Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Marriage and Family Therapy, M.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: The Graduate School

Overview of Major

The Master of Science program in Marriage and Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The program currently offers a full-time track and a part-time track. These tracks combine academic coursework with supervised clinical experiences involving couples, individuals, and families. Both tracks are designed to focus on the integration of theory, research, and clinical practice throughout family life span development. Full-time students normally complete their degree requirements in two full calendar years while part-time students may complete degree requirements in three to four calendar years. The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy program is to prepare competent and ethical mental health professionals who are dedicated to improving the human condition through both prevention and intervention. The program faculty emphasize a multilevel systematic perspective that includes individual internal relationship processes and reflects cultural meanings, constraints, and global complexity. Due to the professional nature of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, student performance is evaluated at the following major transition points: (1) entry into the clinical component of the program, and (2) advancement through each step of a five-level practicum program. Movement through each transition point requires an endorsement by a majority of the marriage and family therapy faculty. Graduates of the program are prepared to fill family therapy clinical positions in both public and private human services agencies, public and private psychiatric hospitals, and to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

Special Program Requirements

The marriage and family therapy program admission requirements include submission of a resumé, a personal interview with the program director and the clinical faculty, emotional stability and maturity as evidenced through at least three letters of recommendation from previous professors, a written essay that identifies the applicant’s personal statement of goals, official undergraduate transcripts, and official GRE scores. While applications are accepted until all student positions are filled, students are encouraged to turn in their application prior to January 15. Interviews begin in February to select students to be admitted to the program.

Note:


*Student must complete the following minimum practicum requirements prior to graduation:

  1. 500 hours of face-to-face client contact
  2. 250 hours of the client contact must be relational therapy (couples or families)
  3. 100 hours of supervision, comprising both group and individual supervision
  4. 50 hours of supervision must be based on raw data (live, videotape, or audiotape)
  5. 250 client contact hours must be completed at the University Clinic for Family Therapy

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: The Graduate School