MS, Couple and Family Therapy

Mission Statement

The mission of the CFT Master's program is to prepare competent, effective therapists for clinical practice and advancement of the marriage and family therapy discipline. The program seeks to train professionals who demonstrate superior knowledge of the profession and therapeutic skills, ethical integrity, strong professional identity, intellectual curiosity, and a sincere commitment to working with families, couples, and individuals from diverse populations.

Overview

The MS in Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) provides students with the coursework and supervised clinical training required to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in Maryland and also typically required in many other states with Marriage and Family Therapy licensure. The program has been accredited for over 40 years by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The comprehensiveness of our curriculum and the extensive clinical training with diverse clients prepare our graduates for employment in a wide variety of CFT positions. In addition, the program prepares students to perform well on the National Licensing Examination. Thus, the degree is highly portable and students go on to practice throughout the country. Please refer to the AAMFT licensure requirements page for the requirements for other states. 

Graduation from the Couple and Family Therapy program requires completion of a minimum of 45 required credits for the non-thesis option and 51 credits for the thesis option (45 required credits + 6 thesis credits). Students can graduate with the 60 credits required for Licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryland and in many other states by taking five additional elective courses (15 credits) or three additional elective courses (9 credits) for the thesis option (6 credits). All five elective courses can be taken in the Department of Family Science and four are actually offered in the Couple and Family Therapy program.

Graduation from the CFT program requires completion of the program's clinical training component. Students are required to complete a two-year internship at the Center for Healthy Families. The internship requires a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours, of which at least 400 must be direct client contact hours. Within those direct client contact hours, students must complete:

• At least 150 relational hours (couple or family therapy sessions)
• At least 75 hours of in-person therapy
• At least 75 hours of telehealth therapy
• At least 100 hours of therapy with diverse, marginalized, or underserved populations

Up to 100 of the 500 total hours may involve alternative client interactions, such as observing clinical cases or facilitating psychoeducational groups on specific mental health and/or relationship and family topics. Students receive at least 100 hours of supervision (usually more than 200 hours) from AAMFT Approved Supervisors or Supervisor Candidates, of which at least 50 hours are based on observable data (video-recorded sessions or live supervision)

Graduation from the CFT program also requires students to complete a capstone project in their final practicum course. The capstone project is a comprehensive portfolio of assignments completed during the last semester. This portfolio integrates the knowledge and skills students have acquired as clinicians. Assignments focus on the self of the therapist, sociocultural attunement, philosophy of therapy, advanced application of clinical models, professional and ethical standards, integration of research into treatment, and a career and self-care plan.  

The current core faculty of the CFT program are Dr. Mariana Falconier (Program Director), Dr. Tiara Fennell (Center for Healthy Families Director), Dr. Mona Mittal, and Dr. Amy Morgan.

The mission of the CFT Master's program is to prepare competent, effective therapists for clinical practice and advancement of the marriage and family therapy discipline. The program seeks to train professionals who demonstrate superior knowledge of the profession and therapeutic skills, ethical integrity, strong professional identity, intellectual curiosity, and a sincere commitment to working with families, couples, and individuals from diverse populations.

The CFT program is committed to diversity and inclusion among its students, faculty, and clients. The program’s definition of diversity includes, but is not limited to, age, gender, gender identity/expression, ethnicity, race, nationality, physical/cognitive/health ability or condition, international status, immigrant status, English language proficiency, accent, sexual orientation, military status, religious/spiritual views, political views, socioeconomic status, education level, relationship status, or family composition. The CFT faculty seek to include a diverse pool of applicants to be interviewed for the incoming class each year. View a complete breakdown of the program demographics. 

Application to the program is made through the University of Maryland Graduate School's Application Portal. The Department of Family Science admits students in the fall semester only. Applications typically open in July for the next school year. The deadline for submitting the Graduate School Application and the Couple and Family Therapy Application Form is typically around December 1 each year. The deadline is December 4, 2026 for the Fall 2027 cohort. This is the same deadline for international students and citizens living abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline date as all items must be received to be reviewed.

