Marital and Family Therapy Program
Online Application:
-
Submit the University of San Diego Graduate School Admission Online Application and $45 application fee
- Upload the following to submit your online application
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Recommenders’ Contact Information
- Upload the following to submit your online application
Transcripts:
Official transcript from the university where you earned your bachelor’s degree is required at the time of application.
Note:
- Official E-Transcripts are acceptable only if emailed to grads@sandiego.edu.
- Transcripts from study abroad courses and transfer credits are not required.
Degrees Earned Outside of the United States:
- Students who earned their bachelor’s degree from an institution outside the United States must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation at the time of application. Applicants can elect from:
- Applications for students educated outside the United States will not be considered complete nor can an admissions decision be made until this degree evaluation has been submitted.
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.
English Proficiency Exam for International Applicants:
- Official score reports for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all international applicants.
- TOEFL minimum scores:
- Internet-based test: 83
- Computer-based test: 237
- Paper-based test: 580
- IELTS minimum score:
- Band score 7
- TOEFL minimum scores:
- Have submitted your online application and
- You meet one of the following:
- English is your primary language
- You completed a 4-year bachelor's degree or 2-year master's degree, and obtained (or in the process of obtaining) a bachelor’s or master's degree in the U.S. with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Or from a university outside of the U.S. that is regionally accredited.
- You obtained your bachelor's degree in Great Britain, Canada, or Australia with an equivalent minimum 3.0 GPA.
Be sure to promptly order official transcripts or official transcript evaluations, as they are also required to determine waiver eligibility.
If you believe you are eligible for an EPEX waiver, please email the SOLES Admissions and Outreach Office at solesadmissions@sandiego.
Education Requirements:
- Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the program. Applicants may apply prior to completing their bachelor's degree. In this case, please submit your most up-to-date transcripts, and if admitted, submit a second set of official transcripts after your degree is conferred.
- The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Experience Requirements:
Experience in a related field is recommended, but not required for admission.Interview Requirements:
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.
If Admitted:
- The program requires the three pre-requisite courses for students to enroll in their second semester of courses: (1) Human or Life Span Development, (2) Counseling or Personality Theories, and (3) Research Methods.
- Students who have not taken these courses in their undergraduate studies can complete these requirements by taking a course prior to beginning the program or during their first semester at USD, either through an online program or in a traditional classroom setting.
- An affordable option to fulfill this course work can be found at study.com
Students entering the University of San Diego and/or declaring a major during 2022-23, should follow information contained in the printed course catalog (also known as the "catalog of record") published on April 1, 2022. Access the catalog of record at https://catalogs.sandiego.edu.
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
MFTS 500 | Research in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFTS 523 | Family Therapy Theories I | 3 |
MFTS 524 | Family Therapy Theories II | 3 |
MFTS 528 | Psychopathology in the Family | 3 |
MFTS 529 | Ethical, Legal, & Professional Issues in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFTS 532 | Human Diversity in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFTS 533 | Family Development | 3 |
MFTS 541 | Systemic Treatment of Children | 3 |
MFTS 543 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
MFTS 544 | Psychopharmacology and Systems | 2 |
MFTS 546 | Couples and Sex Therapy | 3 |
MFTS 562 | Recovery-oriented Case Management | 1 |
MFTS 563 | Collaborative Care | 1 |
MFTS 570 | Systemic Treatment of Substance Abuse | 2 |
MFTS 567 | Individual, Family and Community Trauma | 2 |
MFTS 571 | Family Violence | 1 |
MFTS 574 | Aging Issues in Family Therapy | 1 |
MFTS 577 | Treatment of Severe Mental Illness | 3 |
MFTS 595P | Practicum in MFT 1 | 5 |
MFTS 596P | Practicum in MFT 2 | 5 |
MFTS 597P | Practicum in MFT 3 | 5 |
Electives | ||
Take two of the following: | ||
MFTS 542 | Families of Children with Special Needs | 1 |
MFTS 572 | Gender Issues in Family Therapy | 1 |
MFTS 573 | Group Therapy | 1 |
MFTS 575 | Social Neuroscience for Family Therapists | 1 |
MFTS 576 | Self of the Therapist | 1 |
MFTS 578 | Spiritual Issues in Family Therapy | 1 |
Degree Requirements
Comprehensive Examination
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required for graduation. The exam is taken in the second year and covers three areas: Theory & Application, Assessment, and Law & Ethics. Students are given two hours to complete each section.
Clinical Contact Hours
Students must successfully complete a total of 500 clinical contact hours (minimum of 200 relational hours) and 100 supervision hours (minimum of 50 with raw data) while enrolled in Practicum.
Completion of Prerequisite Requirements
Students must complete the three prerequisite requirements (Human Development, Research Methods and either Counseling Theories or Theories of Personality) either prior to enrollment in the program or before the beginning of their second semester in the program.
Practicum In MFT
An important part of the training program is the practical experience and training students receive during the clinical practicum. The MFT faculty maintains a variety of sites that meet the rigorous clinical hour and supervision requirements. Practicum placements are typically non-paying positions.
Practicum (MFTS 595P, MFTS 596P, MFTS 597P) is a 12-month, three-semester sequence that is completed during the student’s final year in the program. During this clinically rich experience, students will be expected to complete 500 direct client-contact hours, 200 of which need to be with couples or families. Students receive a minimum of 100 hours of supervision from MFT faculty during this time, in addition to the supervision received from on-site supervisors. Faculty supervision is in both individual and group format, with live and videotaped data being used as the primary source of session information.
International Requirement
At SOLES, all masters and doctoral students participate in an international experience designed to support the growth of cultural competency. Our goal is to inform best practices in working with culturally diverse populations locally, nationally and globally. International experiences are approved by each student's faculty advisor and can be credit based or non-credit based activities.
Deadlines
All application materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions by the final deadline in order for your application to be considered for admission.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Review tuition rates, fees, and financial aid opportunities to start investing in yourself.
Status and Decisions
To confirm that application materials have been received, please log into the MySanDiego portal or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (619) 260-4524. Admissions decision letters are sent via US Mail.
Submit all supplemental materials to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
University of San Diego, Manchester Hall 105
5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492
grads@sandiego.edu
For questions about the admissions contact:
SOLES Office of Admissions and Outreach
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall 143
(619) 260-7988
solesadmissions@sandiego.edu
Advising Appointments