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Total Credit Hours: 60          Degree Format: Traditional

The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Program offers the Master of Science (M.S.) in Marriage and Family Therapy. The program prepares graduates for careers in family therapy and is committed to nurturing the development of highly competent clinicians working from a systemic and contextual perspective. Graduates of this program are prepared to apply for licensure as MFT’s in Georgia and other states, acquire membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and continue on to apply to doctoral programs.

The MFT Program has been accredited by the  since 2006. As part of our accreditation process, the MFT faculty publishes Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s), which mean that when students graduate from the VSU MFT Program, they are prepared to do the following:

• SLO 1. Practice from a culturally sensitive lens (consider the relevance of ethnicity, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and culture when working with people
• SLO 2. Practice from a systemic lens (apply a systems/relational understanding to the assessment and treatment of mental health and emotional problems)
• SLO 3. Obtain entry-level employment in mental health agencies.
• SLO 4. Claim the professional identity of a Marriage and Family Therapist (assume the professional role and identity of a marriage and family therapist; be able to apply various theoretical models of marriage and family therapy to practice; display clinical competency in the practice of MFTH; and practice according to the AAMFT ethical code.)
• SLO 5. Recognize the way research shapes the field of Family Therapy.
• SLO 6. Practice informed by ethics. 

The MFT Program has a commitment to diversity and to the belief that the differences that make up the weave of humanity cannot be merely tolerated, but embraced and cherished. The program brings a relational understanding to human behavior and meaning-making, viewing both as context-dependent. Thus, a deep appreciation for clients’ contexts is necessary for respectful treatment. The program addresses the interpersonal and social context of mental health and emotional problems. The curriculum focuses on teaching the knowledge and skills necessary to access and intervene in the interactions between people. It prepares students to use an active, positive approach to therapy that helps individuals and families build on strengths, improve communication, and develop solutions to problems.

The MFT program curriculum is 60 semester hours, 18 hours of which is a rigorous 12-month clinical practicum.

The program expects its students to demonstrate their ability to assume a professional role and the identity of a marriage and family therapist; to apply a systems/relational understanding to the assessment and treatment of mental health and emotional problems; to consider the relevance of ethnicity, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and culture when assessing and developing treatment plans; to apply various theoretical therapy models to practice; to display clinical competence in the practice of MFTH; and to practice according to the AAMFT ethical code.

The faculty and students invite prospective students to take a tour of FamilyWorks, talk to 1st and 2nd year MFT students, and visit a class or practicum. For additional information about admission and program requirements, tuition and fees, or how to set up a campus visit the program’s Admissions and Prospective Student webpage.

Program Director: Dr. Martha Laughlin, email: mjlaughl@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-249-4961

Department of Human Services Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Semester: 
  • February 15 (Priority)
  • July 15 (General)
• Spring Semester: No Admission
• Summer Semester: No Admission

Please note: If you intend to apply for a graduate assistantship, completing your application by the priority deadline is advised.  However, complete applications will be reviewed throughout the Fall and Spring semester until the July 15 deadline or until all seats are filled (whichever comes first). 

GRE or MAT scores are no longer required for this program. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

• Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
• Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

• Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
• Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 on all attempted coursework. The overall GPA will be calculated on all attempted undergraduate coursework in which a letter grade was awarded.

Career Goal Statement

• In a written statement describing your interest in the program and/or the field of MFT, your reasons for applying your post-graduation professional goals, and a description of who you are.  

Three Recommendations

• MFT Recommendation Form Required
• Recommendations from professionals familiar with your professional and/or academic background.

VSU Medical Form

• The must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
• This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
• Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence 

• This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
• This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
• Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
• Complete list of accepted documents and information on residency.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Please also visit the  page for additional information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS 

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

• : Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
• Certificate of Finances: The Certificate of Finance is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
• Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

• Regular Status
• Probationary Status
  • Admission may be considered on a probationary basis in circumstances in which the minimum eligibility criteria are slightly low but other qualities or experiences recommend the applicant. Because of the highly competitive nature of admissions, probationary admission is not guaranteed.
  • In order for probationary students to be reclassified as "regular," students admitted on a probationary basis must achieve a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the first semester of graduate work regardless of the number of credit hours attempted. In addition, the student must meet all contingencies stipulated by the Graduate School. These specific provisions will be stated in the decision letter. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA in the first semester of coursework may result in dismissal from the program.  
• The M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy program does not consider requests for Irregular Admission or Non-Degree Admission.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION INFORMATION

• Call Us: 229-333-5694 
• Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
• Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Students must complete an application for graduation at least one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
2. Students must successfully complete the curriculum which includes 42 semester hours of classroom instruction and 18 semester hours of supervised practice.
3. Students must demonstrate a 3.0 cumulative institutional grade-point average (GPA) for graduation. No grade below a 'C' will be credited toward the M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy degree.
4. Students must pass a comprehensive exam when most coursework has been completed.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. The MFT program is traditionally completed in 2 years of fulltime graduate work.  In consultation with an advisor, students can work out a Plan of Study that takes 3 or 4 years to complete.  
2. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 
3. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred into the MFT program from another program or institution.  Credit considered for transfer must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated by the academic department after the student is admitted. 
4. Students will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points. A grade of “C” (which is credited toward the degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D” (which is not credited toward the degree) equals two deficiency points. Grades of “F” or “WF” (neither of which are credited toward the M.S. degree) each equal three deficiency points.
5. Students are screened for personal and academic readiness prior to enrollment in clinical work with the public.  Students must demonstrate professionally appropriate behavior and can be dismissed for non-academic reasons.
6. If dismissed from the program, a student must sit out two semesters before applying for readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior academic performance and/or conduct in the program will be considered. If readmitted, the student must retake only courses with deficiencies until the number of deficiency points is less than or equal to two. A student cannot take a class more than twice or apply for readmission more than once. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.