MS
Marriage & Family Therapy
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
Additional Requirements
Resume
Applicants should upload a bulleted list of the following experiences in the department documents section of the application:
A video interview (you will receive instructions after submission of application)
Background check is required after admission
BYU MFT Programs Admissions Guidelines
Please read over the MFT program mission statement and Admissions Guidelines prior to completing your application. Within your statement of intent, please explain how you would contribute to the BYU MFT mission.
MFT Programs Mission Statement
In harmony with our sponsoring organization (i.e., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and the mission/aims of Brigham Young University, the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs focuses on “balanced development” in all student growth areas. This development is carried out in an environment of compassion, inclusion and diversity in order to prepare students to be a healing influence in a world struggling to create safe and meaningful relationships. Both programs utilize a relational perspective (regarding the practice and science of healing) to improve the well-being of individuals, couples, and families. Finally, we strive to be an international leader in process research in order to understand how change occurs and to extend our healing influence beyond campus borders.
In fulfilling our mission statement, the MFT program is designed to fulfill the mission and aims of BYU, as an educational organization (https://aims.byu.edu/), including the creation of an “Enriched Learning Environment” (https://multicultural.byu.edu/node/whatwedo). Therefore, our admission decisions will be based largely upon applicants’ capacities to contribute to the program and their ability to grow in the following areas:
Resume
Applicants should upload a bulleted list of the following experiences in the department documents section of the application:
- Clinical and human services experience (do not include LDS mission experiences here).
- Research experience.
A video interview (you will receive instructions after submission of application)
Background check is required after admission
BYU MFT Programs Admissions Guidelines
Please read over the MFT program mission statement and Admissions Guidelines prior to completing your application. Within your statement of intent, please explain how you would contribute to the BYU MFT mission.
MFT Programs Mission Statement
In harmony with our sponsoring organization (i.e., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and the mission/aims of Brigham Young University, the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs focuses on “balanced development” in all student growth areas. This development is carried out in an environment of compassion, inclusion and diversity in order to prepare students to be a healing influence in a world struggling to create safe and meaningful relationships. Both programs utilize a relational perspective (regarding the practice and science of healing) to improve the well-being of individuals, couples, and families. Finally, we strive to be an international leader in process research in order to understand how change occurs and to extend our healing influence beyond campus borders.
In fulfilling our mission statement, the MFT program is designed to fulfill the mission and aims of BYU, as an educational organization (https://aims.byu.edu/), including the creation of an “Enriched Learning Environment” (https://multicultural.byu.edu/node/whatwedo). Therefore, our admission decisions will be based largely upon applicants’ capacities to contribute to the program and their ability to grow in the following areas:
- To intellectually enlarge – Applicant capacity to contribute in terms of intellectual enlargement will be assessed largely through GRE scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement description of their educational path.
- To spiritually strengthen – Applicant potential to contribute to the programs’ spiritually-strengthening atmosphere will be assessed through the personal statement, video responses, any personal/professional experience (work/volunteer service presented on the resume), and their ecclesiastical endorsement.
- To build character – Applicant potential to contribute to a character-building environment will be measured largely through the personal statement (in terms of a description of jobs they have had, how they financed their education, personal struggles they are dealing with), letters of recommendations, and the video responses.
- Capacity for lifelong service and learning – This will be measured through the personal statement (description of their achievements in this area to date), letters of recommendation, and any personal/professional experience and service described in the resume.
- Enriched Learning environment – This will be measured largely through the video responses, personal statement, and personal experiences related to gender, ethnic, racial and other forms of diversity (Please discuss your personal experiences with diversity outside of your mission).
Program Requirements
The marriage and family therapy program offers the Master of Science degree as a two-year program. The purpose of this degree is to prepare graduate students to engage in marriage and family therapy practice in the areas of: (a) theoretical competence, (b) clinical competence, and (c) research competence, with an understanding of multicultural diversity. More specifically, at the end of their program students will (a) be able to pass the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) National Licensing Exam, (b) be effective clinicians and employable as interns, and (c) be able to meet the academic and clinical requirements for the associate/intern MFT license in Utah. Our intent is to prepare the students to function in a wide variety of MFT settings. The curriculum is based on state licensure/certification requirements and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The master's degree is the basic educational credential for independent practice in marriage and family therapy. It also prepares students for doctoral study. In cases where students wish to complete both their M.S. and Ph.D. studies at BYU, they must be admitted to and successfully complete the M.S. degree program before applying to the Ph.D. program.
Requirements for Degree.
During the first two semesters of study, a student in consultation with her/his graduate advisor will commit to completing either the research track (recommended for those planning to pursue doctoral study) or the clinical track.
Research Track
Clinical Track
Requirements for Degree.
During the first two semesters of study, a student in consultation with her/his graduate advisor will commit to completing either the research track (recommended for those planning to pursue doctoral study) or the clinical track.
Research Track
- Credit hours (62): minimum 56 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours (699R).
- Required courses: MFT 600, 605, 625, 630, 645, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655R (17 hours), 656, 663, 699R (6 hours).
- Clinical requirement: 500 hours of direct face to face client experience.
- Thesis including oral defense of thesis.
Clinical Track
Program Outcomes
Marriage and Family Therapy Theory Skills
Be competent in knowledge of systemic and marriage and family therapy theories.
Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Skills
Be competent in terms of applied clinical skills
Marriage and Family Therapy Research Skills
Be competent in the area of MFt research skills, measured by passing the MFT 600 class and the thesis and project defenses.
Understanding Cultural Diversity
Understand and respect cultural diversity as a contextual factor in the lives of others, including clients.
Be competent in knowledge of systemic and marriage and family therapy theories.
Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Skills
Be competent in terms of applied clinical skills
Marriage and Family Therapy Research Skills
Be competent in the area of MFt research skills, measured by passing the MFT 600 class and the thesis and project defenses.
Understanding Cultural Diversity
Understand and respect cultural diversity as a contextual factor in the lives of others, including clients.
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
37.0
International
3.0
Male
6.0
Female
31.0
LDS
37.0
BYU Undergraduate
30.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.2
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
20.8
Admitted Per Year
14.2
Percent Admitted
68.27
Average GPA
3.64
Courses and Faculty