates from either track can register as Associate MFTs with California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. Career opportunities open up in community mental health agencies, hospitals, crisis centers, educational institutions, and private practice.
The MFCC specialization works best if your professional identity matches a cultural-systemic-familial-relational treatment philosophy. MFT professionals look at behavior through social and relational contexts. They understand how families adjust normally through different life stages.
Both paths lead to LMFT licensure. Your choice depends on your preferred therapeutic style and career goals.
Learning Options and Flexibility
Students should know how to manage their time and understand scheduling options before starting their SFSU MFT Program experience.
The M.S. in Psychology with Clinical Psychology concentration runs as a full-time program that takes two consecutive years to finish. Students have more options with the M.S. in Counseling with MFCC concentration. They can choose between full-time or part-time study and take up to seven years to graduate.
Both programs ask for a lot of time beyond regular classes. Students must spend 12-16 hours each week at first-year internships. This increases to 16-20 hours weekly in the second year. Working full-time becomes very hard, especially when trying to finish the program in two years.
Classes meet once a week for three hours. Time slots vary between 9am-12pm, 1-4pm, 4-7pm, or 7-10pm. Some classes run only during the day while others happen at night. The schedule might change each semester, so students should stay flexible.
The department usually schedules classes across 2-3 days each week. This lets students use other weekdays for internship hours. Most internships happen during regular business hours, so working students should have flexible employers.
Summer courses might be available, but this depends on university funding and student numbers. Students should plan to take most classes during regular terms instead of counting on summer options.
New students who just need to improve their writing must take HSS 700 in their first semester. Even good writers might want to take this course to handle graduate-level writing better.
The MFCC specialization’s well-laid-out curriculum meets all educational requirements for LMFT licensure set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. This guides students directly toward professional qualification.
Admission Requirements
The SFSU MFT Program has specific deadlines and documentation requirements you need to follow carefully. Fall applicants should complete their admission requirements by Spring (May/June). Students interested in the following year can apply between October 1st and December 15th.
Your application package needs several key components. You must submit a Cal State Apply application, resume, and unofficial transcripts. The package should include a personal statement with an affidavit of authorship, along with a summary of experience form. Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic contacts are required. The department charges a $25 application fee, which is separate from the $70 Cal State Apply fee.
SFSU stands out from other California MFT programs by not requiring GRE scores. The program evaluates candidates based on their academic background, relevant experience, and writing abilities. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in your last 60 units.
Your personal statement plays two crucial roles – it shows your motivations and demonstrates your writing abilities. Students who need to improve their writing skills must take HSS 700 in their first semester.
Make sure your application materials align with your professional goals. The department reviews all applications after the deadline closes, so submitting early won’t give you an advantage. SFSU’s admission process differs from other San Francisco MFT programs because it values quality experience and clear professional direction more than test scores.
Why Choose This Program
The SFSU MFT Program stands out with its track record of success. 83% of graduates find jobs within six months after graduation. The program’s graduates excel in licensure exams, achieving 88% pass rates for the LMFT Clinical Exam and 93% for the LMFT Law & Ethics Exam.
The program’s excellence earned it a $1.20 million federal grant to boost counseling education for diverse populations. Students can receive $10,000 scholarships during their final internship. These scholarships help make the SFSU MFT program’s cost budget-friendly while enriching the learning experience.
Strong institutional support and student satisfaction reflect in the program’s 81% retention rate. Students typically complete their studies in 3.06 years, showing the program’s ability to guide them effectively toward graduation.
SFSU graduates build successful careers in different settings. They work in non-profit mental health agencies (52%), vocational rehabilitation (14%), and college environments (12%). This diverse career placement highlights the program’s strong reputation among California MFT programs.
The program’s emphasis on hands-on fieldwork gives graduates a competitive advantage in the professional world. Students gain unique experience that sets them apart in their careers.