COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at The University of Southern Mississippi is a 60-credit-hour clinically focused graduate program that prepares students for professional practice as ethical and highly skilled marriage and family therapists. In addition to meeting general graduate admission standards, applicants must submit a 2–3 page statement of purpose explaining how their educational background and personal and professional experiences have prepared them to work with children, couples, and families, along with a résumé and three recommendation letters from former professors capable of evaluating academic readiness for graduate study. Qualified applicants are also required to participate in an in-person interview with the program coordinator and clinical faculty as part of the selection process. The program maintains rigorous academic and professional standards, requiring students to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, earn no grade below a “C,” and receive no more than one “C” or “C+” during the program. Students who fail to meet these standards may be required to retake coursework or face dismissal from the program. Before beginning clinical practicum experiences, students must pass a criminal background check, obtain professional liability insurance through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, demonstrate professional and emotional maturity, and receive approval from clinical faculty members. The curriculum integrates theory, research, ethics, assessment, and supervised clinical training through courses such as Couple Therapy, Gender and Culture in Therapeutic Relationships, Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents, Trauma and Substance Use Disorders, Family Therapy Theories, and Professional Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy. A major component of the program is the intensive supervised practicum sequence, requiring at least 300 hours of direct client contact, including relational therapy and clinical work at the university’s Center for Family Therapy, along with 100 hours of supervision. Students must also pass written and clinical comprehensive examinations before graduation. Overall, the program combines academic rigor with extensive hands-on training to prepare graduates for licensure and professional careers in mental health agencies, counseling centers, hospitals, and family therapy practices while emphasizing ethical care, cultural awareness, and systemic therapeutic approaches.