William Jessup 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 William Jessup University MA in Counseling Psychology program page; the Jessup University Cost of Attendance page; the Jessup University accreditation page; the California Board of Behavioral Sciences approved schools list for LMFT under BPC 4980.36; and additional Jessup admissions and blog content on the counseling psychology program. A standalone program handbook specific to the MA in Counseling Psychology was not publicly posted on the program page at the time of research; the program page and admissions materials served as the authoritative public sources. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: William Jessup University (Jessup University)
Official Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
Campus Location: Rocklin campus at 2121 University Avenue, Rocklin, CA 95765. See the Jessup University maps and directions page.
Program Page Link: Jessup University MA in Counseling Psychology.
Modality: In-person at the Rocklin campus, with a fully remote synchronous option for California residents delivered in a live virtual classroom. Per the program page, remote students are paired with a California clinical practitioner to complete in-person practicum hours that satisfy California state requirements.
Licensure Track: California LMFT and LPCC. Per the program page, the curriculum is designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both the LMFT and the LPCC license.
Accreditation: Institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and included on the BBS approved schools list for LMFT under BPC 4980.36. COAMFTE accreditation and CACREP accreditation are not publicly listed for this program.
Program Length: 63 units, typically completed in approximately 26 months on a cohort schedule per the program page.
Estimated Total Program Tuition (effective 2025-2026): Per the Jessup University Cost of Attendance page, graduate tuition is published as an annual figure, with the MA in Counseling Psychology on-campus rate listed at $11,880 per year plus $465 in annual fees, and the online synchronous option at $17,820 per year plus $675 in annual fees. Jessup graduate programs have historically billed at a per-unit rate; publicly available information indicates a graduate per-unit rate of approximately $660 per unit, which for the 63-unit curriculum corresponds to an estimated base tuition of approximately $41,580 for the on-campus format, plus annual fees. The online synchronous rate is published only as an annual figure; applying the annual rate across the three academic years the 26-month program typically spans yields an estimated total of approximately $55,000 inclusive of fees. Jessup does not currently publish a per-unit rate on its public tuition pages, so prospective students should verify the current per-unit rate, any applicable online surcharge, and actual total billed costs directly with Jessup Financial Services.
GRE Requirement: Not listed as required on the program page.
Religious Orientation: Evangelical Christian. Jessup University identifies as a Christian institution, and the program page describes integrating current psychological theory with biblical principles throughout the curriculum, including attention to spiritual formation.
Entering Class Size: Not publicly listed; the program is cohort-based. Confirm current cohort size with the program.
Concentrations: The MA in Counseling Psychology is offered as a single integrated degree designed to prepare students for both LMFT and LPCC licensure; additional named concentrations or emphases beyond that pathway are not publicly listed.
Schedule and Format Details
In-Person (Rocklin) Format: Per the program page, on-campus students attend two to three courses per term on two nights per week, typically in the 6 to 9 p.m. or 6 to 10 p.m. evening block. The program uses a cohort model in which students move through the sequence together.
Remote Synchronous Format: Per the program page, California residents may complete the program entirely remotely through live virtual classes. Remote students are paired with a California clinical practitioner who supports in-person practicum hour completion. Synchronous class times mirror the evening schedule of the on-campus cohort.
Pacing: The standard program length is 26 months, during which students complete 63 units, including 14 months of practicum coursework per the program materials.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Per the program page, students complete a minimum of 280 direct client contact hours during practicum. Program-specific relational and supervision hour minimums beyond this are not separately itemized in the publicly accessible program materials; confirm with program.
Practicum Sequence: Per the program page, practicum is completed through the four-course sequence PSYC675a through PSYC675d, which includes a capstone element during the final term.
Training Clinic: A university-operated in-house training clinic is not publicly listed. Per the program page, students complete practicum at approved community placement sites.
Practicum Placement Process: Remote California students are paired with a California clinical practitioner to support local in-person placement per the program page. Detailed program-arranged versus student-arranged placement policies are not separately itemized publicly; confirm with program.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Per the program page, students are required to complete 20 hours of personal psychotherapy during the program.
Curriculum Structure
Per the program page, the 63-unit curriculum is designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both the LMFT and the LPCC license and incorporates coursework in counseling theory and technique, human development, psychopathology and diagnosis, assessment, multicultural counseling, marriage and family therapy, group counseling, ethics and California law, addictions, crisis and trauma, and research methods, alongside the four-course practicum and capstone sequence. The program integrates psychological theory with biblical principles and includes attention to spiritual formation of the counselor.
Culminating Requirements
Per the program page, the culminating component is embedded in the final practicum course in the PSYC675a through d sequence as a capstone experience. A written comprehensive examination or thesis requirement is not listed as a separate degree requirement on the program page; confirm current culminating requirements with the program.
Application Process
Application Deadline: Specific application deadline dates are not publicly itemized on the program page. Confirm current deadlines and start terms with the program.
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA per the program page; waivers are available for applicants who submit a petition letter.
Prerequisites: A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. Biopsychology (minimum grade of C) is listed as a prerequisite course per the program page.
Application Components: Per the program page, applicants submit a resume, two reference letters, a personal essay on faith development and interest in psychology (up to three pages), and a two-minute video addressing motivations and unique qualities. An oral interview may be requested.
Interview: Oral interviews are conducted when requested by the program per the program page.
What This Program Says About Itself
Per the Jessup University MA in Counseling Psychology page, the program prepares students interested in the mental health professions with a foundation in psychological theory, research, and spiritual formation, and integrates current psychological theory with biblical principles throughout the curriculum.
Per the program page, the program is built on a cohort model intended to facilitate long-term relationships, supportive growth, and guided professional development over the 26-month sequence.
Per the program page, the program offers a fully remote synchronous option for California residents in which students participate in live virtual classes and are paired with a California clinical practitioner for in-person practicum experience.
Per the program page, the curriculum is designed to meet California state requirements for LMFT and LPCC licensure, and the program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Per the Jessup University accreditation page, the institution holds WSCUC institutional accreditation.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
Students seeking an evening, cohort-based MFT program in Northern California: The Rocklin campus evening schedule (two nights per week, 6 to 9 p.m. or 6 to 10 p.m.) combined with a cohort model may appeal to students who want a stable peer group while balancing graduate study with daytime work or family responsibilities.
California residents looking for a remote synchronous option: The 100 percent remote synchronous format allows California residents to complete coursework from anywhere in the state while still receiving live classroom instruction and support for in-person practicum placement.
Students seeking dual LMFT and LPCC preparation in one degree: The 63-unit curriculum is designed to meet California BBS educational requirements for both the LMFT and the LPCC license, allowing students to pursue one or both credentials without adding a separate program.
Students who want explicit Christian integration in graduate counseling training: Jessup University is a Christian institution, and the program integrates psychological theory with biblical principles and includes spiritual formation as a named component of student development. This may appeal to students who want their clinical training grounded in a Christian worldview.
Students who value a required personal therapy component: The 20-hour personal therapy requirement supports clinical self-awareness and professional development, which may appeal to students who see their own therapy as an important part of their training.
Students looking for a two-year pace with significant clinical time: The 26-month sequence includes approximately 14 months of practicum coursework, providing an extended clinical training window within a relatively compact overall timeline.
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 Jessup University MFT program, visit their official website at the Jessup University MA in Counseling Psychology 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