Touro University Worldwide 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 TUW Marriage and Family Therapy program page, the TUW MFT curriculum page, the TUW graduate admission requirements page, the TUW tuition page, the TUW admissions FAQ, the TUW school news post on COAMFTE specialty accreditation, the TUW institutional history page, the TUW MFT Program Handbook 2024-2026 (https://www.tuw.edu/wp-content/uploads/MFT-Handbook.pdf), and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences LMFT resources. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.

Schedule and Format Details

Fully Online Asynchronous Coursework: All didactic coursework is delivered fully online through TUW's learning management system in 8-week terms. Students can log in at any time to complete weekly assignments, lectures, and discussions.

Six Start Terms Per Year: TUW operates rolling admissions with six annual start points (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, Summer 2). Students can begin the program in any of the six terms. The application deadline for each term is typically the Friday before the term begins.

Practicum Supervision Sessions: During practicum, students attend weekly two-hour Zoom conferences with TUW supervisors in addition to site-based supervision. Practicum hours are completed in-person at student-secured California sites approved by TUW for Clinical and LPCC Track students pursuing California licensure.

Concentrations and Specializations

MFT Clinical Track: 72 credits, leads to California LMFT licensure, and is the track covered by TUW's COAMFTE specialty accreditation.

MFT LPCC Track: 82 credits, adds LPCC coursework and additional direct client contact hour requirements to prepare graduates for both California LMFT and LPCC licensure.

MFT Non-Clinical Track: 54 credits, designed for students who want graduate MFT coursework without pursuing a state clinical license (for example, family educators, advocates, and administrators).

Clinical Training and Fieldwork

Clinical Hours (Clinical Track): A total of 300 practicum client contact hours are required, of which a minimum of 100 must be couple and family (relational) hours, with the remaining hours comprised of individual, couple, or family hours. A total of 100 hours of supervision with an AAMFT-approved site supervisor is required, of which at least 50 must be observable hours (including audio or video recordings and live supervision).

Clinical Hours (LPCC Track): Per the TUW MFT Program Handbook (2024-2026), the LPCC Track requires the same degree-level practicum hours as the Clinical Track: a minimum of 300 direct client contact hours (100 of which must be relational) and 100 supervision hours (50 of which must be observable data). The LPCC Track adds 4 didactic courses (MFT 650, 651, 653, and 698) for a total of 82 semester credits, but does not require additional practicum hours beyond the 300-hour degree minimum. Post-graduation, California LPCC licensure requires additional supervised experience hours through the BBS.

Training Clinic: TUW does not operate an in-house training clinic. Students secure their own practicum sites.

Practicum Placement Process: Per the TUW admissions FAQ, TUW does not provide practicum placement. Students identify and secure an approved practicum site, and TUW must approve both the site and the supervising clinician prior to the accrual of any clinical hours. Only hours gained at an approved site with a written agreement between the school and the site count toward licensure.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Personal therapy is strongly recommended but not required. TUW notes that personal therapy cannot be counted toward the required practicum hours.

Curriculum Structure

Per the TUW MFT curriculum page, the curriculum includes:

Core Coursework: Theory and practice of MFT, human development across the lifespan, family systems, couples therapy, psychopathology and assessment, multicultural counseling, research methods, law and ethics, substance use and addiction, and trauma.

Practicum Sequence: For the Clinical Track, practicum is structured across MFT685 through MFT690 (Clinical Practicum I through VI), totaling 18 credits. The LPCC Track includes additional practicum and coursework tied to LPCC licensure requirements.

Culminating Requirements

The capstone experience for the Clinical Track is MFT690 Clinical Practicum VI, which completes the practicum sequence. A $116 materials fee charged during MFT690 provides students with an exam kit designed to prepare for the California LMFT exam, the National MFT Exam, and the LPCC exam. Completion requires fulfilling all credits and clinical hour requirements for the chosen track and maintaining the grade requirements described below.

Application Process

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions. The application deadline for each term is typically the Friday before the 8-week term begins. Students may apply for any of the six annual start terms.

Start Terms: Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, Summer 2.

GPA Requirement: Minimum 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA for baccalaureate holders, or 2.75 for students transferring graduate credits, per the TUW graduate admission requirements page. Enrolled students must complete each required course with a minimum grade of B- (2.67) and maintain a cumulative program GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Prerequisites: No prerequisite coursework is required. Per the TUW MFT Program Handbook and the MFT program page, applicants need only a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (minimum 2.5 GPA) or graduate transfer status from another accredited graduate program (minimum 2.75 GPA). Foundational counseling and research content is embedded within the required curriculum rather than gated at admission.

Application Components: TUW application, official transcripts from all institutions attended, a signed MFT Student Agreement and Notice to Students Before Enrollment Regarding State Requirement for Licensure, and an essay of no more than 500 words addressing the applicant's desire to work in the MFT profession, the reason for selecting TUW, and how a master's-level MFT education fits with the applicant's career plans.

Interview: Not publicly listed as a required component.

What This Program Says About Itself

✓ Per the TUW MFT program page, the Clinical Track is the only online MFT track the institution lists as holding specialty accreditation from COAMFTE.

✓ The program is fully online with no residency requirement, delivered in six 8-week terms per year for scheduling flexibility.

✓ The LPCC Track is structured to prepare graduates for dual California LMFT and LPCC licensure with additional clinical hour and coursework requirements.

✓ Per the TUW history page, TUW is part of a Jewish-sponsored nonprofit system with an emphasis on service, intellectual pursuit, and social justice, and serves students of all backgrounds.

✓ The program emphasizes cultural competence throughout the curriculum, preparing therapists to work with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.

This Program May Be a Good Fit For

✓ Students seeking a fully online MFT master's degree: TUW delivers all coursework online asynchronously, which suits students who cannot relocate or commute to a campus.

✓ Students who want a COAMFTE-accredited clinical track in an online format: TUW lists its Clinical Track as COAMFTE-accredited.

✓ Students interested in dual LMFT and LPCC licensure: The 82-credit LPCC Track is designed to meet both California license pathways.

✓ Students who want multiple entry points each year: Six start terms per year allow students to begin within weeks of applying rather than waiting for a once-a-year cohort.

✓ Career changers entering the field: The GRE is not required, no prerequisite coursework is required, and the program accepts undergraduate degrees in any field.

✓ Students seeking a non-clinical MFT master's for family education or advocacy roles: The 54-credit Non-Clinical Track provides MFT coursework without a licensure track.

✓ Students in California who can secure their own practicum site: TUW requires students to identify and propose approved practicum sites.

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 Touro University Worldwide MFT program, visit their official website at the TUW 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