Admissions

Updated: January 9th, 2026

Fall 2026 admission has ended. Fall 2027 Admission will start on October 1st, 2026

This page provides specific information regarding applying to the Department of Counseling Graduate Programs. For general assistance in the application process or for assistance deciding between the Department of Counseling and other programs at San Francisco State University, please visit Graduate Studies Admissions Page. They offer workshop recordings on admissions topics and other great information (see Advising).

MS-Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS-Marriage, Family and Child Counseling applicants: Work Experience Required (2,000 hours)

Please be advised that applicants to the MS-Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and MS-Marriage, Family and Child Counseling (MFCC) Degree programs are required to have a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience (paid or unpaid) in human services (defined as work that involves helping people directly with difficulties related to mental health, housing, education, employment, substance use, systemic injustices, poverty, family conflict, and other social or emotional issues by providing direct services, advocacy, coordination, and support) in a relevant work setting (2,000 hours is approximately one-year full-time, or two-years part-time. MFT and CMHC applicants must have this requirement prior to applying to the Fall 2026 admission). This requirement is intended to ensure that applicants enter the program with foundational knowledge of the field, and ability to provide direct care to the community, and a demonstrated commitment to serving diverse communities in counseling-related contexts. Relevant work settings include the following: 

  • After-School Programs
  • Child and Family Services Agencies
  • Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
  • Community Mental Health Centers
  • Community Health Centers
  • Community Organizing, Advocacy & Social Movement Organizations
  • Cultural Centers and Faith-Based Organizations
  • Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Programs
  • Crisis Centers or Suicide Prevention Hotlines
  • Criminal Justice-Related Programs/Services
  • Domestic Violence Shelters
  • Educational Settings
  • Homeless Shelters
  • Hospitals
  • Outpatient Counseling Clinics
  • Organizations Serving Specific Communities (e.g., LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities, Refugees, Immigrants, Justice-Involved, Unhoused Individuals, Older Adults)
  • Residential Programs (e.g., group homes or treatment centers)
  • Substance Use Programs/Services
  • Veterans Affairs Programs/Services
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Programs/Services 

 

Information Session:

Department of Counseling Application Processing Fee of $25 (This is a separate fee from Cal State Apply Fee of $70).

  • Payment of Department of Counseling Application Processing Fee must be made through the link inside of the admission instruction and requirement site (this fee cannot be paid inside Cal State Apply). No checks or cash will be accepted.

 

For applicants who need financial aids:

It is applicant's responsibility to secure financial aid prior to entering the program. Please contact the financial aid for more information

 

 

Specialization Videos

Career Counseling

Career Counselors work in K-12, college and university career centers, student support services and advising offices. Some graduates use this training to establish private career counseling and consultation practices while others enter career development and human resources related centers (e.g., People Operations, People and Culture, Talent Acquisition, Employee Experience) in private industry and public agencies. Many students combine this training with another area of counseling based on their work setting preferences. The curriculum is designed with a holistic understanding and integrative practice of career counseling to empower individuals and communities’ access to decent work with a social justice framework, as well as to help them create and sustain a relationship with work that supports individual and collective well-being. Graduates of the Career Counseling program are positioned for obtaining their LPCC after completion of 3,000 post-graduate internship hours and passing the LPCC state licensure exams.   

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counselors work in an array of community-based health and behavioral health agencies, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), K-12 schools, higher education settings, hospital-based programs, and programs and services for specific communities (e.g., LGBTQ+, older adults, youth, people with disabilities, Veterans) including underserved communities and those living in healthcare professional shortage areas. Graduates of the CMHC program are positioned for obtaining their LPCC after completion of 3,000 post-graduate internship hours and passing the LPCC state licensure exams. 

College Counseling

College Counselors may work in two- and four-year colleges and universities providing academic counseling in a range of college student personnel positions in programs such as student retention, EOP or EOPS, financial aid, CalWorks, multicultural student services, residential life, college outreach, transfer services, general counseling and other student services. Graduates of the College Counseling program are positioned for obtaining their LPCC after completion of 3,000 post-graduate internship hours and passing the LPCC state licensure exams.   

Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling

MFCC specialization prepares graduates for LMFT licensure in California. MFTs provide assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for individuals, couples, families, children, and groups in family, youth, and child agencies, hospitals, schools, universities, forensic settings, private practice, and a variety of community counseling services. The curriculum emphasizes a culturally-informed and systemic-familial-relational orientation to prevention, intervention, consultation, and advocacy. In order for graduates of the MFCC program to obtain their LPCC, they must take a 3-unit psychopharmacology course and a 3-unit crisis counseling (in addition to their 60-unit MFCC curriculum) pre- or post-graduation and complete 3,000 post-graduate internship hours and passing the LPCC state licensure exams.

School Counseling & Pupil Personnel Services Credential

School Counselors upon graduation and after passing the California CBEST examination receive their State of California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a specialization in School Counseling (PK–12) and work in public and private school settings. They do personal and academic counseling and work in an integrated services team approach with other mental health and education professionals. In order for graduates of the School Counseling program to obtain their LPCC, they must take a 3-unit psychopharmacology course (in addition to their 60-unit school counseling curriculum) pre- or post-graduation and complete 3,000 post-graduate internship hours and passing the LPCC state licensure exams.

 

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