A tremendous amount of time and energy is invested into each student and into developing each class as a group. We believe each student brings a distinctive set of characteristics and strengths to our program. The best measure of what interests the committee is a profile of students we have admitted in the past:

• all were strong undergraduate students with better than a 3.0 GPA
• many had GRE scores exceeding the 50th percentile, although we have no cut-off score
• most were social science majors (we prefer family science majors)
• most have served as counselors or helpers either employed or as volunteers
• all were strongly drawn to couple and family therapy for personal, philosophical, and professional reasons
• all are able to attend the program full-time

The number of applicants to our program changes from year to year, but we typically review 20 to 40 applications each year. From that group, 16-20 will be invited to visit the program for an interview. An interview is required for admission. If a candidate resides outside the continental U.S., a telephone/video conference interview may be possible, but we prefer to actually see the person with whom we will work with so intensely. We admit 6-8 students each year.

Because we are a COAMFTE-accredited program, the course structure is fairly lock step. Getting out of phase can force up to a year delay. We want students to stay with their class and to complete the program on schedule in 2 years.

Applications are due January 15. We strive to have interviews completed by mid-March and to complete admissions by mid- to late April.

You will begin working in the Individual, Relational, and Financial Therapy (I-RAFT) Clinic the first semester of the program. By the second semester you will be deep into clinical work. Whenever you are working directly with clients you will receive support and supervision – lots of it – from faculty and support from other students.

Throughout the clinical phase of the program, when you are seeing clients, you will receive weekly individual and group supervision. In some of your sessions with clients you will be observed directly while you conduct therapy. Some supervision will consist of reviewing videotapes or audio tapes you make of your sessions. You will be assigned an individual supervisor who will closely monitor your work and case files.

Our students who go on to take the national licensing exam have done very well! In fact, recent alumni surveys have shown that all of the students since 2005 who have taken the exam have passed. See more of our alumni achievement data.