University of San Francisco

M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration

On-Campus

USF Main Campus
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080

Sacramento Campus
1 Capitol Mall, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814

Santa Rosa Campus
1501 Mendocino Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4395

South Bay Campus
2100 Moorpark Ave
San Jose, CA 95128

MFT Program Page

Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.

Program Snapshot

Accreditation

WSCUC

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT (To be eligible for the LPCC, students must complete our course sequence and additional hours of fieldwork. Students must complete 280 hours of face-to-face clinical work before graduation to be eligible for the LPCC, compared to the 150 direct clinical hours needed to be eligible for the LMFT.)

Length of Program

  • 60 credits

  • Students can choose between the MFT's 3-Year (8 semester) program and an accelerated, more intensive 2-year (7 semester) program. The 2-year intensive program is at the SF campus only.

Schedule/Format

  • SF campus: Late afternoon (3:45–6:15 p.m.) and evening (7:20–9:50 p.m.) weekday classes with some Saturday sessions

  • Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and San Jose campuses: Late afternoon (4–10 p.m.), one day a week with some Saturday classes

  • During the fall and spring semesters, each three-credit class meets once a week for two and a half hours of class time. Classes can be scheduled Mondays through Thursday at either 3:45 or 7:20 p.m. Every so often, you might have to attend a few Friday afternoon and Saturday classes. In the summer, classes are more condensed, thus, rather than attend class for 15 weeks (at two and a half hours each meeting), you might need to come eight weeks (at five hours each class meeting). No class during the week is ever scheduled before 3:45 p.m. Summer classes range from the end of May until the end of July. Two and one-credit classes meet for less time. PLEASE NOTE: If you are going to schedule a vacation you should do so between the end of classes in December until the end of January or during the first three weeks of August.

Program Start

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$75,000

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

Depending on the program location, cohort can vary from 15-30.

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

Application Process

Application Deadline

Rolling admissions (until location fills)

Undergraduate GPA Required

Recommended GPA of 2.75.

GRE Requirement

None

Prerequisite Courses

We do require that you have either worked in a related field or have transferable skills. Quite often, we recommend that applicants volunteer at a mental health agency, school or other comparable setting in order to determine whether or not they really want to do this work. If you have specific questions about your readiness to apply, please come to one of our informational meetings, meet with someone from the MFT/PCC program in person, or talk to someone on the phone.

Application Highlights

  • Letter of Intent:

    • Articulate your knowledge and interest in the field, connection to our social justice mission, and a rationale for wanting to attend the USF MFT program (3-5 pages double-spaced). Also indicate if you are applying for either the 2-year or 3-year program by selecting the choice from the drop down on the admissions page.

    • We look for applicants who are a “good fit” with our program and the program mission. We understand what a big commitment coming to graduate school is, both personally and financially, so we want to make sure that people who choose to come to our program have all the information they need to make an informed decision. And, we want you to choose our program because you believe that it is a good fit for you too. For your letter, please tell us about yourself. We want to know who you are and why you are choosing marriage and family therapy as a career path. Thus, please include the answers to these questions within the body of your letter:

      • Who are you? What would you like us to know about you in respect to your application and your experiences?

      • Why are you choosing to become a marriage and family therapist? Specifically, what do you know about the MFT/PCC field? How is it a good fit for you, your experiences and your goals?

      • Why are you doing this now? What is significant about this time in your life?

      • Why are you applying to our program? There are many other MFT/PCC programs in the country and in the Bay Area. In the spirit of “Goodness of Fit”, what is it about our program that makes it a good fit for you?

    • While many applicants usually write anywhere between two and four double-spaced pages, you can write as little or as much as you need, in order to fully and succinctly respond.

  • 2 Letters of Recommendation

    • You should ask anyone who can speak to your potential as a graduate student in counseling psychology. We understand that many people have been out of school for a good amount of time and might not have continuing connections with professors who can write a letter for you. Applicants quite often use current or former employers or supervisors. Please do not use your therapist, a family member, personal friend, or a friend of your family. While they can most likely vouch for you personally, they will not be able to speak to the behaviors and skills necessary for success in school.

  • Current résumé.

Interview Requirement

Group or phone interview.

Program Summary

The Master’s in Counseling Psychology program with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) prepares students to be socially and culturally responsive relationship and family therapists and mental health counselors.

We are committed to embracing diversity, academic excellence, and to the compassionate service of children, adults, and families. The MFT program embodies this mission by:

  • Expanding traditional notions of family

  • Recognizing the diversity in relationships and identity

  • Striving to use inclusive language in our instruction

  • Creating goals to diversify our student body and teaching faculty

  • Working from a strengths-based perspective that honors community wealth

  • Adapting professional trends as needed to meet community needs

Program Highlights

  • An intensive two-year format (SF campus only) as well as a less condensed three-year format

  • In-depth coursework in community mental health where students have an opportunity to provide services and interact with consumers

  • A focus on a community mental health recovery and wellness approach to serving clients and providing treatment options

  • A curriculum that attends to the mental health needs of diverse cultures and communities

  • Emphasis on incorporating evidence based practices and client strengths

  • Collaborative cohort learning that facilitates future support, resources, and continued networking opportunities after graduation and licensure

  • Small class sizes

  • University-wide supportive services and opportunities to collaborate with instructors

  • Many program instructors that are practicing mental health clinicians

  • Comprehensive clinical fieldwork placement and supervision

  • Courses in theory, counseling, skill development and trauma and crisis counseling to support growth as future therapists