Hope International 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 Hope International University College of Psychology and Counseling MFT program page, the Hope International University MFT Program Handbook 2025-2026, the Hope International University graduate tuition and costs page, the Hope International University graduate admissions criteria and admissions process pages, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

On-Ground Format: All MA MFT coursework is delivered in person at the Fullerton campus. Per the MFT Program Handbook, courses are offered in 8 to 16 week terms, and class meetings are scheduled across morning, afternoon, and evening blocks on weekdays.

Full-Time and Part-Time Pacing: The program can be completed in approximately 24 months on a full-time pace, and a part-time option is available for students who need additional flexibility, per the MFT Program Handbook.

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours: Per the MFT Program Handbook, students complete 300 direct client contact hours, of which at least 100 must be relational hours (work with couples, families, or groups). Students complete 100 hours of supervision, including the observational supervision hours required under COAMFTE standards. A maximum of 100 of the direct client hours may be completed via telehealth.

Training Clinic: Hope International University operates an in-house training clinic, the Hope Counseling Center, on the Fullerton campus. The MFT Program Handbook describes the Hope Counseling Center as an on-site community agency that provides clinical training experiences for MFT students.

Practicum Arrangement: Practicum placements are program-arranged through a list of approved clinical training sites that meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences statutes and regulations. Students who wish to be placed at a site not already on the approved list may submit an Online Petition for Site Approval, which the handbook describes as a six to eight week process.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Per the MFT Program Handbook, students are required to complete at least 12 hours of personal therapy with a licensed therapist during the program. These hours count toward the 50-hour Professional Development requirement, and personal therapy cannot be completed with Hope Counseling Center staff or supervisors while the student is enrolled.

Curriculum Structure

The 60-unit curriculum integrates systemic MFT theory, clinical training, and faith integration, per the MFT Program Handbook:

Core Coursework: Systemic theory, marriage and family therapy models, human development, psychopathology, law and ethics, research methods, multicultural and diversity competence, assessment, and Christian Principles of MFT.

Prerequisite Courses: Students who enter without a psychology educational background are required to complete Counseling Theories (PSY5010) and Community Mental Health (PSY4310) within their first 18 units and before beginning clinical training, per the MFT Program Handbook.

Clinical Training Sequence: Practicum and concurrent supervision at the Hope Counseling Center and approved community sites, including clinical simulation experiences described in the handbook.

Culminating Requirements

The culminating academic requirement for the MA MFT program is the Comprehensive Case Presentation (CCP), which the MFT Program Handbook describes as a video case presentation with a written case report and oral presentation. The MA MFT program does not require a thesis or a written comprehensive examination.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Specific fixed deadline dates are not published on the program's public pages. The graduate admissions process page indicates multiple start terms, and applicants should confirm current deadlines with the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Start Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer, per the MFT Program Handbook course sequencing.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants below 3.0 may be considered for probationary admission with a letter of explanation, per the graduate admissions criteria page.

Prerequisites: Counseling Theories (PSY5010) and Community Mental Health (PSY4310) are required for applicants without a psychology educational background and are typically completed at Hope International University during the first 18 units of the program.

Application Components: Online application with a non-refundable application fee, official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities, two letters of recommendation using the provided reference forms, and a statement of purpose of at least 250 words describing reasons for entering the graduate program. Specific requirements are listed on the graduate admissions process page and in the MFT Program Handbook.

Interview: Required. Per the MFT Program Handbook, viable candidates complete an on-campus interview with MFT faculty, which may include a group interview and individual faculty interview components.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the Hope International University MFT program page, the program develops multiculturally informed, ethically competent therapists grounded in Christian principles who join with families to identify life challenges, restore broken bonds, and cultivate healthy relationships.

✓ The MFT Program Handbook describes a 60-unit curriculum designed to integrate theory, clinical practice, and research within a Christian framework, with a required course in Christian Principles of MFT.

✓ The program is COAMFTE accredited and also holds accreditation from the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education, per the MFT Program Handbook.

✓ Per the program page, the program operates the on-campus Hope Counseling Center as a training clinic and incorporates clinical simulations with simulated clients as part of clinical training.

✓ The program hosts the Delta Kappa chapter of the international marriage and family therapy honor society, established at Hope International University in 2016, per the MFT Program Handbook.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students seeking faith-integrated training: Hope International University is a Christian institution, and the MFT program mission, learning outcomes, and required Christian Principles of MFT course explicitly integrate Christian principles into clinical preparation.

✓ Students planning to practice in multiple states: The program is COAMFTE accredited, which can support mobility and portability of the MFT credential across states that recognize COAMFTE-accredited training.

✓ Students seeking an accelerated path: The MA MFT program can be completed in approximately 24 months on a full-time pace, per the MFT Program Handbook.

✓ Students seeking strong practicum infrastructure: The program operates the in-house Hope Counseling Center on the Fullerton campus and arranges placements through a list of approved community clinical training sites.

✓ Students prioritizing relative affordability in a COAMFTE-accredited program: At approximately $775 per unit for 60 units, the estimated total program tuition is approximately $46,500 per the graduate tuition and costs page, which is lower than many California MFT master's programs.

✓ Career changers entering the field: The GRE is not listed as required, and applicants from non-psychology backgrounds can complete foundational prerequisite courses (Counseling Theories and Community Mental Health) during their first 18 units of the program.

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 Hope International University MFT program, visit their official website at the Hope International University MA in Marriage and Family Therapy 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