Sonoma State’s MFT Program

Marriage and Family Therapy continues to grow faster as more people seek mental health services throughout the United States. Students at Sonoma State’s MFT program can follow a clear path to become licensed therapists in California. The state requires 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience to qualify for the MFT licensing exam.

The MFT license or something like it exists in 48 of the 50 states. Sonoma State University’s MFT program helps prepare you for California’s licensing exam through complete coursework. The total program cost stands at $14,352, and this investment creates opportunities in a profession that has seen significant growth over the last decade.

This guide walks you through all the essential program details – from application requirements to specialization options that lead to becoming a licensed therapist.

Program Snapshot

Sonoma State’s MFT program features a 60-unit graduate curriculum that prepares students for professional practice in mental health settings. The program’s foundation lies in using human relationships to strengthen clients in a variety of backgrounds and needs.

Students pursuing Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization will meet all academic requirements for both Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) licensure in California. On top of that, the program earned accreditation from the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council valid from September 2022 through September 2030.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students typically complete their program in two and a half years, with options to finish in two or three years. School Counseling students usually complete their studies in two years. Students can maintain a healthy balance between part-time work, family responsibilities, and their academic progress.

The program’s structure has:

• Classes scheduled Monday through Friday (morning, afternoon, and evening)
• Campus attendance three to four days each week
• A combination of in-person, hybrid, and online courses

CMHC students must complete 600 clock hours of supervised field experience. Students attend a required traineeship fair in their first year’s spring semester to connect with placement sites throughout Sonoma County and the greater Bay Area. The spring practicum requires about 15 hours weekly, while second-year traineeship demands 17-22 hours per week alongside regular coursework.

The program’s tuition ranges from $14,352 to $21,528, making it a worthwhile investment in your career. Each cohort’s size of approximately 24 students creates an intimate learning environment where faculty provide customized attention. The program ends with a clinical case presentation and successful completion of the CMHC Exit Exam.

Pathways and Specializations

Students at Sonoma State University can choose between two professional specialization paths in their counseling program. This flexibility helps them line up their education with career goals.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) track combines 19 units of core requirements with 41 units of specialized coursework. Students who complete this path can work in mental health settings and meet all academic requirements for both Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure in California. This dual-preparation approach opens up more professional opportunities.

Students must complete 600 clock hours of supervised field experience. The department helps students find placements at marriage and family counseling agencies, mental health clinics, counseling centers, and college-level counseling facilities. These placements help students learn about their professional interests directly.

School Counseling Specialization

Students pursuing the School Counseling track can earn their Professional Personnel Services (PPS) credential for educational settings. They must complete field placements in at least two K-12 levels: elementary, middle, and high school. These experiences help them develop expertise to support students at different developmental stages.

Ground Applications

Both tracks focus on developing interpersonal skills through hands-on training. Students start their practical training in the first semester and end with intensive supervised fieldwork that blends theory, research, and application.

Program graduates say they received “practical tools, personalized support and foundational knowledge”. A former student highlighted the program’s “comprehensive and holistic approach to counseling in our modern world, including training on legal and ethical principles, multicultural counseling, crises, and more”.

Alumni success stories show many graduates now work as youth and family therapists, school counselors, and providers of Educationally-Related Mental Health Services for K-12 students.

Learning Options and Flexibility

Getting an MFT degree needs good planning to balance your studies with life commitments. Sonoma State University designed its program to be flexible and adapt to students’ different lifestyles and priorities.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program gives you three timeline options to finish your degree:

• Two-year accelerated track
• Two-and-a-half-year standard track (most common choice)
• Three-year extended track

You can pick the pace that works best with your life. Many students keep their part-time jobs while studying. The program understands that future therapists often need to balance family life with their studies.

Classes are scheduled with students in mind. You’ll find courses running morning, afternoon, and evening on weekdays[122]. The program runs mostly in person, but some courses mix online and classroom learning. You’ll need to live close enough to drive to campus because you must attend classes about three days each week.

Field experience becomes a key part of your journey as you move forward. CMHC students spend about 15 hours weekly on spring practicum beyond their regular classes[122]. The workload increases to 17-22 hours weekly plus regular coursework during traineeship, which usually starts in your second year[122].

The program has 60 units total—19 units of major core requirements and 41 units of specialized CMHC coursework. The Department of Counseling updates courses quickly if the Board of Behavioral Sciences changes its licensing requirements.

The program gives you complete preparation while staying flexible for students with different schedules and commitments. Right now, there aren’t any fully online courses, but this might change as education keeps evolving[143]. You’ll get solid preparation for your license without needing to be on campus full-time throughout your studies.

Admission Requirements

Getting into Sonoma State’s MFT program isn’t easy – the selection process is competitive. The program takes applications from October 1 through December 1 each year if you want to start in fall.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to apply. The program favors psychology graduates or those with degrees in related social/behavioral sciences. A minimum 3.0 GPA is standard, but you can explain any special circumstances that affected your lower GPA in your personal statement.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling applicants must complete two prerequisite courses:

• Personality Theory
• Abnormal Psychology

Your human services experience makes a big difference in the application process. The program wants candidates with at least one year of full-time experience (30-40 hours weekly) or two years part-time (about 20 hours weekly). Case management, applied behavioral analysis, special education, crisis hotline work, and paraprofessional counseling roles can boost your application.

The application package should have an autobiographical statement (5-6 double-spaced pages) and three recommendation letters. Finalists need to attend both individual and group interviews. Faculty members look at your psychological mindedness, ability to reflect, maturity, identity awareness, and people skills during these sessions.

Remember, you can still apply with ongoing prerequisite courses, but you must finish them before your first fall semester ends. The program might accept up to 8 transfer units after faculty review once you’re admitted.

Space limits mean some qualified candidates don’t make it in. Your best shot at admission comes from standing out in every requirement.

Why Choose This Program

Sonoma State’s MFT program provides unique benefits that go beyond standard counseling education. The program’s exam success rates tell a compelling story: students achieve a 67% passing rate for the LMFT Clinical Exam and perfect scores for LMFT Law & Ethics, LPCC Clinical, and LPCC Law & Ethics exams.

The program’s success shows in its graduates’ achievements. A significant 87% of graduates either have their license or are working to get clinical licensure. Even better, 92% of alumni have found jobs in the counseling field after graduating.

Students develop their skills in a close, supportive environment. They start practicing therapy during their second semester, which happens earlier than other programs. A graduate shared their experience: “The supportive nature of the faculty and the close-knit cohort model truly allowed me to be vulnerable, supported, and challenged throughout my education”.

The program’s community connections make a big difference. Strategic collaborations with Social Advocates for Youth and Memorial Hospice give students valuable hands-on experience. These relationships often create job opportunities after graduation.

Students feel ready to practice when they finish the program. The numbers back this up: 76% felt “very well prepared” in personal/professional development, 68% in academic knowledge, and 74% in clinical skills.