Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.)
The Fall 2025 application deadline has been extended to April 14.
The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Program at Kean University is based on an integrative, multicultural, and ethically informed model of training and practice. The program emphasizes MFT as a discipline that is based in the tradition of studying individuals in the context of the systems and cultural contexts that make up their lives. Core MFT courses cover theories and techniques of MFT, family development, ethics and law, psychopathology through a systemic lens, assessment in MFT and human sexuality. The curriculum also consists of psychological foundation courses, such as abnormal psychology, human development, research methods, and group counseling. Practicum and internship classes offer clinical experiences within the curriculum. To complete the program, students must demonstrate understanding of theories and techniques, not only through competent performance in each course but also through successful completion of clinical work. At the completion of the required courses and clinical hours, students complete a comprehensive exam that represents a culmination of their learning.
The curriculum is designed within the practitioner-scholar model and is devised to enable successful graduates to function as marriage and family therapists in a variety of settings. Through required course work, practicum and internship experiences, students are provided an opportunity to develop skills in assessment, interviewing and counseling with individuals, couples, and families. The program stresses the need for marriage and family therapists to understand the varied religious, ethnic, cultural, and national characteristics of their clientele.
Application Deadline
Fall: March 31
MFT Admission interviews will be held in April.
Mission Statement
The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy Program is designed to train students to become professional family therapists in preparation for state licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). The master’s program will allow students to acquire the knowledge, skills, practical application, and values that shape them into competent, ethical, and culturally sensitive marriage and family therapists.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University’s admission requirements, The Marriage and Family Therapy Program requires the following:
- $75 non-refundable application fee
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (lower GPAs will be considered based on work experience)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Three letters of recommendation written by faculty and/or person(s) in a professionally related area
- Professional Resume/CV
- Personal statement
- Departmental interview
- TOEFL (for applicants whose native language is not English)
Prerequisites
12 credits in the Behavioral Sciences (at least 6 of which are Psychology with one class being Abnormal Psychology).
Program Requirements
- 57 credits that takes 3 years to complete
- Full time student status (3 classes a semester)
- Accrue 300 client contact hours; at least 150 of which must be relational hours.
- Accrue 100 supervision hours, at least 50 of which must be raw data (live, or video), and at least 50 of which much be individual supervision
- Pass the MFT Comprehensive Examination
- Have no incomplete grades
- No grade below a B- minimum in all courses
- Maintain a 3.5 GPA
- Maintain full-time student status
MA in MFT Degree Portability
The Kean MFT curriculum, taken in its entirety, meets State of New Jersey educational requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. State licensure laws are governed by individual states and can change. Students can graduate from an MFT program in one state and discover that they do not meet the educational requirements needed for licensure in another state. Some state regulatory/licensing boards have unique course/credit or practice requirements that are less, equal to, or exceed a standard degree plan. It is incumbent upon all students to study the educational requirements of the state where they intend to seek licensure. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they have met all requirements for any state from which he or she seeks licensure.
Course Sequence
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| PSY5720 Family Systems Theories and Techniques | PSY5040: Human Sexuality and Gender |
| PSY5530: Advanced Abnormal Psychology | PSY5780 Foundations of Family Therapy |
| PSY5500: Self of the Therapist | PSY5740: Group Practice in Family Therapy |
| Year 2 | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| PSY5130 Human Development Across the Life Span | PSY5760: Treatment Issues in Couples and Family Therapy |
| PSY5020: Applied Research Methods and Inquiry | PSY6750: Trauma: Families in Crisis |
| PSY5210: Professional Identity in Marriage and Family Therapy | PSY5611: Social Justice & Diversity in MFT |
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Fall | Spring |
| PSY6620: Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy | PSY6630: Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum 1 | PSY6730: Clinical Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy |
| PSY5770 Marital Therapy: Theories and Techniques | PSY6610: Human Diversity in Marriage and Family Therapy | |
| PSY6600: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy | PSY5790 Systemic Sex Therapy |
Transfer Credit Policy
A maximum of six credits could be considered to be transferred providing the course(s) are applicable to the program’s none core classes, is approved by the program coordinator, the grade is “B” or better, and the course(s) fall within the six-year time limit requirement for completion of programs.
Contact Us
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Franklin Turner
fturner@kean.edu
(908) 737-5889