Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
The master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy prepares students for a career in marriage and family therapy. Based on a systems approach to interactions between individuals, families, and larger systems, students are empowered to conduct effective family therapy with diverse populations and are introduced to the role, process, and implications of research.
The program provides the academic and internship requirements to sit for the AMFTRB national exam and be eligible for licensure as a marriage and family therapist associate in Texas.
The M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Ability to critically consume research literature.
- Teamwork and collaboration skills.
- Ethical and social responsibility.
- Ability to apply family therapy and family systems knowledge to professional practice.
- Clinical skills using a systemic lens.
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours Required
Thesis or Non-thesis Option: 60 semester credit hours (SCH)
Clinical coursework includes at least 3 semesters of Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy with a minimum of 300 direct client contact hours with individuals, couples, families, or other systems (at least 100 of which must be relational hours that occur over a minimum of 12 months of clinical practice), plus 100 hours of MFT relational/systemic supervision from a program supervisor (including a minimum of 50 hours utilizing observable data).
Passing a criminal background check may be required by TWU or certain facilities associated with the required clinical work or for certification/licensing. If students are unable to be cleared on any of these requirements, they may not be able to continue in the program or become certified/licensed.
Special Requirements
No grade below B is accepted towards any graduate degree in the Department of Human Development, Family Studies, and Counseling (HDFSC). If more than one grade below B is earned while enrolled in any HDFSC graduate program, the student will be dismissed from the program and will be ineligible to re-enroll in any program within the department for a period of six years.
Final Examination
Students complete a written capstone project and participate in an oral defense of the completed product. The capstone project is outlined in the Marriage and Family Therapy Student Handbook.
General Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Family Therapy Core | ||
| HDFS 5003 | Lifespan Human Development | 3 |
| HDFS 5023 | Family Sexuality | 3 |
| COUN 5353 | Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Counselors | 3 |
| MFT 5553 | Systemic Couple and Sex Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5563 | Foundations of Family Therapy Theory | 3 |
| MFT 5813 | Women and Minority Issues in Sex and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5853 | Family Systems (must be taken with MFT 5543) | 3 |
| MFT 5863 | Issues and Ethics in Professional Development (must be taken with MFT 5513) | 3 |
| MFT 5873 | Collaborative Healthcare in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5883 | Family of Origin | 3 |
| Professional Competencies | ||
| MFT 5513 | Practicum in Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5543 | Prepracticum in Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5544 | Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy (3 consecutive semesters minimum. Students must complete applications and be approved during the semester preceding enrollment for each semester of Internship.) | 12 |
| Research | ||
| HDFS 5193 | Statistics for Family Sciences | 3 |
| HDFS 5693 | Research Methods in Family Sciences | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 54 | |
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 5983 | Thesis | 3 |
| HDFS 5993 | Thesis | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 6 | |
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Select a Specialization | 6 | |
| Trauma and Addiction | ||
| Systemic Treatment of Addiction in Couples and Families | ||
| Systemic Treatment of Trauma in Couples and Families | ||
| Grief and Bereavement | ||
| Counseling an Aging Population | ||
| Grief and Bereavement | ||
| Play Therapy | ||
| Play Therapy | ||
| Play, Development, and the Young Learner | ||
| Pre-Doctoral (select 2 of the following in consultation with academic advisor) | ||
| Advanced Statistics for Family Sciences | ||
| Effective College Teaching Methods | ||
| Advanced Applications of Family Therapy to Contemporary Challenges | ||
| Advanced Family Therapy Theory | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total SCHs | 6 | |
