The human development and family studies option in marriage and family therapy will prepare you for a rewarding career helping others, whether you choose to work in mental health, family service, human service or medical settings. You’ll learn about the major therapy models and develop the skills to assess and treat diverse populations with understanding, sensitivity and respect. You’ll receive training that emphasizes treatment of individuals, couples and families in relationship to the larger systems that influence them. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through supervised clinical practice at UNH’s Marriage and Family Therapy Center, in addition to externship opportunities.
Our marriage and family therapy degree option is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and meets the academic requirements for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. At UNH, you’ll experience a collegial and supportive culture, with award-winning mentorship provided by nationally recognized faculty. We offer scholarship opportunities and competitive stipends, as well as access to our Preparing Future Faculty program. You’ll have opportunities to conduct research, publish and present at conferences.
The Marriage and Family Therapy Program prepares students to work in mental health, family service, medical, and human service settings. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and meets the academic requirements for clinical membership in the AAMFT. The Program generally takes two years including two summers and requires five hundred (500) hours of clinical practice in order to graduate. Additional hours of clinical practice under supervision are required after graduation to meet state licensure standards and qualify for clinical membership in AAMFT.
The Marriage and Family Therapy Program contributes to the well-being of individuals and families through knowledge, teaching leadership and professional practice. The program is fully accredited by COAMFTE and meets the academic regulations for clinical membership in the American Association for MFT. Through connecting research, practice and policy our faculty conducts significant research on a range of issues facing individuals, couples and families in today's society.
Clinical training offered within the MFT Program emphasizes treating individuals, couples, and families in relationship to larger systems that influence them. Supervised practica are continuous throughout the program. MFT program graduates learn to function as competent and ethical marriage and family therapy professionals and have a solid knowledge base of marriage and family therapy theory and research as well as clinical practice principles. The MFT Program successfully prepares graduates for employment as marriage and family therapists in community agencies and private practice.
Part-time MFT students will be admitted for the fall semester only. Part-time admission to the MFT is available on a case-by-case basis until January 15th to begin matriculation in the fall semester. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Barbara Frankel, Graduate Coordinator, for information. An interview may be required. Part-time MFT students are not accepted for the spring semester.
All students are expected to:
All applications for admission must be submitted electronically using the Graduate School Website. For application information please visit the MFT website.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Successful completion of a 12-credit core curriculum | ||
| HDFS 991 | Professional Issues for Family Specialists | 4 |
| HDFS 993 | Theoretical Approaches to Human Development and Family Studies | 4 |
| HDFS 994 | Research Seminar | 4 |
| Successful completion of approved coursework (35 - 36 credits) | ||
| HDFS 841 | Marital and Family Therapy | 4 |
| HDFS 930 | Child Development in Context | 4 |
| HDFS 942 | Advanced Systems of Marital and Family Therapy | 4 |
| HDFS 945 | Family Therapy Practice I | 4 |
| HDFS 946 | Critical Problems in Family Life | 4 |
| HDFS 947 | Family Therapy Practice II | 4 |
| HDFS 952 | Clinical Interventions in Couples Therapy | 4 |
| HDFS 954 | Sex Therapy | 4 |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Successful completion of 24 practicum credits (500 hours) | ||
| HDFS 898 | Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum | 4/semester |
| Successful completion and presentation of an integrative paper and video representing student's theory of change. | ||
A graduate student who fails a course must immediately attend a mandatory meeting with the instructor of the course, the Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Coordinator, and, if desired, the student's adviser. If a graduate student receives grades below "B-" in two or more courses, the Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Coordinator will make a recommendation to the Graduate School that the student be dismissed from the Human Development and Family Studies Graduate program.
Students demonstrate a knowledge of the major models of marriage and family therapy and other systems related theories that support the MFT field students will acquire the clinical skills to assess and treat a wide range of problems from a systems paradigm demonstrate an understanding of multicultural diversity, larger systems and family/individual development across the lifespan develop ethical principles and practices in the field of marriage and family therapy develop systemic knowledge of marriage and family therapy research, striving toward a theoretically driven and research informed clinical practice.
