Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)  program will prepare you to address issues facing families, couples, adults and children. These include relationship issues, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness and alcohol and substance abuse. After you complete the program and fulfill other state-mandated requirements, you will be eligible for the state of California’s Marriage and Family Therapy license.

Through this program, you will:

• Earn a degree from a program with a strong reputation among local agencies for desirable candidates.
• Become familiar with the best practices of recovery-oriented care through a curriculum that balances research and self-reflection.
• Join a tightly-knit community of students and gain unmatched opportunities for discussion and lifelong colleagues.
• Engage in a community that prioritizes equity for students and the communities they serve. 

Curriculum

The MFT program meets the requirements established by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. As a clinical training program, the curriculum follows a fixed course sequence and students complete the program as a cohort. The program’s courses will help you to gain and apply knowledge in all relevant aspects of the field, from addiction to trauma.

The curriculum focuses on three broad themes:
 

Fieldwork 

To ensure your readiness for work with clients, you will take part in videotaped clinical practice in a classroom setting in the first year. Later, you will select a fieldwork placement site and receive supervision as you continue your practice in a real-world setting.

Learning Environment

Our program’s cohort model and small class sizes promote a collaborative rather than competitive learning environment. You will become part of the “beloved community” and build relationships that can be an enduring source of support throughout your career. 

As a student, you will be expected to take part in discussions and write about how the concepts taught in the program apply to your own life. These discussions may include conversations about family history, relationship challenges and views on sexuality. You will take part in therapy-like practice sessions that may reveal your personal information. You always have the right to determine what information and how much you share in these exercises. In cases that do not involve harm to yourself or others, or child/elder abuse, faculty and other students will make an effort to keep information confidential.

Online Option

The MFT program is offered online (synchronous) or in-person. The program stands out in preparing versatile therapists for both in-person and telehealth settings. Our faculty are experienced in navigating complexities and exploring cultural and social cues (such as body language, facial expressions, and/or community contexts and environments) of clients in online settings. The curriculum, meticulously designed around these insights is to help students optimally navigate an online learning environment to deliver both in-person and online therapy effectively.

Licensure

In addition to completing coursework, you must fulfill a series of requirements to be eligible for California’s Marriage and Family Therapy license. These include:

• 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work (you will likely complete as many as 1000 hours toward the requirement prior to graduation)
• Successful completion of both the California Law and Ethics exam and the clinical exam coordinated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences

California requirements will meet most of the requirements for a similar license in many other states. However, if you plan to obtain a license in another state, identify whether the California MFT will satisfy the state’s requirements before beginning the program.

Scholarships

As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for several USC Rossier scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for these scholarships. The admission committee selects recipients based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other characteristics. Applicants in rounds one and two will have priority.

View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.

Financial Aid

The USC Office of Student Financial Aid provides information regarding various types of financial aid and financing options.

To be considered for financial aid, you must apply for the FAFSA. After you apply, the financial aid office will determine your financial need and inform you of the federal or private loans that are available to you.

Career Outcomes

• Public mental health agencies
• School-based mental health
• Community mental health
• Residential treatment facilities including specialty practices in substance abuse, eating disorders, domestic violence and trauma
• Private practice
• Teaching
• Doctoral degree 
• Author