Golden Gate University 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 Golden Gate University MA in Counseling Psychology program page, the 2025-2026 Golden Gate University academic catalog entry, the GGU Psychology Licensure page, the GGU tuition page, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences approved LMFT programs list, and the COAMFTE and CACREP directories. A counseling psychology program-specific student handbook was not publicly downloadable at the time of research. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: Golden Gate University
Official Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, per the program page and the 2025-2026 academic catalog entry.
Department/School: Department of Psychology.
Campus Location: 536 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
Program Page Links: MA in Counseling Psychology program page, academic catalog page, and the GGU Psychology Licensure page.
Modality: Online and hybrid. The hybrid format includes two on-campus weeks per trimester at the San Francisco campus. A fully in-person option is not offered.
Licensure Track: Dual LMFT and LPCC preparation. The curriculum is designed to meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational requirements for both Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor licensure, and the program appears on the BBS approved schools list.
Accreditation: Institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Programmatic accreditation through COAMFTE or CACREP is not publicly listed. BBS approval is confirmed for California LMFT and LPCC educational requirements.
Program Length: 60 units. Completion time varies by pace; the program runs on a trimester calendar with Fall, Spring, and Summer start options.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (effective 2025-2026): The MA in Counseling Psychology is billed at a flat rate of $13,080 per term for full time enrollment, per the GGU tuition and fees page. Total program tuition varies by pacing, as students may complete the 60 unit curriculum across a different number of trimesters depending on full time or part time enrollment. Student services fees, books, practicum related costs, and living expenses are additional. Annual adjustments apply, and prospective students should confirm current rates directly with GGU.
GRE Requirement: Not required.
Religious Orientation: None. Golden Gate University is a secular nonprofit institution founded in 1901 and operates independently without religious sponsorship.
Entering Class Size: Not publicly listed.
Concentrations: Formal concentrations are not delineated. The curriculum is structured to prepare students for both LMFT and LPCC licensure pathways.
Schedule and Format Details
Online Format: Coursework is delivered asynchronously online, allowing students to complete most academic work on their own schedule within each trimester.
Hybrid Format: Students who prefer an in-person component can attend two campus weeks per trimester at the San Francisco Mission Street campus, combined with online coursework in between.
Practicum Seminar: The practicum seminar is conducted synchronously via Zoom across at least three trimesters, concurrent with clinical practicum hours.
Start Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Golden Gate University operates on a trimester system, offering three annual entry points.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Per the academic catalog, students complete a minimum of 300 face-to-face client contact hours under licensed clinical supervision as part of the practicum sequence.
Practicum Structure: Nine units of PSYCH 394 (Practicum: Counseling Psychology) are required, completed over at least three trimesters alongside the practicum seminar. Students must complete a minimum of 30 program units before beginning practicum.
Training Clinic: An in-house training clinic is not publicly listed. Students complete practicum hours at external clinical placement sites.
Practicum Arrangement: Students generally secure placements at community clinical sites with support from the program.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Per the catalog, students complete a minimum of 50 hours of personal psychotherapy with a licensed clinician as part of the program requirements.
Culminating Requirements
The culminating clinical requirement is an oral Case Presentation completed within the PSYCH 394 practicum seminar sequence. Per the PSYCH 394 course description, the practicum seminar provides group consultation that uses written case studies and oral case presentations, with students required to enroll in the seminar every term they are accruing practicum hours. The program does not require a thesis. Prospective students should confirm the current culminating structure directly with the program.
Application Process
Start Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Application Deadlines: Per the GGU apply now page, the Fall 2026 term begins September 8, 2026 with a domestic application deadline of August 18, 2026 (international applicants earlier). The Spring 2027 term begins January 12, 2027, with a domestic application deadline of December 17, 2026 (November 4, 2026 for international applicants). GGU accepts applications on a rolling basis and encourages applicants to apply early.
GPA Requirement: No strict minimum GPA is stated. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 are invited to address the circumstances in their Statement of Purpose.
Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution is required. Specific undergraduate coursework prerequisites are not publicly listed.
Application Components: Online application, official transcripts from all institutions attended, Statement of Purpose, resume, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references, and a non-refundable application fee. English language proficiency documentation is required for non-native English speakers.
Interview: Interview requirement is not publicly listed.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per the program page, Golden Gate University's MA in Counseling Psychology prepares students to practice relationally-informed psychotherapy in a flexible online or hybrid format.
✓ The program is designed on the licensure page to meet California BBS educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure, giving graduates two possible licensure pathways.
✓ The curriculum integrates 300 hours of supervised clinical experience with a minimum of 50 hours of personal psychotherapy, reflecting an emphasis on both clinical skill and personal formation.
✓ Golden Gate University's mission emphasizes accessible education for working adults, with trimester start dates and asynchronous online coursework supporting that model.
✓ The San Francisco campus location and hybrid residency option give students the choice to combine online flexibility with in-person learning experiences.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): The curriculum is explicitly designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure pathways.
✓ Students interested in a fully online format: Coursework is delivered asynchronously online, with an optional hybrid residency component for students who want periodic in-person learning.
✓ Working professionals seeking schedule flexibility: Asynchronous online coursework, three annual start terms, and flexible pacing accommodate students balancing work or family responsibilities.
✓ Students who value personal therapy as part of training: The program requires a minimum of 50 hours of personal psychotherapy with a licensed clinician during training.
✓ Career changers entering the field: The program does not list undergraduate psychology course prerequisites and welcomes applicants with bachelor's degrees from any discipline.
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 Golden Gate University MA in Counseling Psychology 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