Center for Healthy Families: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

About Us

The Center for Healthy Families is a couple and family therapy clinic housed in the Department of Family Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Center serves as the primary clinical training site for the department's nationally accredited Couple and Family Therapy M.S. program. Graduate student interns from the Couple and Family Therapy program provide clinical services to residents of the surrounding communities. The Center serves approximately 200 couples and families in the area each year. 

Philosophy

The Center for Healthy Families' philosophy is to work with couples and families as a unit. Many problems and stresses are part of behavioral patterns that are best be addressed when the couple or family works together.

Services

Operating as a non-profit clinic, the Center for Healthy Families offers both in-person and teletherapy services including couples, family, and individual therapy. The Center also provides services including, but not limited to: child therapy, play therapy, premarital counseling, inclusive couples/marriage counseling, coping & adjustments, anger management, grief therapy, trauma therapy, and anxiety management. 

Appointments are available Monday through Saturday, starting as early as 8:00 AM or as late as 8:00 PM. Insurance is not accepted but services are provided on a sliding fee scale. Services are provided in both English and Spanish. If you are interested in receiving services, please contact chf@umd.edu or 301-405-2273

Facilities

The CHF has two major wings, one containing a waiting room for clients, ten therapy rooms (including a playroom for therapy with children), and observation rooms for live clinical supervision.  All therapy rooms are equipped with comfortable furniture, digital videorecording equipment, and phones for supervisor call-in. The other wing of the CHF houses the large main office in which staff meetings are held, a clinical records storage room, a kitchen, computers for record-keeping and data entry, and two seminar classrooms. 

Therapists

Center for Healthy Families therapists apply and integrate the latest research, theories, and methods in family therapy. All couple and family therapy services are supervised by the core clinical faculty and adjunct clinical supervisors of the Couple and Family Therapy Program. Clinical supervisors are highly qualified, experienced couple family therapists who bring a variety of theoretical approaches and a broad experiential base to their supervision of graduate students. They are AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy) Supervisors or Supervisor Candidates. 

Explore our video on YouTube to learn more.

Competencies: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

Mission of the CFT Program

The mission of the CFT Master's program is to prepare competent, effective therapists for clinical practice and advancement of the marriage and family therapy discipline. The program seeks to train professionals who demonstrate superior professional knowledge and therapeutic skills, ethical integrity, a strong professional identity, intellectual curiosity, and a sincere commitment to working with families, couples, and individuals from diverse populations.

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

The following are the Program Goals and associated Student Learning Outcomes for the CFT Program. These Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes are based on professional marriage and family therapy principles, COAMFTE Core Competencies, the AAMFT code of ethics, the domains included in the AMFTRB National Exam, and state licensure regulations. Each Student Learning Outcome (SLO) is linked to one of the Program Goals.

Program Goal 1: To educate and train couple and family therapists that are socio-culturally informed and attuned to responsibly serve diverse communities

• SLO 1A – Students will have a strong knowledge of the impact of socio-cultural location (e.g., race, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religion, social class, ability, etc.) and intersecting identities on individual and relational functioning
• SLO 1B – Students will understand how their socio-cultural location and intersecting identities can impact the practice of the profession
• SLO 1C – Students will apply knowledge of socio-cultural location and intersecting identities to practice in a responsive, culturally attuned way

Program Goal 2: To educate and train ethical couple and family therapists who demonstrate a strong professional MFT identity and adhere to MFT ethical codes and relevant regulatory bodies 

• SLO 2A – Students will be knowledgeable of professional codes of ethics, federal and state laws, and models of ethical decision-making, regarding the practice of couple and family therapy
• SLO 2B – Students will demonstrate ethical decision-making and adherence to the codes of the MFT profession and pertinent regulatory bodies in professional practice
• SLO 2C – Students will be knowledgeable of various roles and jobs, business administration, and organizations in the MFT profession
• SLO 2D – Students will apply knowledge of the MFT as a profession to develop their own professional identity and goals

