CSU San Bernardino 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 CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate programs page, the CSUSB graduate admissions page, the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry for the MS in Psychology (Clinical/Counseling), the CSUSB program finder page, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)
Official Degree Name: Master of Science in Psychology, Clinical/Counseling Psychology option
Campus Location: Main campus at 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407.
Program Page Link: CSUSB Clinical/Counseling Psychology program finder page and CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry.
Modality: In-person, full-time, day-time program per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry.
Licensure Track: LMFT. Per the CSUSB program finder page, the curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist as defined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. LPCC or dual LMFT/LPCC pathways are not publicly listed for this program.
Accreditation: Regional accreditation for the university through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Program-specific accreditation with COAMFTE or CACREP is not publicly listed for the Clinical/Counseling Psychology option on the CSUSB accreditation page. The program states that it meets California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational requirements for LMFT licensure.
Program Length: 60 to 68 semester units depending on the culminating option selected, designed to be completed in two years on a full-time basis per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry. The comprehensive examination track is the 60-unit path and the thesis track is the 68-unit path. A seven-year limit applies from the date of admission to the program.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (2025-2026): Per the CSUSB Student Financial Services academic year 2025-2026 tuition and fees page, resident graduate tuition for full-time students (6.1 or more units) is approximately $4,032 per semester, plus mandatory campus-based charges of approximately $1,027 to $1,094 per semester (total of approximately $5,060 to $5,127 per semester). Over four semesters of full-time enrollment, total tuition and fees are approximately $20,000 to $20,500 for California residents. Non-resident tuition is higher. Books and living expenses are additional.
GRE Requirement: Not required per the CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate admissions page. Applicants may submit scores voluntarily.
Religious Orientation: None. CSUSB is a public university within the California State University system.
Entering Class Size: Approximately 10 to 15 students per year per the CSUSB program finder page.
Concentrations: Clinical/Counseling Psychology option with curriculum aligned to California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure. Additional concentrations, emphases, or specializations within the option are not publicly listed on the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry.
Schedule and Format Details
Format: Full-time, in-person, day-time attendance on the San Bernardino campus per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry. Evening, hybrid, and fully online pathways are not publicly listed for this program.
Cohort Model: The program admits a small cohort once per year for a Fall start. Spring admission is not offered for the MS Clinical/Counseling Psychology option per the CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate admissions page.
Concentrations and Specializations
Clinical/Counseling Psychology Option: The MFT-relevant option within the Department of Psychology's MS in Psychology degree. Coursework includes Marriage and Family Therapy Skills I and II and Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum I and II per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry.
LPCC Pathway: Because this is a Psychology degree rather than a Counseling degree, the curriculum is officially designed for the LMFT track and is not structured to meet California LPCC educational requirements. A formal LPCC or dual LMFT/LPCC pathway is not offered as part of the Clinical/Counseling Psychology option.
Doctoral Preparation: Per the CSUSB program finder page, the program also prepares graduates for doctoral study in clinical or counseling psychology.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Specific direct client contact, relational, and supervision hour requirements are not detailed on CSUSB's public program pages. The program states that clinical training meets California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure. Students should request current fieldwork requirements directly from the program.
Training Clinic: The Department of Psychology operates an on-campus psychology clinic that provides hands-on clinical training for students in the program per the CSUSB program finder page.
Practicum Arrangement: The curriculum includes Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum I and II and Advanced Practicum in Counseling Psychology I and II per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry. Placement procedures beyond the on-campus clinic are not detailed on the program's public pages.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Not publicly listed on the program's web materials.
Curriculum Structure
The MS Clinical/Counseling Psychology option is structured around California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry:
Core Coursework: Marriage and Family Therapy Skills, counseling psychology foundations, assessment, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, human development, research methods, and ethics.
Fieldwork Sequence: Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum I and II followed by Advanced Practicum in Counseling Psychology I and II.
Culminating Requirements
Per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry, students select one of two culminating options: a thesis track (approximately 68 total program units, including thesis and research methods coursework) or a comprehensive examination track (approximately 60 total program units, including a culminating seminar and the comprehensive examination). The thesis track is often recommended for students who plan to pursue doctoral study later, while the comprehensive examination track is the shorter path for students focused on LMFT licensure and clinical practice.
Application Process
Application Deadlines: Per the CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate admissions page, the Fall application deadline is February 1 of the prior cycle. Prospective students should confirm current deadlines directly with the program.
Start Term: Fall only. Spring admission is not offered for the MS Clinical/Counseling Psychology option.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA and 3.0 GPA in the major per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry. Students must also maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework for advancement to candidacy.
Prerequisites: Per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry, applicants must complete Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Research Methods in Psychology, Personality Psychology (or Introduction to Psychotherapy), and Abnormal Psychology prior to admission.
Application Components: Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, three letters of recommendation, a two-page personal statement addressing preparation for graduate study, training goals, and post-degree aspirations, and the university application fee per the CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate admissions page.
Interview: Not publicly listed as a required component on the program's web materials. Applicants should confirm the current interview process directly with the department.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the CSUSB Clinical/Counseling Psychology program finder page, the curriculum meets California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational requirements for LMFT licensure.
✓ Admission is limited to approximately 10 to 15 students per year to support close faculty mentoring, per the CSUSB program finder page.
✓ The Department of Psychology operates an on-campus psychology clinic that supports hands-on clinical training within the program, per the CSUSB program finder page.
✓ Per the CSUSB Bulletin catalog entry, students choose between a thesis track and a comprehensive examination track as the culminating requirement.
✓ Per the CSUSB Department of Psychology graduate admissions page, the program does not require GRE scores.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Students based in the Inland Empire: The program is delivered in person on the San Bernardino campus and draws students from across the Inland Empire region.
✓ Students seeking a small cohort: Admission is limited to approximately 10 to 15 students per year, supporting close faculty mentoring.
✓ Students who want a public-university tuition option: As a California State University campus, CSUSB follows the CSU system tuition structure, which is typically lower than private institutions.
✓ Students who may pursue doctoral study: The program describes itself as preparation for doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology as well as LMFT licensure.
✓ Students who prefer an on-campus training clinic: The Department of Psychology operates an on-campus psychology clinic that provides hands-on clinical training.
✓ Students with a strong psychology background: Specific undergraduate prerequisites in psychology, statistics, research methods, personality, and abnormal psychology are required before admission.
✓ Students who can attend full-time during the day: Coursework is delivered in a daytime, in-person schedule rather than an evening or hybrid format.
✓ Students open to either a thesis or comprehensive exam pathway: The program offers both culminating options.
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 CSU San Bernardino MFT program, visit their official website at the CSUSB Clinical/Counseling Psychology program 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