Marriage and Family Therapy (MS)
Program Coordinator: Stephen Flynn, PhD
E-mail: svflynn@plymouth.edu
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/prospective/graduate/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 | Social Behavior and Diversity | 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 |
| 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 |
| Total Credits | 52-60 | |
Optional Concentrations in this Major
Addictions Treatment
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Social Behavior and Diversity | 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 |
| CO 5740 | Seminar and Internship in Addictions Treatment | 3 |
| Total Credits | 58-66 | |
Eating Disorders
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Social Behavior and Diversity | 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 | |
Personal Approaches to Transformation and Healing
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Social Behavior and Diversity | 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 |
| MFT 5030 | Foundations and Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 5040 | Human Sexuality | 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 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| CO 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| PATH Component | ||
| HH 5180 | Exploring Personal & Organizational Health | 3 |
| HH 5570 | Mindfulness Meditation: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HH 5590 | Transpersonal Psychology | 3 |
| HH 5600 | Energy, Body and Health | 3 |
| HH 5610 | Circle of Life: Living and Dying Well | 3 |
| HH 5620 | Spiritual Health | 3 |
| Total Credits | 70-78 | |
Play Therapy
Curriculum Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CO 5020 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CO 5040 | Social Behavior and Diversity | 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 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 1-9 |
| CO 5100 | Practicum | 3 |
| Play Therapy Component | ||
| CO 7010 | Dynamic Play Therapies | 1 |
| CO 7020 | Child Centered Play Therapy | 1 |
| CO 7030 | Expressive Play Therapies | 1 |
| CO 7040 | Special Populations in Play Therapy | 1 |
| CO 7560 | Counselor Education: Special Topics (Students take four, one-credit special topics courses) | 4 |
| 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 5900 | Seminar and Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy | 3-6 |
| Total Credits | 12-15 | |