Program Goal 3: To educate and train qualified couple and family therapists who understand and apply a systemic/relational and ecological approach in their professional practice 

• SLO 3A – Students will have a solid knowledge of couple and family therapy models and techniques based on a systemic/relational and ecological approach
• SLO 3B – Students will apply couple and family therapy models and techniques based on a systemic/relational and ecological approach to assess and treat clinical presenting problems
• SLO 3C – Students will be able to utilize knowledge about normative and non- normative child, adolescent, adult, and family functioning to assess and treat presenting problems
• SLO 3D - Students will have knowledge about standardized tests and structured clinical interviews to apply formal diagnostic criteria (e.g. DSM-5TR) in assessing and treating problems in individual family members’ functioning
• SLO 3E - Students will utilize standardized tests and structured clinical interviews to apply formal diagnostic criteria (e.g. DSM-5TR) in assessing and treating problems in individual family members’ functioning
• SLO 3F – Students will have knowledge about crisis and case management in couple and family therapy
• SLO 3G – Students will apply their knowledge about crisis and case management in the practice of couple and family therapy

Program Goal 4: To train and educate couple and family therapists to understand and utilize research findings for professional practice 

• SLO 4A – Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic and applied research methods
• SLO 4B – Students will gain knowledge to assess, critique, and integrate existing research to guide their professional practice
• SLO 4C – Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical principles governing human subjects’ research
• SLO 4D – Students will utilize research to inform professional practice
• SLO 4E – Students will be knowledgeable of the areas in need of attention for the advancement of the MFT profession

Course Offerings: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

SPHL 600 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits) 

An overview of the theoretical frameworks and research findings in the field of Public Health. This course is required of all students enrolled in academic programs within the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health. Offered in the second spring semester of the program.

FMSC 610 Research Methods in Family Science (3 credits)

Prerequisite: EDMS 645 or equivalent. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Research methods in family science. The role of theory, design, use of qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques, data collection, and data analysis. Offered in the first spring semester of the program.

FMSC 630 Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 640. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. The course presents conceptual models and interventions for assessing and treating children and adolescents in family therapy. Emphasis on play therapy, attachment-based therapy, developmental aspects, and common presenting problems in children and adolescents. Offered in the first winter session of the program. 

FMSC 631 Trauma & Addiction in Family Life (3 credits)

Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Introductory course in Trauma and Addictions. Addictions will be viewed through a trauma lens with attention paid to the family context. Special attention will be paid to the importance of therapist self-care when working with traumatized individuals, families, and addictions, along with the overall ethical implications involved in this work. Offered in the second fall semester of the program.

FMSC 632 Testing and Assessment in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)

Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. This is a course in family, couple, and individual testing and assessment. The course will cover typical procedures and instruments for assessing qualities of individual functioning and relationship functioning in work with families and couples. The study of the assessment process will include standardized tests, clinical interviews, and behavior rating scales. The use of assessment in treatment plans and treatment outcome evaluation, ethical considerations, and the dissemination of information to clients and others are covered. Offered in the second winter session of the program.

FMSC 635 Relational Therapy with Gender and Sexual Minorities (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 745. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. The course explores the physiological, psychological, and sociocultural variables associated with sexual expression, identity, orientation, and behavior for the LGBTQ+ population. Focus on clinical work with individuals, couples, and other varied relationship dynamics within the LGBTQ+ Community. Offered in the second spring semester of the program.

FMSC 640 Family Therapy: Theory and Techniques (3 credits)

Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. The course presents conceptual models and interventions for assessing and treating children and adolescents in family therapy. Emphasis on play therapy, attachment-based therapy, developmental aspects, and common presenting problems in children and adolescents. Offered in the first fall semester of the program.

