Division of Social Sciences
Master of Arts
Marriage and Family Therapy

MFT Degree Requirements

David Huelsbeck, PhD, Dean, Division of Social Sciences
Cheryl Storm, PhD, Chair, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy; Clinic Director
Teresa McDowell, MA, Visiting Professor

“As I visit with interns from MFT programs, I realize what a superior education I received from PLU…other programs only touch on small amounts of what we studied…”
Kathleen Maxey, MFT Graduate

Purpose: The primary objective of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program is to train clinicians interested in counseling children, adults, couples, or families with a wide range of mental health problems, ranging from the chronically mentally ill to troubled children, from a marriage and family therapy perspective. Students participate in an intensive 20-hour-per-week, four-semester clinical experience which includes 500 hours of therapy under close supervision in an on-campus clinic and in a community placement. The on-campus clinic and four off-campus sites offer all students a managed care clinical experience. Academic courses are scheduled at 3:00 p.m. to allow students to work full-time during their first academic year while they prepare for their clinical experience. Because faculty recognize that adult students bring expertise with them, students are highly involved in learning via exercises, classroom discussion, and real-life activities. The program is secular in nature and emphasizes the application of theory to practice, rigorous evaluation, and direct supervision of one’s clinical competency.

Accreditation: The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and also complies with Washington State Certification requirements for marriage and family therapists.

Prerequisites: Applicants who have a degree in family studies, human services, psychology, sociology, social work, or the equivalent are not required to meet any program prerequisites. Applicants who do not have a degree in any of these areas are required to complete a minimum of 15 semester hours (22.5 quarter hours) in family social sciences, human services, psychology, sociology, or social work.

Admission: The MFT program is looking for individuals who have professional goals consistent with the program, volunteer or professional experience in the social services, the ability to handle the academic rigor of the program, and the personal qualities required of marriage and family therapists. To be considered for admission, applicants must: have a bachelor’s degree, submit transcripts of all undergraduate work, have a specific interest in MFT, provide a current resume, obtain two letters of recommendation, complete an application, and prepare an autobiographical statement.

The comprehensive autobiographical statement (maximum of five double-spaced typed pages) should address the following questions:

1. What significant life events have most influenced your present development and your desire to be a family therapist?
2. What are your professional career goals after completing your degree?
3. What are your strengths that will help you achieve your professional goals?
4. What do you consider to be areas for personal growth that may need the most attention during your training as a therapist at Pacific Lutheran University?
   

This statement replaces the required goal statement on the application form.

Based on a committee review of applicants’ written materials, a pool of applicants to be interviewed is established. The primary purpose of the interview is to determine the fit between the applicants’ professional goals and the purpose and mission of the MFT program.

Application Deadline for Fall:

• Application file completed in Office of Admissions: January 31
• Interview Notification: Mid February through end of April. Interview date: To be announced.

Advance Deposit: Accepted applicants must make a $300.00 advance payment to confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission within three weeks of their acceptance date.

Back to topMFT Degree Requirements: (45 semester hours)

500 Human Development (4)
503 Systems Approach to Marriage and Family Therapy (4)
504 Family Development (4)
505 Social Science Research Methods (4)
507 Comparative Marriage and Family Therapy (4)
510 Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy (2)
511 Psychosocial Pathology: Relationship to Marriage and Family Therapy (4)
512 Professional Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
519 Practicum I (2)
520 Theory I (2)
521 Practicum II (2)
522 Theory II (2)
523 Practicum III (2)
524 Theory III (2)
526 Development of a Personal Integrated Theory (2)
525 Practicum IV (4)
527 Extended Practicum V (2)

Elective:
599 Thesis (4)