California State University, Sacramento MFT Program: Comprehensive Profile and Student Fit Analysis
Sentio University believes in program transparency and that all prospective students should have access to detailed, objective information about MFT programs to make the best possible decision for their education and career.
Program data collected April 2026 from publicly available sources including the Sacramento State catalog page for the MS in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling), the CSUS Office of Graduate Studies, the Sacramento State Bursar's Office tuition page, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State)
Official Degree Name: Master of Science in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling)
Department/School: College of Education, Graduate and Professional Studies in Education (Counselor Education Program).
Campus Location: Sacramento State main campus, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.
Program Page Link: Sacramento State MS in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling)
Modality: In-person, on-campus. Classes are scheduled during the day, late afternoon, and evening to accommodate cohort pacing.
Licensure Track: Dual LMFT and LPCC. The program states that it meets California BBS educational requirements for both Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Accreditation: Nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program states it is aligned with COAMFTE standards but is not COAMFTE accredited. Sacramento State holds regional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Year of first CACREP accreditation and current term expiration are not publicly listed on the program catalog page.
Program Length: 60 semester units, completed on a full-time cohort schedule over approximately three years, with students typically taking 9 to 12 units per semester in fall and spring.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (2025-2026): Not publicly listed at the per-unit level on the program catalog page. CSU system graduate tuition and campus-based fees are set at the system and campus level; prospective students should consult the Sacramento State Bursar's tuition and living costs page for current rates. Books, campus fees, and living expenses are additional.
GRE Requirement: Not publicly listed as required on the program catalog page.
Religious Orientation: None. Sacramento State is a public university in the California State University system.
Entering Class Size: Not publicly listed.
Concentration: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (15 concentration units within the 60-unit MS in Counseling).
Schedule and Format Details
Cohort Structure: Students are admitted as a cohort and progress together through a designated course sequence, per the Sacramento State catalog page.
Pacing: The program is designed as a full-time, three-year cohort with 9 to 12 units per semester in fall and spring.
Class Times: Classes meet during the day, late afternoon, and evening hours.
Residency: A minimum of 42 approved semester units must be earned in residence at Sacramento State.
Concentrations and Specializations
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration: 15 units of concentration coursework within the 60-unit MS in Counseling degree, aligned to California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure.
Concentration Electives: Students select a 2-unit elective from two options listed in the catalog: EDC 236 (Couples Counseling) or EDC 238 (Professional Issues in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling).
Dual LPCC Pathway: The MS in Counseling (MCFC) is designed to meet California educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Per the catalog, students complete a 100-hour clinical practicum plus 600 hours of field experience. Specific direct client, relational, and supervision hour breakdowns are not publicly listed at that level of detail.
Training Clinic: Sacramento State houses an on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services that serves as an in-house training setting for counselor education students.
Practicum Placement: Off-campus placements are completed at partner sites that may include local community mental health agencies, school-based mental health programs, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and state-affiliated mental health settings.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Not publicly listed.
Curriculum Structure
Per the Sacramento State catalog page, the 60-unit curriculum combines a CACREP-aligned counseling core with the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling concentration:
Core Coursework: Counseling theory, human development, multicultural counseling, group counseling, career development, assessment, research methods, law and ethics, and clinical skill-building courses required under CACREP standards.
MCFC Concentration Coursework: 15 units of concentration coursework in marriage, couple, and family counseling, including the selected concentration elective.
Fieldwork Sequence: Clinical practicum followed by field experience at approved on-campus and off-campus sites.
Culminating Requirements
Per the catalog, the culminating experience is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Students enroll in EDC 500 (1 unit) during their final semester and must achieve the minimum criterion score on the CPCE to graduate. Advancement to Candidacy must be completed before enrolling in EDC 500. A thesis is not listed as a culminating option for this concentration.
Application Process
Application Deadlines: The program admits for fall semester only, with application review each year for the following fall cohort. Specific deadline dates are published through the Sacramento State Office of Graduate Studies, which prospective students should consult directly.
Start Term: Fall (cohort-based). Spring admission is not offered.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of previous college coursework.
Prerequisites: No specific prerequisite courses are listed as mandatory on the program catalog page.
Application Components: University graduate application, departmental application materials (personal statement and writing prompt), official transcripts from all prior colleges or universities, recommendation forms, and a résumé or CV showing relevant work or service experience.
Interview: Yes. Selected applicants are invited to an in-person admission evaluation (Interview Day) that may include interviews, experiential activities, and writing samples.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the Sacramento State catalog page for the MS in Counseling (MCFC), the program is CACREP-accredited and designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure.
✓ The program follows a full-time, three-year cohort model with a structured course sequence.
✓ An on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services provides an in-house training clinic setting for counselor education students.
✓ Culminating assessment is the standardized Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), consistent with CACREP-aligned programs.
✓ Admission includes an in-person evaluation day with interviews and experiential activities, signaling an emphasis on fit and readiness for clinical training.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Students seeking a public, in-state tuition option in the Sacramento region: Sacramento State is part of the CSU system and uses CSU tuition rates.
✓ Students who want dual LMFT and LPCC eligibility: The MS in Counseling (MCFC) is designed to meet educational requirements for both California licenses.
✓ Students who want a CACREP-accredited program: CACREP accreditation can be relevant for portability to other states and for certain employer or traineeship settings.
✓ Students who thrive in a cohort model: Admitted students progress together through a defined course sequence over three years.
✓ Students who value an in-house training clinic: The on-campus Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services provides a university-based training setting before off-campus placements.
✓ Career changers entering the field: The catalog does not list specific prerequisite courses or a GRE requirement.
✓ Students comfortable with a full-time load: The program is designed at 9 to 12 units per semester and is not structured as a part-time pathway on the catalog page.
Making Your Decision: What to Do Before You Apply
Salary data and job market projections are useful inputs to your program search, but they cannot tell you what a school is actually like to attend. Marketing materials, program websites, and admissions presentations are designed to present a program favorably. The most reliable way to cut through that and understand what a program actually delivers in the classroom is to ask to sit in on a live class session, whether in person or online, before you commit. Every program that is confident in the quality of its instruction should not only allow this but actively welcome it. If a program is reluctant to let prospective students observe a class, that reluctance is itself informative. The California MFT job market rewards clinical skill, and the training environment you choose over the next two to three years will shape the kind of therapist you become. Take the time to see it for yourself before you decide.
For a detailed comparison of every MFT program in the state, explore The Absurdly Complete Guide to MFT Programs in California.
To learn more about the Sacramento State MFT program, visit their official website at the CSUS MS in Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling) catalog page. If you are comparing MFT programs in California, you can explore Sentio University's MFT program to see how our Deliberate Practice training model compares.
Disclaimer: This profile was prepared by Sentio University for informational purposes only. Sentio University is an MFT program in California and a peer institution to the program profiled above. All information was drawn from publicly available sources and the program's own published materials as of April 2026. Sentio University makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. Prospective students should contact the program directly to verify all details, including admissions requirements, tuition, accreditation status, and clinical training structure. This profile does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. For a full list of California MFT programs, visit our California MFT Program Directory.
About the Authors
Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more
Alexandre Vaz, PhD is the Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University and cofounder of the Deliberate Practice Institute. He is co-editor of The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books) and the author of over a dozen books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training. Dr. Vaz is the founder and host of Psychotherapy Expert Talks. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portugal. Learn more