FMSC 641 Couples Therapy: Theory, and Techniques (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 640. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Exploration of the dynamics of the couple relationship and methods for facilitating growth and constructive interaction within that relationship. Theoretical models of couple therapy and their methods for assessment and treatment of distressed relationships. Applications with a variety of common problems experienced by couples. Offered in the first spring semester of the program.

FMSC 642 Individual and Family Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 640. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Normal development and psychopathology, within the context of the family system: implications for assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions. Emphasis on families with school-age children, adolescents, parent-child relationships, and application of the current psychiatric diagnostic system (DSM) in work with families. Offered in the second fall semester of the program.

FMSC 645 Sexuality: Issues in Family Therapy and Service Delivery (3 credits)

Prerequisite: A basic course in human sexuality and permission of the instructor. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Typical, dysfunctional, and pathological sexual functioning: effects on individuals, couples, and family systems. Sensitizes students to sexual issues, explores how perceptions of such issues affect work with people, and emphasizes implications for couple and family therapy. Offered in the summer semester of the program.

FMSC 650 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Principles in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)

Prerequisite: Permission of department. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. An introduction to the basic principles and practices of family therapy. Emphasis on basic therapy skills applied to a family context and on professional ethics of the family practitioner. Addresses therapist's legal responsibilities and liabilities, certification, and licensure issues. Offered in the first fall semester of the program.

FMSC 651 Treatment of Emotional and Mental Disorders in the Family Context (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 650. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Initial application of family therapy skills and theoretical models to the practice of couple and family therapy. Didactic focus on assessment and diagnosis of family processes. Emphasis on treatment plans from different therapeutic models demonstrated in case presentations and supervision of therapy. Therapist burnout prevention and intervention. Offered in the first spring semester of the program.

FMSC 652 Psychopathology and Diagnosis in the Family System (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 651. Limited to students admitted into the family therapy program. Integration of systematic assessment and intervention procedures with couples and families, within the context of the various family therapy models. Didactic emphasis is given to procedural issues, critique and utilization of current DSM, and specific problems encountered in family therapy work. Advanced professional responsibility as demonstrated in case presentations and supervision. Offered in the second fall semester of the program.

FMSC 653 Advanced Application of Couple and Family Therapy Models and Techniques (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 652. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Concluding courses in clinical therapy, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment series. Didactic focus on personal theory building, continued professional development, and extension of systematic intervention to community consultation with other mental health professionals. Emphasis on personal values and professional ethics as applied in case presentations and supervision. Offered in the second spring semester of the program.

FMSC 654 Clinical Couple and Family Therapy Practice (3 credits)

Prerequisite: FMSC 651. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Application of theory and technique to the clinical practice of couple and family therapy. Emphasis on case management and clinic administration. Includes completion of 12 successive months and 500 hours of supervised, direct client contact with couples, families, and individuals from an integrative family systems perspective. Offered in the second winter semester of the program.

FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (1-2 credits per semester for a total of 9 credits for the program) 

Prerequisite: Supervised couple and family therapy client contact (teletherapy and in person).  Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Various family systems models of supervision applied via extant methods, including live and video recorded.

FMSC 745 Diversity and Social Justice in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)

Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Major critiques of sources of racial, cultural, and gender bias in couple and family therapy and family service delivery. Addresses these issues in program development, clinical practice, and policy. Offered in the first fall semester of the program.

FMSC 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)

*For graduation, students need 9 credits in FMSC 658. Students must register for at least 1 credit per semester (excluding winter courses). Because registering for only 1 credit per semester totals 6 credits, it is up to the student how they will distribute the remaining 3 credits. In any given semester, they can register for between 1 and 3 credits. We highly recommend registering for just one credit in Summer Session I.

This page is for this program only. For additional graduate courses in family science, please visit the PhD, Family Science page.

