Dominican University of California 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 Dominican University of California Counseling Psychology MS (MFT/PCC) program page, the 2025-2026 academic catalog entry for the Counseling Psychology MS, the Counseling Psychology graduate tuition and aid page, Dominican's institutional mission and history pages, WSCUC records, and BBS approved program lists. A dedicated Counseling Psychology program handbook is not publicly posted on the Dominican website; the academic catalog serves as the authoritative source for program requirements, clinical hours, and personal therapy requirements. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: Dominican University of California
Official Degree Name: Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, with concentrations in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and/or Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC), per the 2025-2026 academic catalog entry. A non-licensure General Master's in Counseling Psychology (43 units) is also offered.
Department/School: Department of Counseling Psychology within the School of Health and Natural Sciences.
Campus Location: 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901.
Program Page Links: MS in Counseling Psychology (MFT/PCC) program page, academic catalog page, and Counseling Psychology tuition and aid page.
Modality: In-person, on-campus in San Rafael. Scheduling is designed to accommodate working students, with late afternoon, evening, and some weekend class options. Students may enroll part-time or full-time, with typical completion in 30 to 36 months for the licensure concentrations.
Licensure Track: LMFT track (60 units), LPCC track (60 units), and dual LMFT/LPCC track offered within a single 60-unit program. The program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences under Business and Professions Code §4980.37 (LMFT) and §4999.33 (LPCC) per BBS LMFT and BBS LPCC applicant resources.
Accreditation: Institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). BBS approval for both LMFT and LPCC educational requirements. COAMFTE or CACREP programmatic accreditation is not publicly listed.
Program Length: 60 semester units for the MFT, PCC, or dual MFT/PCC concentration, typically completed in approximately 30 to 36 months. The non-licensure General Master's is 43 units.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (effective 2025-2026): Tuition is tiered across program years. Per the Counseling Psychology tuition page, tuition is approximately $1,321 per unit in the first year, $1,361 per unit in the second year, and $1,402 per unit in the third year. For the 60-unit MFT/PCC pathway, estimated total tuition is approximately $81,680 plus Campus Comprehensive, Technology, and Graduate Activities fees, bringing total program cost to approximately $83,800 before books and living expenses. Annual adjustments apply.
GRE Requirement: Not required. The program page explicitly notes that GMAT and GRE are not required.
Religious Orientation: Dominican Catholic heritage (founded in 1890 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael). The university has operated as an independent, nonsectarian nonprofit since 2009, with a mission informed by the Dominican values of study, community, reflection, and service rather than a faith-integration requirement.
Entering Class Size: A formal cohort size is not published. Classes are capped at approximately 20 students, and practicum seminars are limited to a maximum of 6 students per section.
Concentrations: MFT, PCC, dual MFT/PCC, and a non-licensure General Master's in Counseling Psychology.
Schedule and Format Details
In-Person San Rafael Campus: All coursework is delivered on Dominican's San Rafael campus. The program accommodates working professionals with part-time, full-time, late afternoon, evening, and weekend class options.
Pacing: Full-time students typically complete the 60-unit MFT or PCC concentration in 30 to 36 months. Part-time pacing is also supported.
Concentrations and Specializations
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Concentration: 60-unit pathway designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for LMFT licensure.
Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC) Concentration: 60-unit pathway designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for LPCC licensure.
Dual MFT/PCC Track: Students may complete both concentrations within a single 60-unit program, qualifying for both LMFT and LPCC licensure pathways.
General Master's in Counseling Psychology: A 43-unit non-licensure pathway for students whose goals do not require LMFT or LPCC eligibility.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Per the academic catalog, MFT/PCC students complete a minimum of 500 practicum hours, including a minimum of 280 direct counseling hours. Supervision is provided by licensed professionals at each placement site. Faculty-led practicum seminars accompany fieldwork and are capped at 6 students per section.
Practicum Eligibility: Students must complete 24 units of required coursework and receive a formal academic evaluation before beginning practicum.
Training Clinic: A university-operated in-house training clinic is not listed. Dominican emphasizes its network of community-based partners.
Practicum Arrangement: The program has "well-established" relationships with more than 50 community agencies and reports placing 100 percent of trainees in the field. Sites include governmental agencies, schools and colleges, nonprofit and charitable corporations, and licensed health facilities.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Per the catalog, MFT/PCC students complete a minimum of 45 hours of personal psychotherapy, with up to 15 hours permitted from the two years before program entry. The requirement may be satisfied through individual, couple, or family therapy, provided by a licensed professional. The requirement is rooted in the program's belief that students benefit from personally experiencing the process they train to provide.
Culminating Requirements
The MFT/PCC concentration uses a competency-based culminating model organized around three Practicum Seminars (CP 5294, 3 units each, 9 units total) taken concurrently with fieldwork. Formal evaluations occur at two benchmarks: after the first 24 units (academic review) and after the first semester of practicum (clinical review). A traditional thesis or written comprehensive examination is not listed as a culminating requirement. The General Master's track uses two Proficiency Project Seminars plus a General Master's Proficiency Project.
Application Process
Application Deadlines: June 1 for Fall entry and December 1 for Spring entry, per the program page.
Start Terms: Fall and Spring.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 GPA based on the last 60 units of graded undergraduate or graduate coursework.
Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a Theories of Personality course (or equivalent) completed prior to program start or concurrently within the first year.
Application Components: Online application, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions, resume, a 500-word Statement of Purpose describing professional and personal goals, a 4 to 5 page Autobiography describing influential people and experiences relevant to counseling, and a written response to a clinical Scenario involving a neighbor disclosing suicidal ideation.
Interview: A personal interview with the program director is conducted if necessary, at the discretion of the program.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the program page, Dominican reports that approximately 90 percent of its graduates become licensed MFTs or registered MFT associates.
✓ The program maintains relationships with more than 50 Bay Area community agencies and reports 100 percent placement of trainees in the field.
✓ Small class sizes, with classes capped at 20 students and practicum seminars capped at 6, support close faculty-student engagement.
✓ All faculty are practicing clinicians, and coursework is designed to integrate multiple therapeutic orientations.
✓ The 60-unit dual MFT/PCC option allows students to earn eligibility for both LMFT and LPCC licensure within a single program per the catalog entry.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): The dual MFT/PCC track is offered within a single 60-unit program, providing efficient access to both California licensure pathways.
✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Late afternoon, evening, and weekend classes, along with part-time pacing, accommodate students who are employed during the day.
✓ Students who value small cohort learning: Classes are capped at 20 students and practicum seminars at 6, supporting close mentoring relationships.
✓ Students seeking strong practicum infrastructure: Dominican reports placing 100 percent of its trainees through a network of more than 50 community agency partners.
✓ Career changers entering the field: No GRE is required and only a single prerequisite course (Theories of Personality) is specified, which can be completed concurrently within the first year.
✓ Students seeking Bay Area community placements: The San Rafael campus and the program's established partnerships provide access to diverse clinical populations across Marin, San Francisco, and the greater Bay Area.
✓ Students who value personal therapy as part of training: The required 45 hours of personal psychotherapy is a distinctive commitment to the therapist's own development within the curriculum.
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 Dominican University of California MFT program, visit the official 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