University of San Diego

M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy

On-Campus

University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110

MAMFT Program Page

 

Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.

Program Snapshot

Accreditation

COAMFTE

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT

Length of Program

  • 60 units

  • Full-time students who enter the program in the fall semester can complete the program in two years, graduating in either May or August of the second year.

  • Students who enter the program in the spring will require 2.5 years to complete the program.

  • Although the vast majority of students are full-time, students have the option of going through the program part-time (typically three years).

  • Students must complete the program within six years according to university policy.

Schedule/Format

  • The schedule of coursework may vary each semester, but most courses are offered at least twice a year. Students choose coursework for each semester with the help of their advisors.

  • Most courses are scheduled Monday-Friday between 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; a few are scheduled in the early evening. Each course is scheduled 2 times each year, usually in the fall and spring semesters. A small number of courses are offered in the summer. The schedule tends to look the same semester to semester, which allows students to plan their schedule in advance.

Program Start

Fall

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$93,300

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

The program seeks to enroll approximately 30 new students each year. Since we offer classes 2 times a year, class sizes are generally kept between 15 - 20 students and many are comprised of both 1st and 2nd year students.

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

  • Students obtain their clinical hours by taking practicum in their final year of the program.  Practicum students work in a community agency for one year, seeing clients with supervision from both agency and faculty supervisors. The program provides the student with a list of pre-approved agencies where students complete their clinical work. The program has developed several outstanding practicum sites that offer a broad range of client populations and presenting problems. This allows students to seek practicum sites that best match their interests and needs.

  • Students gain a minimum of 500 hours of experience conducting therapy through their practicum sites. At least 200 of these 500 hours will be working with couples and families (or other relational dyads). The 500 clinical hours count towards the 3,000 required for California licensure.

  • Practicum Placement Match Day

    • You will interview with agencies that have been approved by the program faculty as practicum sites. After you have interviewed with several sites, you will submit a preference list to the faculty. Each practicum site also will submit their preference lists. On a specified day in February or March, the faculty will meet to match students to practicum sites based on the student and site rankings.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

Students will complete a minimum of 25 hours of personal counseling prior to enrolling in Practicum. Students can choose from a range of counseling experiences to fulfill this requirement such as interpersonal, career, family, or pastoral counseling in an individual or group setting.

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required for graduation. The exam is taken in the second year, typically on the first Friday in February, and covers three areas: Theory & Application, Assessment, and Law & Ethics. Students are given two hours to complete each section.  

Application Process

Application Deadline

Priority Deadline: January 13, 2022

Final Deadline: February 10, 2022

Undergraduate GPA Required

The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate and graduate coursework.

GRE Requirement

The GRE or MAT scores are not required in order to be considered for the program. If you have previously taken either standardized tests and would like to submit your scores, you are welcome to do so.

Prerequisite Courses

  • There are three prerequisite courses required for "full" admission into the MFT program. These three courses should be completed by the beginning of the student's second semester.

    • COUNSELING THEORIES

      This course should cover important theories in the psychotherapy field (e.g., behavioral, experiential, psychodynamic, systemic).  Courses such as Theories of Personality or Counseling Theories will meet this requirement.  If taking a counseling course, be sure the focus is on theories rather than counseling skills.

    • HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

      This course should ideally cover developmental issues across the lifespan (childhood, adolescence, adulthood).  Courses such as Human Development or Developmental Psychology will meet this requirement. 

    • RESEARCH METHODS

      This course should cover various research topics including the strengths and limitations of various research designs (e.g., experiments, surveys, qualitative research), sampling, measurement, and an introduction to statistics.  Courses such as Introduction to Research Methods will meet this requirement.

  • The prerequisite requirement can be met by taking a course through any accredited university, including a local community college or approved online program.

  • Experience in a related field is recommended, but not required for admission.

Application Highlights

  • Letters of Recommendation:

    • Two letters of recommendation are required at the time of application. If possible, one letter should come from a professor who can speak to your academic strengths, while the other should come from an employer or professional mentor. Letters should not be submitted by a family member or friend. The letters of recommendation should share how they know you, how long they’ve known you, and how they are familiar with your work. We encourage recommenders to share specific anecdotes that help explain how they think you will be successful in a program and in your career.

  • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV):

    • Your résumé or CV should be a summary of your qualifications and transferable skills related to the program. You are encouraged to highlight your professional accomplishments and relevant experiences, including volunteer experiences. In addition, you can submit a cover letter with your resume to provide context to your relevant experiences and share their connection to the program.

  • Statement of Purpose:

    • 500-words maximum: Please include a brief narrative describing yourself, your career goals, and the importance of graduate study in marriage and family therapy at this point in your life. You may discuss influences on your intellectual development, educational and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) that have been available to you, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you. This should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application; it should give the Admissions Committee a better sense of who you are and why you are applying to the marriage and family therapy program at the University of San Diego. If you are in a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to leave.

Interview Requirement

After an initial review of applications to the Marital and Family Therapy program, the most qualified candidates will be invited to USD for a group interview with the MFT faculty.

Program Summary

Relationships as a pathway to healing

The Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) program combines personalized instruction, hands-on clinical experience, and internationally renowned faculty. The MFT Program is accredited by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (California) and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE).

Students complete rigorous coursework and a 12-month clinical practicum in community sites, such as Rady Children’s Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry and the Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research at UCSD.  Full-time students graduate in 2 years and accrue approximately 1100 hours toward the 3,000 hours required for MFT licensure in California.  After graduation, students become Registered Associate Marital and Family Therapists and continue their training in preparation for licensure. 

Our biospsychosocial, systems approach centers on relationships, focusing on cultivating a deeper understanding of how family interactions and social connections affect our daily lives. Our approach to family therapy education has been described in our best-selling books, Essential Skills in Family Therapy, 3rdedition (Guilford, 2018) Clinician’s Guide to Research Methods: Foundations of Evidence-based Practice (Guilford, 2014), and Essential Assessment Skills for Couple and Family Therapists (Guilford, 2011).  We provide specialized training in medical settings, which is described in The Therapist’s Guide to Psychopharmacology(Guilford, 2006) and Mental Health Professionals in Medical Settings: A Primer (Norton, 2002).