Mission
The mission of the master’s (MS) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at ECU is to prepare Marriage and Family Therapists who are well grounded in systems theory and its application to clinical procedures.

Student Learning Outcomes
Student learning outcomes for students include the following:

1. Discuss the historical and contemporary theoretical foundations in the MFT field.
2. Articulate a personal model of therapy based on established theories.
3. Summarize theories common to individual and family development and family relations.
4. Demonstrate an established professional identity as a marriage and family   therapist
5. Summarize legal and ethical issues affecting clinical practice.
6. Complete the didactic client contact and supervisory requirements for the program.
7. Extend theories and models into effective systemic clinical practice.
8. Demonstrate an ability to systemically assess, diagnose, and treat clients with a wide variety of presenting clinical problems using a collaborative lens.
9. Illustrate use of a collaborative lens when working with clients, collateral contacts, supervisors, and other professionals.
10. Identify and examine personal beliefs, biases, and values as a foundation for appreciating and respecting diversity.
11. Interpret and discuss respectfully issues of diversity and social justice (e.g., gender, age, socioeconomic status, culture/race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality, and religion) and how these issues impact therapists, colleagues, supervision, and clients’ lives.
12. Locate, critique, integrate, and report on the extant clinical literature in chosen or assigned areas of study.
13. Describe and differentiate the basic elements of qualitative and quantitative methodology

Program Requirements
The MFT program includes 51 semester hours and requires full-time study over two years. Students are discouraged from maintaining a full time job while in the program, due to the rigors associated with the curriculum. Included in this program is a year-long supervised clinical experience producing 500 contact hours with individuals, couples, and families (8-10 hours per week). The clinical experience requires 9 semester hours and is completed with an on-campus placement at the ECU Family Therapy Clinic and an off-campus placement at a community agency, school setting, military base, or medical setting. During their clinical experience, students have access to supervision from clinical faculty members who are AAMFT Approved Supervisors and off-campus site supervisors. While taking the practicum, students must agree to operate as family therapists, which includes working with clients during university breaks, in the evenings, and as emergencies might dictate. The clinic is open year-round to accommodate individuals, couples, and families. Students must adjust their schedules accordingly.