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: ME VT MA
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
In lieu of a personal statement, applicants to the MFT Program (only) must provide answers to five specific questions. Responses to the MFT questions should be submitted in numbered format and should address each question separately and explicitly. 1. Identify what you feel are the essential characteristics of a functional family. 2. Describe the reasons why you are interested in becoming a marriage and family therapist. 3. What do you think are the major challenges faced by contemporary marriage and family therapists? 4. What are your professional goals? 5. Identify your personal characteristics, skills, and experiences that will facilitate your success in achieving your professional goals.
Statements must be included with your submitted application.
A national criminal background check must be completed and reviewed by the department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) before an application can be submitted. Background checks will be completed through Verified Credentials. Full instructions can be found here.
Applicants will follow this link, enter the program code CCCRP-22777, and follow the instructions provided by Verified Credentials.
The fee for the background check is $59 and will be paid by the applicant directly to Verified Credentials.
Once completed, you will receive an email from Verified Credentials. Export this as a .pdf file and upload to your application
In addition to the regular graduate school requirements, a personal interview may be required.
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
The Marriage and Family Therapy profession leads to licensure in all 50 states. However, it must be recognized that each state has its own law and regulations about what is required to become a licensed MFT.
Most states require specific coursework in the areas of ethics, assessment and diagnosis, research, family theories and MFT clinical practice. Most states also require specific number of client contact hours and clinical supervision. In most states, some of those hours are completed as a graduate student and there are additional clinical and supervision hours that are required as a MFT graduate. You will be provided at the MFT Orientation the link from aamft.org to each state’s license requirements (MFT State/Province Resources).
It is important to know that not every state will accept a degree and the supervised hours that are earned from another state. It is strongly recommended that you review the licensure requirements in the state that you plan to practice as soon as possible so that you understand what may and may not be accepted in that state.
The UNH-MFT Program’s academic and clinical training curriculum was designed to and fully meets the requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in the state of New Hampshire. Please refer to Appendix B of the MFT Handbook for a complete description of New Hampshire’s licensing requirements.
If you have questions about the UNH-MFT Program’s alignment with professional licensure, you may contact the Program Director, Dr. Trent Call, trent.call@unh.edu.
Graduates with a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) master’s degree are highly trained professionals who bring a family-oriented perspective and treatment approach to mental, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal conditions. MFT's address a wide-range of issues that affect individuals, couples and family members. An MFT can provide child, youth, adult, family and couples counseling.
Many MFT graduates become professional therapists and some graduates prefer to work with specific populations, such as military families. MFT graduates also develop rewarding careers in community and social service, international and humanitarian work and research.
To discuss career options, contact Dr. Corinna Tucker or to view additional resources on career opportunities see the NCFR Careers in Family Science booklet.
For in-depth career information, duties, education, training and pay, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
A MFT may set up a private practice to serve individuals, couples and families. A therapist may specialize in a particular area, like adult depression, couples or sex therapy.
Outpatient Care Facilities: MFT's are hired to treat children, adolescents, adults and seniors battling substance abuse and mental illness.
Inpatient Care Facilities and Hospitals: MFT's are hired to work as inpatient therapists at healthcare facilities and hospitals.
Schools: MFT's work at all levels of a school system, including working directly with students to counsel students and parents together.
Legal and Correctional Facilities: MFT's assist families and couples in legal crisis and work with legal authorities and correctional systems.
Employee Assistance Programs: MFT's are hired to give short-term counseling, as well as refer employees and their family members to additional services, if needed.
While working for social service agencies and businesses, MFT graduates may engage in a number of research activities including: conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, or creating a valid, reliable survey.
MFT's also engage in needs assessments and evaluations of therapeutic care programs.
If you enjoy statistical analysis, you may want to consider going on to receive a Ph.D.
MFT's working internationally or for humanitarian organizations usually work with for profit and non-profit agencies such as the Red Cross or Peace Corps, and in various support leadership positions that address the therapeutic needs of individuals, couples and families.
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies contributes to the well-being of individuals and families through knowledge, teaching, leadership, and professional practice. The Marriage and Family Therapy program at UNH is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and meets the academic regulations for clinical membership in the American Association for MFT. Through connecting research, practice and policy our faculty conduct significant research on a range of issues facing individuals, couples and families in todays society.
