How to Apply
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Important Dates for Fall 2027
| Item | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Cal State Apply application (opens August 1 each year) |
December 1, 2026 |
| 2. Official transcripts due* | December 15, 2026 |
| 3. Program application & letters of recommendation | December 15, 2026 |
* Avoid delays with official transcripts! We strongly advise against waiting until the transcript deadline. Instead, please submit ALL transcripts from credit or degree-awarding colleges/universities as early as possible. Also, we strongly advise you to request certified electronic official transcripts to reduce processing time. MFT faculty will not review applications with missing official transcripts.
Application Instructions
Step 1: Submit Cal State Apply Application to SDSU
SDSU uses the California State University common admission application through the Cal State Apply website. Complete the first steps through the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office.
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Application Guide: Marriage and Family Therapy Cal State Apply Tutorial.
Step 2: Submit Slate Application to Program
Within 72 hours of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email containing a personalized link to Slate, where you must complete your program application.
Please ensure that all required program-specific documents listed below are prepared in advance and ready to upload to your Slate application.
- Application Guide: Slate Applicant User Guide
Items Requested in Program Application
Prepare a current resume or curriculum vitae listing work experience, education, awards, publications, and presentations.
Complete your experience profile using the Experience Profile Template (Word Document).
Complete the Marriage and Family Therapy Coursework Form (PDF).
Complete the Marriage and Family Therapy Disclosure Form within the Slate application.
Download unofficial transcripts (or scan a paper transcript) for every institution, one file per institution, and be prepared to upload to the Slate program application. This is in addition to, not a substitution for, having official transcripts sent to SDSU Graduate Admissions office.
Contact 3 individuals who you have interacted with both personally and professionally and would be able to write a letter of recommendation for you. Please request that they write their letter and have it ready for when the system is available since they will be needed quickly. Recommenders will submit their letters directly into the Slate program application (not through Cal State Apply).
Please collect recommenders' names and email addresses so you can request these letters through the Slate program application.
Personal Story Video (2 minutes): Record yourself alone, looking at the camera. Discuss:
- Personal experiences: Which life events have been most important in preparing you to be an MFT?
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Intercultural experiences: What unique intercultural experiences have been meaningful in preparing you to work as an MFT?
Interview Video (3-4 minutes): Find someone you trust (family member, friend, colleague, neighbor, or community member) to interview you on camera in person. They will ask the questions, and you will respond, just as you would in a real interview.
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Why MFT: Why are you choosing an MFT program instead of other mental health fields?
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Why MFT at SDSU: Why are you choosing the MFT Program at SDSU?
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Future contributions: What do you imagine will be your contribution in working with others to provide helpful mental health services?
Video Instructions
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Recording style: For the personal story, record yourself answering the questions without anyone else in the frame. For the interview video, both you and your interviewer must be visible; the interviewer asks the questions, and you respond.
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Authenticity: Provide genuine responses. Do not use AI-generated prompts or read from scripts, papers, or screens. Applicants are expected to respond authentically without the use of generative AI tools or by reading from scripts, papers, or screens. Responses that rely on these methods will be scored poorly.
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Time limits: Be succinct. Adhere strictly to the specified time limits (2 minutes for the personal story, 4 minutes for the interview). Videos will only be reviewed up to the stated time limit, and any content beyond that point will not be considered.
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Personal Space: Please ensure that your video is recorded in a setting that allows for clear visibility and audibility. Choose a space where you can be easily seen and heard, so that your responses are communicated effectively. Private settings are preferred.
In the application, you will be asked to upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo.
Step 3: Submit Official Transcripts
After you submit your Cal State Apply application, send Official Transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended to SDSU. Continue to monitor your email account for correspondence from SDSU.
Step 4: Monitor my.SDSU
Be sure to follow all instructions provided by SDSU, particularly those related to setting up your my.SDSU account. Once your account is active, regularly monitor your my.SDSU Application To-Do List for any items or requests issued by Graduate Admissions. Prompt attention to these items is essential to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
Step 5: Interviews
Folks invited to interview must attend the in-person interview (TBD). Exact times and dates are to be announced in early January .
Get in Touch
Thank you for your interest in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at SDSU. Due to a high volume of student inquiries, we are unable to meet with applicants one-on-one. For questions pertaining to our program, please see our Frequently Asked Questions. For detailed information on the MFT program and its expectations (i.e. requirements, program curriculum, sequence of study, etc.) please refer to the Essential Guide provided to the MFT students.