Marriage and Family Therapy (MS)
The Master of Science(MS) in Marriage and Family Therapy provides the knowledge and skills needed to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow. This 60-credit degree program prepares graduates for work in private practice, counseling centers, mental health agencies, hospitals, family service clinics, shelters, and state departments for children and family services.
Marriage and family therapy is one of the core mental health disciplines, and is based on the research and theory that mental illness and family issues are best treated in a systemic context. Therapists in this area focus on understanding their clients’ symptoms and interaction patterns within their existing environment. All licensed marriage and family therapists are trained and licensed to independently treat mental health and substance abuse issues within an individual, couple, and family format.
Admission Process
Professional organizations recommend that program admissions criteria include consideration of the applicant’s openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development. For this reason, students need to participate in an interview with the program coordinator in addition to the general admission requirements. An admissions decision will be made upon completion of both the application and admissions interview.
For information on Admissions Requirements please visit the Graduate Admissions webpage at https://www.plymouth.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions
A 15-credit graduate certificate is also available for those who want to add a concentration in a related mental health counseling program or for professional development that could lead to dual licensure as a marriage and family therapist.
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Requirements | ||
| CO 5670 | Working with Children and Families | 3 |
| CO 5780 | Working with Youth and Systems | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Diversity and Advocacy in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CO 5050 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
| CO 5070 | Research Design in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CO 5260 | Counseling Theories and Personality | 3 |
| CO 5790 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5430 | Assessment for Counselors | 3 |
| CO 5770 | Psychopathology: Disorders of Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood | 3 |
| CO 5720 | Addictions & Related Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5130 | Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Health | 3 |
| MFT 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization Component | ||
| MFT 5010 | Foundational Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5020 | Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| Total Credits | 52-60 | |
Optional Concentrations in this Major
Addictions Treatment
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Diversity and Advocacy in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CO 5050 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
| CO 5070 | Research Design in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CO 5130 | Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Health | 3 |
| CO 5260 | Counseling Theories and Personality | 3 |
| CO 5430 | Assessment for Counselors | 3 |
| CO 5670 | Working with Children and Families | 3 |
| CO 5720 | Addictions & Related Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5770 | Psychopathology: Disorders of Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood | 3 |
| CO 5780 | Working with Youth and Systems | 3 |
| CO 5790 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CO 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization Component | ||
| MFT 5010 | Foundational Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5020 | Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| Addictions Treatment Component | ||
| CO 5730 | Addictions Treatment Modalities | 3 |
| Total Credits | 55-63 | |
Eating Disorders
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Diversity and Advocacy in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CO 5050 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
| CO 5070 | Research Design in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CO 5130 | Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Health | 3 |
| CO 5260 | Counseling Theories and Personality | 3 |
| CO 5430 | Assessment for Counselors | 3 |
| CO 5670 | Working with Children and Families | 3 |
| CO 5720 | Addictions & Related Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5770 | Psychopathology: Disorders of Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood | 3 |
| CO 5780 | Working with Youth and Systems | 3 |
| CO 5790 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CO 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization Component | ||
| MFT 5010 | Foundational Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5020 | Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| Eating Disorder Component | ||
| CO 5150 | Eating Disorders Clinical | 3 |
| CO 5160 | Eating Disorders: Awareness and Prevention | 3 |
| CO 5170 | Treatment Modalities for Eating Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5180 | Nutrition Fundamentals and Counseling in the Recovery of Eating Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5190 | Medical and Physiological Aspects of Eating Disorders | 3 |
| Total Credits | 67-75 | |
Play Therapy
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Diversity and Advocacy in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CO 5050 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
| CO 5070 | Research Design in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CO 5130 | Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Health | 3 |
| CO 5260 | Counseling Theories and Personality | 3 |
| CO 5430 | Assessment for Counselors | 3 |
| CO 5670 | Working with Children and Families | 3 |
| CO 5720 | Addictions & Related Disorders | 3 |
| CO 5770 | Psychopathology: Disorders of Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood | 3 |
| CO 5780 | Working with Youth and Systems | 3 |
| CO 5790 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization Component | ||
| MFT 5010 | Foundational Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5020 | Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| MFT 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| Play Therapy Component | ||
| CO 5210 | Dynamic Play Therapies | 1 |
| CO 5220 | Child Centered Play Therapy | 1 |
| CO 5240 | Expressive Play Therapies | 1 |
| CO 5250 | Special Populations in Play Therapy | 1 |
| Add 4 Elective Play Therapy Courses | 4 | |
| Adlerian Play Therapy | ||
| Special Topics: Play Therapy | ||
| Group Play Therapy | ||
| Nature Based Play Therapy | ||
| Play Therapy in School | ||
| Family Play Therapy | ||
| Play Therapy with Traumatized Children | ||
| Total Credits | 60-68 | |
Graduate Certificate
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MFT 5010 | Foundational Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5020 | Current Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 15-18 | |
Marriage and Family Therapy:
- Students will demonstrate awareness and regulation of self in system including engagement with cultural and contextual differences.
- Students will demonstrate MFT clinical competency skills in the areas of technique proficiency, assessment and diagnostic ability, treatment planning, and theoretical integration across a variety of contexts and multicultural groups.
- Students will demonstrate an applied knowledge of MFT legal and ethical guidelines and professional standards.
- Students will demonstrate an applied knowledge of MFT historical and current theoretical information.
- Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills as a researcher in the field of MFT.
- Students will be able articulate and assume the ethical practice of play therapy.
- Student will demonstrate play therapy technique competency and proficiency.
- Students will articulate a working knowledge of the major play therapy theoretical models.
- Students will develop an understanding of the common contemporary issues affecting children.
- Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of how to incorporate the larger system into the practice of play therapy.