Course Requirements: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

Standard CFT Program Required Course Sequence (Including Required and Elective Courses)

Semester I (Fall)

• FMSC 640 Family Therapy: Theory and Technique (3 credits)
• FMSC 650 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Principles in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)
• FMSC 745 Diversity and Social Justice in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits) 
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)*

Winter Term

• FMSC 630 Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents (3 credits) (Elective)

Semester II (Spring)

• FMSC 610 Research Methods in Family Science (3 credits)
• FMSC 641 Couples Therapy: Theory and Techniques (3 credits)
• FMSC 651 Treatment of Emotional and Mental Disorders in the Family Context (3 credits)
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)*

Summer Session I

• FMSC 645 Sexuality: Issues in Family Therapy and Service Delivery (3 credits)
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)*

Summer Session II

• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)*

Semester III (Fall)

• FMSC 642 Individual and Family Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
• FMSC 652 Psychopathology and Diagnosis in Family System (3 credits)
• FMSC 631 Trauma & Addiction in Family Life (3 credits) (Elective)
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)**

Winter Term

• FMSC 654 Clinical Couple and Family Therapy Practice (3 credits)
• FMSC 632 Testing and Assessment in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits) (Elective)

Semester IV (Spring)

• SPHL 600 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)
• FMSC 653 Advanced Application of Couple and Family Therapy Models and Techniques (3 credits)
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (At least 1 credit up to 3 credits)**
• FMSC 635 Relational Therapy with Gender and Sexual Minorities (3 credits) (Elective)
• FMSC 799 Master's Thesis Research (Thesis Option: Thesis and Oral Examination of Thesis) (6 credits)**

Notes
*For graduation, students need 9 credits in FMSC 658. Students will need to register for at least 1 credit per semester (excluding winter courses). Because registration for only 1 credit per semester makes a total of 6 credits, it is up to the student how they will distribute the remainder of the three credits. In any given semester they can register for between 1 and 3 credits. 

**Because students electing the non-thesis track option do not register for FMSC 799, they need to register for two additional 3-credit elective courses in order to accrue 60 total credits for licensure in Maryland. The sequence presented shows when the 4 CFT elective courses could be taken. The fifth elective course can be one of the courses offered by the Department of Family Science or a course offered in another department (e.g., Psychology).

For a full list of program policies, click here.

For a complete explanation of these program policies, please refer to the CFT Program Handbook:

Student Recruitment Policy page: 60

Student Admission Policy page: 61

Course Waivers/Substitutions Policy page: 61

Course and Degree Time Limits Policy page: 62

Policy on Grading page: 62

Academic Integrity Policy page: 62-63

Policy on Remediation and Dismissal Regarding Ethical Violations page: 63-64

Policy on Faculty and Supervisor Ethical Behavior page: 64

Diversity Policy page: 64

Non-Discrimination Policy page: 64-65

Policy on Student Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances page: 65-69

Retention Policy page: 70

Policy on Procedures for Clearance to Graduate page: 70

Policy on Technical Training for Students, Faculty, and Supervisors page: 70-71

Maryland Licensure page: 71

Portability of Degree Policy page: 71-72

Policy on Technology Requirements page: 74-75

Graduate Assistantship Policies

More information on Graduate Assistantships.

Program Requirements: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

Curriculum Overview

Graduation from the Couple and Family Therapy program requires completion of a minimum of 45 required credits for the non-thesis option and 51 credits for the thesis option (45 required credits + 6 thesis credits). Students can graduate with the 60 credits required for Licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryland and in many other states by taking five additional elective courses (15 credits) or three additional elective courses (9 credits) for the thesis option (6 credits). All five elective courses can be taken in the Department of Family Science and four are offered in the Couple and Family Therapy program.

Didactic coursework is taken in conjunction with 15 credits of clinical practicum seminars and 9 credits of supervision of clinical work. In the clinical practicum, the theory is applied to specific case material, with faculty supervision providing support and oversight of assigned cases. The CFT program has a minimum length of two years and a maximum length of five years.

