- Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) training can be completed in 2 years (~5 semesters) full-time.
- Fall Admission
- Hayward Campus Only
- Courses offered during fall and spring semesters
- Classes are during the day, evening, and on some weekends
The Master’s of Science in Counseling Program with the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) training is designed to promote social justice and democracy by preparing knowledgeable and competent professional Marriage and Family Therapists.
The MFT Program is committed to training Marriage and Family Therapists for clinical work in a variety of settings. The program is offered annually at the Hayward Campus.
We support the advancement of social justice, democracy, and professional excellence. This philosophy is utilized in preparing knowledgeable and competent professional Marriage and Family Therapists who engage in counseling, consultation and other psychological practices from a relational perspective. The MFT profession in California provides many opportunities to become leaders in the field and to help shape the profession.
Program and Course Structure
The M.S. in Counseling with the MFT training is a full-time, 2 years (~5 semesters) program. Courses are offered in a defined cohort sequence during fall and spring terms, during the day, evening, and on some weekends.
Cohort
A "cohort" is a group of professionals who enter, move through, and graduate from the program in the same group, at the same time. Cohorts foster learning communities where students and marriage and family therapist trainees support each other.
Faculty
Faculty members in the Department of Educational Psychology have expertise in a wide range of marriage and family therapy theories, research, and practice. These include strength-based interventions, social-emotional and cognitive behavioral intervention and assessment, postmodern approaches, multi-cultural counseling, group therapy, couples therapy, brief therapy, child therapy, and consultation.
Clinical Work and Fieldwork
Marriage and Family Therapists trainees are prepared for clinical work with people who are struggling with both normal life problems and more severe pathologies. We orient trainees to promote resilience and practice strength-based interventions. Coursework training, combined with actual practice in fieldwork and clinical placement sites, prepares Marriage and Family Therapist trainees to work from a relational perspective.
Marriage and Family Therapist trainees begin working in their placement sites during their second year of training. Fieldwork Placement sites are available throughout the Bay area.
Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
The Master’s in Counseling offered by the Department of Educational Psychology MFT option is designed to meet the requirements of Section 4980.37, 4980.40 and relevant subdivisions of Chapter 13 regarding Marriage and Family Therapy in Business and Professions Code of the State of California. Prospective students are advised to acquire and read the laws governing MFT licensure from the Board of Behavioral Science in Sacramento.
Fieldwork experience is required as part of all Counseling programs. This requirement allows students actual clinical, assessment, and counseling experience under the supervision of department faculty and qualified licensed professionals working in the field.
Marriage and Family Therapy License
The Department does not issue licenses. Our Counseling Programs is designed to meet the educational requirements for the California State MFT License issued by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. This license requires additional experience beyond degrees, as well as written and oral exams administered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, including 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
Candidates successfully completing the program may apply for an MFT Intern License with the California Board of Behavioral Science; additional hours and an exam are required for licensure. Please refer to for additional information.
Prerequisite Coursework
The prerequisites or foundation coursework below (or their equivalents) are required for all students in the M.S. in Counseling program. Please check the concentration requirements for additional prerequisites. Prerequisites must be completed before beginning graduate-level coursework. This area may require 0-11 units that are not included in the major units:
- (4 units)
- (4 units)
- (3 units)
Please refer to the to see a range of course title examples and institutions. This is not an exhaustive list. If you have completed a course with a similar title and content, with a grade of "B" or better, from an accredited university the program will review the course with your application.
If you are uncertain if a title or content description matches these examples, please contact the Program Coordinator for MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY: Dr. Nancy Deatrick
Email: Nancy.Deatrick@csueastbay.edu-Include a copy of the unofficial transcript, course description, course number, institution, and date completed. Courses 10 years or older will not be considered.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted once annually to commence studies during Fall Semester. Students are encouraged to attend a program orientation prior to submitting an application. Information about orientation dates and additional program descriptions including a program handbook can be viewed on the Department website.
Students applying to this program should follow the university and departmental admissions procedures, including the submission of:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- University Application through Cal State Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV
- Department Application through the link on this website
- Personal Statement-
For the Department Application-Please submit two to four typed double-spaced pages, in which you describe your professional goals. We are interested in knowing how you developed these goals and how you assess your strengths and weaknesses relative to achieving these goals. Be sure to discuss the program-related questions in your statement of purpose.
- What is your understanding of the role of a Marriage and Family Therapist?How have you already pursued learning more about the field of marriage and family therapy?What strengths do you believe you will bring to the therapeutic field and how are you managing the areas that currently challenge you?What would you like to do with your MS Counseling degree in marriage and family therapy after you graduate?
- Three letters of reference-
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) recommended, but not required
Prerequisites are not required for admission, but must be completed prior to start of graduate coursework in the Fall term of admission to the program.
Degree Requirements
- Students must complete all coursework toward the degree with a grade of B or higher in each course.
- University Writing Skills Test (WST) requirement suspended Fall 2024
In addition to completing the program’s required course of study, each student’s progress is reviewed quarterly by the program’s faculty. Reviews involve student’s academic and clinical progress and appropriate professional behavior.
Professional and Licensure Websites
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FALL 2025-OCTOBER 1, 2025
Applications CLOSED for Fall 2024
- Department Applications Open: October 1, 2024
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Department Applications Close: March 1, 2025
- University Applications open: October 1, 2024
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University Applications close: March 1, 2025
- Transcript deadline: July 1, 2025
For more information, please contact: Program Coordinator -Dr. Nancy Deatrick
Email: Nancy.Deatrick@csueastbay.edu