MS in Marriage and Family Therapy

East Carolina University

College of Human Ecology

Child Development and Family Relations

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Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program Description Established in 1988, the master's program in marriage and family therapy (MFT) at East Carolina University (ECU) was the first MFT program in North Carolina that was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The program prepares students as marriage and family therapists who are well grounded in systems theory and its application to clinical practice. The MFT program applies a diverse range of clinical and theoretical orientations that faculty members bring to the program. Particular attention is given to collaborative work with larger systems. Each student is encouraged to develop a personalized therapeutic orientation and style that integrate theory and technique with a person of the therapist. Faculty, students, and local mental health professionals work cooperatively with individuals and families on treatment teams in the ECU Family Therapy Clinic to develop and apply creative therapeutic strategies. Clinical faculty members provide weekly individual and group supervision of therapy conducted by students.
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. Educational Outcomes Educational outcomes for students include the following: Completion of the required 51 semester hours, 500 hours of client contact, and a minimum of 100 hours of AAMFT approved supervision will function as a baseline for graduate students to become competent Marriage and Family Therapists. Completion of the 500 (maximum) pre-graduation client contact hours to be considered for associate status by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy State Licensing Board. Understand the theoretical and philosophical constructs of Marriage and Family Therapy. Achieve the ability to understand and apply clinical knowledge. Expand one’s knowledge of individual development and family relations. Establish a professional identity and awareness of ethics/ethical conduct, as Integrate research and clinical skills knowledge into practice Gain additional learning in a specialized interest area (e.g., death and dying, substance abuse, etc) Advance one’s understanding of diversity issues (e.g., gender, age, socioeconomic status, culture/race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality, and religion)
Program Requirements The MFT program includes 51 semester hours and requires full-time study over two years. 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 clinical experience, students have access to supervision from clinical faculty members and off-campus placement personnel. 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 and families. Students must adjust their schedules accordingly.
MFT MS Check Sheet Click Here For Important Dates to Remember
*The MS degree in Marriage and Family Therapy can be obtained without a thesis although students intending to obtain their PhD are encouraged to pursue a thesis. Students who want to complete a thesis must take HESC 7000 (thesis). Upon completion of program requirements, a Master of Science degree is awarded, and the family and therapy specialization is indicated on the student's official transcript.
	Licensure Individuals who wish to practice in North Carolina as marriage and family therapists are required to be licensed by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy State Board. In addition to completing the required course work and 500 hours of client contact, graduates from the program must complete an additional 1,000 hours of client contact and 25 (or more) hours of supervision from an AAMFT Approved Supervisor before becoming eligible to take the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination. Additional information on licensure may be obtained by contacting the marriage and family therapy licensure board of the state in which the graduate expects to practice.
Current Enrollment
Hispanic - 1 Caucasian - 19 Female Students - 19 Male Students - 3 African American - 2
Links of Interest Graduate Catalog Graduate School Website Graduate School Application Information Graduate School Application Process American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Collaborative Family Healthcare Association NC Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Angela Lamson Department of Child Development and Family Relations College of Human Ecology Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353 Telephone: 252-737-2042 E-mail: lamsona@ecu.edu

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