Program Overview

Marriage and Family Therapy (MS) Program

The MS in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) specialization prepares students for careers as licensed marriage and family therapists. The primary mission of the MFT program is to prepare masters students to become multiculturally competent professionals in the specialty of marriage and family therapy.

Program Overview

The MFT curriculum combines theoretical training with practical experiences to prepare students for professional counseling careers, emphasizing the best practices of the Recovery Model. In California, completion of this program fulfills the academic requirements of the Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The program has five goals:

1. Knowledge of Subject Matter: Students will gain knowledge of the subject matter and best practices within the field of mental health, specifically for Marriage, Family Therapists (MFTs) in the State of California.
2. Application of Theory and Research: Students will demonstrate the application of theory and research to their training and practice as a mental health professional.
3. Cultural and Diversity Issues: Students will have an awareness of cultural and diversity issues in the counseling profession.
4. Self-Awareness: Students will demonstrate awareness of self (cultural identities/values/biases) as it applies to their role as mental health professionals.
5. Communication: Students will effectively communicate ideas in their speech, writing, and other forms of expression.

Admission Requirements

• Completed PSYCAS application
• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Prerequisite courses: Introduction to Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology
• Statement of purpose
• Curriculum Vitae or resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• International students must submit proof of proficiency in the English language via a satisfactory total TOEFL or Duolingo score

Program Details

• Program Length: Full-Time, 3 Years
• MFT Program Chair: Jerry L. Kernes
• MFT Fieldwork Coordinator: Yesim Keskin
• The program requires completion of 225 direct client contact hours
• Students are expected to purchase their own professional liability insurance while enrolled in Supervised Fieldwork classes
• All students enrolled in the MFT program are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of personal psychotherapy during their year of fieldwork placement

Grading Policies

• The MFT program uses the following grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, and F (or CRD, NCR)
• The minimal passing grade for all letter grade courses is B-
• The minimal passing grade for all CRD/NCR courses is "CRD"

Time Limitation

All requirements for the master's degree are to be completed within five years from the time of first course registration post-admission for the MFT program at the University of La Verne.

Program Candidacy

All students are admitted into the MFT program under a pre-candidacy status. After completing specific courses, students become eligible for candidacy status and are evaluated based on GPA, a passing score on the PSY 595 Competency Exam, and demonstrated personal suitability for the counseling profession.

Competency Exam

The Competency Exam (PSY 595 Competency Exam) is a program requirement that must be completed to become eligible to begin the fieldwork experience.

Degree Requirements

• 61 semester hours
• Course list includes:
  • PSY 502: Research Methods in Counseling
  • PSY 507: Human Development
  • PSY 522: Group Counseling
  • PSY 523: Multicultural Counseling
  • PSY 527: Professionalism, Ethics, and Law in Counseling
  • PSY 595: Competency Exam
  • And other specified courses

Advanced Standing

Students must receive Advanced Standing to enroll in PSY 596 Graduate Seminar, the culminating activity for students in the MFT program. Students are eligible to apply for Advanced Standing when they have completed (or are currently enrolled in) 43 semester hours, are currently in good standing, and attain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0.

Transfer Credit for Previous Graduate Work

Students who completed previous graduate work may request transfer credit for this work during their first semester in the program only. Request for transfer of academic credit and coursework will be reviewed by the MFT Program Chair on a case-by-case basis for currency and applicability.

Leave of Absence

Students are expected to participate in their coursework each semester until degree completion. Students who find it necessary to interrupt their studies and desire to return to the MFT program should contact the Program Chair to request a Leave of Absence.