Marriage and Family Therapy, M.S.

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Introduction

Master of Science Degree Students develop specific competence in the following areas of marriage and family therapy (MFT) lifespan human development, family dynamics, research, MFT ethics and legalities; systemic and interactional theories; and cultural competence related to the practice of individual, couple, family and group therapy. It includes direct experience conducting admission to treatment, clinical assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, case management, and therapeutic intervention.

This bulletin provides only a brief overview of the program. A more detailed description can be found online at www.uwstout.edu/programs/msmft/index.cfm.

This program prepares people for work in clinical settings such as mental health agencies, in-home therapy, day treatment, behavioral health (hospitals), schools and/or private practice. The program has a balance of classroom and field experience. Field experience occurs in clinic settings with live supervision. This is one of the longest running programs in the nation to be fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). It meets state educational requirements for licensing (especially Wisconsin and Minnesota) and prepares students for the AMFTRB (national) MFT exam required for license.

Admission

To be admitted with full status to this program, the applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and have an overall grade point average of at least 2.75. Applicants who have less than a 2.75 overall grade point average, but have relevant work or volunteer experience since receiving the bachelor’s degree and who are otherwise judged qualified as indicated below, may qualify for admission with probationary status. This would require that they complete graduate courses within the first term of enrollment with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in order to continue in the program.

It is recommended that the applicant have an undergraduate degree with major emphasis in one of the behavioral sciences or a closely related field. Applicants are advised to complete the admissions process no later than the program’s annual priority deadline (usually mid to late winter) as published on the Graduate School website at www.uwstout.edu/grad/prospect/apply.cfm.  Later applicants may be considered on a space available basis. Both a Graduate School application form (obtainable from the Graduate School website) and program application forms (obtainable from the MFT program website at http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/msmft/apply.cfm) are required. All required Graduate School admission documents (application, fee, transcripts, and the like) must be in the Graduate School office, and program admission documents must be in the MFT program office, prior to the priority deadline.

When the number of applicants exceeds the number that can be accommodated, students will be admitted on the basis of academic performance and other factors appropriate for consideration including:

1. Professional or volunteer work experience in a helping profession, i.e., counseling, social work, psychology, agency work, residential care, domestic violence, drug counseling, in-home therapy, clergy and education.
2. Letters of recommendation from educators, employers and / or consumers of services provided by the applicant. (These forms available from the MFT program website.)
3. Ratings of the individual as determined by an on-campus screening interview, followed by a group process evaluation. Admitting a diverse class of students is a priority.

Once accepted into the program, students will be required to complete a low cost criminal background check that will not affect their admission status, but could limit the availability of practicum placements.

Primary Evaluation Processes

The primary processes used to evaluate progress in the program include assessment of academic course performance as well as performance in the clinical practicum. All evaluations are based on the clinical competencies (specified in the Introduction) expected of an MFT in training.  Grades are used to reflect a student’s level of competence.

Requirements

One-half (50%) of the minimum credits required for graduation from this program must be in graduate-level only (700/800) courses.

Additional requirements for this degree include: (a) completion of the 56-credit curriculum (specified below) or demonstrated competence in the 56-credit curriculum with completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit with an overall graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better; and (b) approval for degree candidacy at the appropriate time.

Note: The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at UW-Stout program is designed to meet the requirements for licensure in the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. If you reside outside of Wisconsin or Minnesota, please contact Dr. Heather Hessel, the Program Director for the Marriage and Family Therapy program, to confirm whether this program (or coursework) meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. Students from other states may also need to contact their state regarding licensure requirements. See the following website for additional information. 

General Requirements
Master of Science Degree

Total for graduation	56 credits
Professional Requirements	56 credits