Clinical Experience

Supervised client contact begins in the student’s first semester through their internship at the Center for Healthy Families. The two-year internship requires completion of a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours, of which at least 400 must be direct client contact hours. Within those direct client contact hours, students must complete:

• At least 150 relational hours (couple or family therapy sessions)
• At least 75 hours of in-person therapy
• At least 75 hours of telehealth therapy
• At least 100 hours of therapy with diverse, marginalized, or underserved populations

Up to 100 of the 500 clinical total hours may involve alternative client interactions, such as observing clinical cases or facilitating psychoeducational groups on specific mental health and/or relationship and family topics. Students receive at least 100 hours of supervision (usually more than 200 hours) from AAMFT Approved Supervisors or Supervisor Candidates, of which at least 50 hours are based on observable data (video-recorded sessions or live supervision). Clinical Supervision is provided through a range of techniques including case discussion, one-way mirror observation, video review, co-therapy, and telephone or real-time video consultation during live sessions.

Capstone Project

Students complete a capstone project in their final practicum course. The capstone project is a comprehensive portfolio of assignments completed during the last semester. This portfolio integrates the knowledge and skills students have acquired as clinicians. Assignments focus on the self of the therapist, sociocultural attunement, philosophy of therapy, advanced application of clinical models, professional and ethical standards, integration of research into treatment, and a career and self-care plan.  

Thesis/Non-Thesis Options

Couple and Family Therapy students may pursue a thesis or a non-thesis option. For thesis option students, 6 semester hours are thesis research credits taken as FMSC 799. The thesis, involving original research supervised by a CFT or other Family Science faculty mentor, must be approved and then defended in an oral examination.

Students who are not completing a thesis can choose a graduate level course within the Department of Family Science or another UMD department for the fifth elective course. Students taking a fifth elective course usually confirm with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists whether the fifth elective course chosen will be accepted as part of the 60 required credits for licensure. 

Students are required to have completed a graduate or advanced undergraduate level statistics course prior to enrolling in FMSC 610 (Research Methods) or initiating thesis research. This requirement can be fulfilled by completing a statistics course at the University of Maryland, College Park, or another academic institution. The student will submit the course syllabus and any associated course materials to the CFT Program Director for evaluation.

Developmental psychology courses are also strongly recommended. 

