Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University

Study Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University, a Master degree offered at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 2 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for August 21, 2027.

About Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

Are you interested in becoming a licensed family therapist? Would you enjoy helping individuals, couples, and families work through difficult life transitions?

East Carolina University's marriage and family therapy program prepares you to become a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). The program has been continuously accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) since 1992 and prepares students that are grounded in systems theory and its application to clinical practice. ECU's MFT program will provide you with diverse range of clinical and theoretical orientations that help to prepare you to become a competent and confident therapist. Students work cooperatively with individuals, couples, and families on treatment teams at ECU's Family Therapy Clinic to develop and apply creative therapeutic strategies to intervene in the lives of clients. The Family Therapy Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art digital recording software so that all student client sessions can be recorded. You will enjoy studying the art of couple and family therapy under the direction of a faculty supervisor that provides feedback to you on your development and progress with clients through live and video-recorded sessions.

Each student is encouraged to develop a personalized therapeutic orientation and style that integrates theory and technique with a personalized approach for each student therapist. The combination of didactic course work and live supervision of your clinical work, creates a learning environment where students flourish and are prepared to become leaders in the rising generation.

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Program Coordinator: Damon Rappleyea (324 Rivers Building; 252-737-2416; [email protected])

The Marriage and Family Therapy program at East Carolina University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Enrollment in the marriage and family therapy (MFT) program is limited and admission is competitive. Acceptance into the program is contingent on prior admission to the Graduate School, application to the marriage and family therapy program, a personal interview with the clinical faculty, and a favorable recommendation from the MFT faculty. Decisions regarding acceptance into the program are based on the following criteria: undergraduate and graduate GPA, work or practicum experiences, a statement of professional objectives, and performance during the personal interview. Upon acceptance into the program, students typically begin course work in the fall semester.

The degree requires a minimum of 51 s.h. as follows:

1. Theoretical foundations in marriage and family therapy - 6 s.h.

HDFS 6407 - Family Systems Theories
HDFS 6408 - Family Therapy Theories

2. Clinical practice - 18 s.h.

HDFS 6300 - Critical Issues in Sexuality, Gender Roles, and Families
HDFS 6303 - Critical Issues in Family and Cultural Diversity
HDFS 6409 - Family Therapy Seminar I
HDFS 6410 - Family Therapy Seminar II
HDFS 6412 - Family Therapy Seminar III
HDFS 6425 - Assessment and Treatment Planning in Family Therapy

3. Human development and family studies - 3 s.h.

(Choose one of the following courses.)

HDFS 6401 - Family Theories and Issues
HDFS 6402 - Theories of Child Development
HDFS 6404 - Human Development within the Family, Part I
HDFS 6406 - Human Development within the Family, Part II

4. Professional identity and ethics - 3 s.h.

HDFS 6411 - Family Therapy Issues

5. Research - 6 s.h.

HDFS 7007 - Statistics in Child/Family Studies
HDFS 7400 - Research Methods in Child/Family Studies

6. Electives - 6 s.h.

6 s.h. of thesis or advisor-approved electives

7. Supervised clinical practice - 9 s.h.

HDFS 6415 - Family Therapy Practicum
HDFS 6416 - Family Therapy Practicum
HDFS 6417 - Family Therapy Practicum

Note:

The Department of Human Development and Family Science administers a marriage and family therapy clinic, which serves as a clinical training and research site for the program.

Additional information about graduate programs and application information can be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
Education and Training
Marriage and Family Therapists
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University

Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

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Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville