About: MS, Couple and Family Therapy
The MS in Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) provides students with the coursework and supervised clinical training typically required in states with Marriage and Family Therapy licensure. The program is accredited 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.
The Couple and Family Therapy MS program requires 45 credits for the non-thesis option and 51 credits for the thesis option. Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, as well as many other licensing boards in the US, requires the completion of 60 credits to become licensed and therefore, our CFT provides the opportunity to complete that number of credits within the two-year period for those that wish to do so. Completion of the program, which includes the 2-year internship, generally requires 2 years.
The current clinical faculty of the CFT program are Dr. Mariana Falconier (Program Director), Dr. Mona Mittal, Dr. Amy Morgan, and Tiara Fennell (Clinic Director).
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 therapeutic skills, ethical integrity, intellectual curiosity, knowledge of the profession 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.
Regarding diversity among full-time CFT faculty and the hiring of adjunct faculty and clinical supervisors, the Department of Family Science adheres to the School of Public Health’s statement of diversity and inclusion. The full statement can be found on the SPH Diversity and Inclusion webpage.
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 December 1. This is the same deadline for international students and citizens living abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline date.