Course Requirements 

Required Courses

• SPHL 600 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits) An overview of the theoretical frameworks and research findings in the field of Public Health. This course is required of all students enrolled in academic programs within the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health. Taken in the second spring semester of the program.
• FMSC 610 Research Methods in Family Science (3 credits) Prerequisite: EDMS 645 or equivalent. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Research methods in family science. The role of theory, design, use of qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques, data collection, and data analysis. Taken in the first spring semester of the program.
• FMSC 640 Family Therapy: Theory and Techniques (3 credits) Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. The course presents conceptual models and interventions for assessing and treating children and adolescents in family therapy. Emphasis on play therapy, attachment-based therapy, developmental aspects, and common presenting problems in children and adolescents. Taken in the first fall semester of the program.
• FMSC 641 Couples Therapy: Theory, and Techniques (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 640. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Exploration of the dynamics of the couple relationship and methods for facilitating growth and constructive interaction within that relationship. Theoretical models of couple therapy and their methods for assessment and treatment of distressed relationships. Applications with a variety of common problems experienced by couples. Taken in the first spring semester of the program.
• FMSC 642 Individual and Family Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 640. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Normal development and psychopathology, within the context of the family system: implications for assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions. Emphasis on families with school-age children, adolescents, parent-child relationships, and application of the current psychiatric diagnostic system (DSM) in work with families. Taken in the second fall semester of the program.
• FMSC 645 Sexuality: Issues in Family Therapy and Service Delivery (3 credits) Prerequisite: A basic course in human sexuality and permission of the instructor. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Typical, dysfunctional, and pathological sexual functioning: effects on individuals, couples, and family systems. Sensitizes students to sexual issues, explores how perceptions of such issues affect work with people, and emphasizes implications for couple and family therapy. Taken in the summer semester of the program.
• FMSC 650 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Principles in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits) Prerequisite: Permission of department. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. An introduction to the basic principles and practices of family therapy. Emphasis on basic therapy skills applied to a family context and on professional ethics of the family practitioner. Addresses therapist's legal responsibilities and liabilities, certification, and licensure issues. Taken in the first fall semester of the program.
• FMSC 651 Treatment of Emotional and Mental Disorders in the Family Context (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 650. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Initial application of family therapy skills and theoretical models to the practice of couple and family therapy. Didactic focus on assessment and diagnosis of family processes. Emphasis on treatment plans from different therapeutic models demonstrated in case presentations and supervision of therapy. Therapist burnout prevention and intervention. Taken in the first spring semester of the program.
• FMSC 652 Psychopathology and Diagnosis in the Family System (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 651. Limited to students admitted into the family therapy program. Integration of systematic assessment and intervention procedures with couples and families, within the context of the various family therapy models. Didactic emphasis is given to procedural issues, critique and utilization of current DSM, and specific problems encountered in family therapy work. Advanced professional responsibility as demonstrated in case presentations and supervision. Taken in the second fall semester of the program.
• FMSC 653 Advanced Application of Couple and Family Therapy Models and Techniques (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 652. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Concluding courses in clinical therapy, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment series. Didactic focus on personal theory building, continued professional development, and extension of systematic intervention to community consultation with other mental health professionals. Emphasis on personal values and professional ethics as applied in case presentations and supervision. Taken in the second spring semester of the program.
• FMSC 654 Clinical Couple and Family Therapy Practice (3 credits) Prerequisite: FMSC 651. Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Application of theory and technique to the clinical practice of couple and family therapy. Emphasis on case management and clinic administration. Includes completion of 12 successive months and 500 hours of supervised, direct client contact with couples, families, and individuals from an integrative family systems perspective. Taken in the second winter semester of the program.
• FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice of Couple and Family Therapy (1-2 credits per semester for a total of 9 credits for the program) Prerequisite: Supervised couple and family therapy client contact (teletherapy and in person).  Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Various family systems models of supervision applied via extant methods, including live and video recorded.
• FMSC 745 Diversity and Social Justice in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits) Limited to students admitted to the family therapy program. Major critiques of sources of racial, cultural, and gender bias in couple and family therapy and family service delivery. Addresses these issues in program development, clinical practice, and policy. Taken in the first fall semester of the program.
• FMSC 799 Master’s Thesis Research (1-6 credits)

Electives 

CFT students have the option to take three elective courses listed below while in the program. While these elective courses are not required for graduation from the CFT Program, they are required to apply for and receive Marriage and Family Therapy licensure in the state of Maryland. Students who choose the ACP option will be required to take an additional elective graduate level course in the Department of Family Science or in any other related discipline to satisfy the 60 credits Maryland State’s licensure requirement.

• FMSC 630 Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents (3 credits)
• FMSC 631 Trauma & Addiction in Family Life (3 credits)
• FMSC 632 Testing and Assessment in Couple and Family Therapy (3 credits)
• FMSC 635 Relational Therapy with Gender and Sexual Minorities (3 credits) 
• FMSC 660 Violence in Families (3 credits) *

*Elective course FMSC 660 Violence in Families (3 credits) is offered by the Department of Family Science. 

For information on the CFT Program curriculum regulatory alignment with the MD Board requirements for license in MFT, click here.

For further information, please contact Program Administrative Specialist, Sarah Walker at scwalk@umd.edu.

For a list of Student Services, click here.

For a complete description of each student support service, please refer to the CFT Program Handbook, pages 75 - 84.