Currently Suspended
This program of study is designed for the beginning professional with an area of study in psychology or other relevant field at the undergraduate level, who wishes to specialize in marriage and family therapy. The courses build the foundations in counseling/therapy skills and for completing the standard curriculum as stipulated by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. This program takes approximately 3 years to complete if attending full time (which includes the practica and internship).
Students must pass a clinical readiness evaluation after taking the required courses at the end of their first two semesters of study before beginning supervised clinical hours. Throughout the program, students are expected to combine classroom learning with clinical work under supervision at appropriate sites.
A minimum of 500 hours of supervised client contact (at least 50 percent with families and couples at an appropriate site) with a program-approved supervisor is required. There must be one hour of supervision for every five hours of client contact, and a minimum of 100 hours of supervision is required and must include at least 50 hours of supervision which is live or videotaped cases. Students receive individual and group supervision. Students who have completed all course work but have not completed all the supervised clinical hours for CPSY 9880 Internship-Marr-Family Counsel-CPSY 9881 Internship Marr-Family Counsel will be required to register for CPSY 9886 PreDoctoral Internship (one credit) for one semester, and, if the hours remain unfinished, for CPSY 9880 Internship-Marr-Family Counsel or CPSY 9881 Internship Marr-Family Counsel. Students will work in a diversity of settings which meet licensing and accreditation standards at sites throughout New Jersey and the metropolitan area. The standards for licensing are available from the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners and for accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Successful oral defense of a written case study is the final step toward graduation.
The degree fulfills the current educational requirements for licensing in New Jersey as a marriage and family therapist, and for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The Marriage and Family Therapy M.S. program achieved accreditation in July 2008 with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) (Renewal Date: May 1, 2021). All students accepted in Fall 2008 or after enter the program with accreditation.
Admission
In addition to the general University and department requirements for admission to graduate studies, the following guidelines are in force:
- Official undergraduate transcript(s);
- Recent (last 3 years) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores;
- Three letters of recommendation including at least one from a former professor;
- Personal statement including personal goals;
- Résumé;
- Appear for a personal interview;
- Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites of CPSY 6105 Biological Bases-Behavior/Physiological Psychology (or a biology course, including a focus on human anatomy and the nervous system) and CPSY 7515 Social Psychology, or these may be taken during the course of study.
The application deadlines are July 1 for Fall admission. Students who are interested in the program, but have missed the application deadline dates can also take up to 3 master’s courses (a total of 9 credits) as a nonmatriculated student. This option should be discussed with the program director. Taking courses as a nonmatriculated student does not guarantee admission into the program.