MFT Fact and Questions
How long does it take to get a Master’s degree in the MFT program?
The MFT program is designed to be completed in two-full years, including both summers.
Am I allowed to transfer courses from other institutions?
With the approval of the MFT faculty, students maybe able to transfer up to 9 semester hours.
Must my undergraduate degree be in psychology to be accepted as a Master’s degree student?
No. We have had successful students from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, human development, teaching, sociology, anthropology, communications, and spanish.
How many students are accepted into the program?
We limit enrollment to 12 students per cohort.
Are part-time students allowed?
Our program is designed to be a cohort based program where students take courses with peers in a prescribed sequence. As a result, we rarely admit part-time or allow non-degree students to take courses.
What work does the Master’s degree prepare me to do?
The MFT master’s degree fully meets the licensure educational requirement as well as one third of the required clinical hours needed to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina.
How long is the internship? What kinds of internships are available?
Our internship last for a full calendar year. Students are required within that time period to gain 500 hours of direct client contact. Over the course of the year, students are required to receive 100 hours of clinical supervision with over half involving presentation of live or videotaped clinical work.
Students apply to internships in a variety of settings. Typically students are placed in community mental health, family preservations, or substance abuse settings. There are a various organizations that we routinely place students in. Students with special interest in different settings are encouraged to develop new placement sites.
How often is supervision provided?
During a regular semester students receive one hour of administrative supervision at their placement site, one hour of individual supervision on campus, and two hours of group supervision on campus.
Who provides supervision?
On site supervision is provided by a master’s level licensed practitioner. All supervision at Appalachian is provided by an AAMFT Approved Supervisor or person in training to become an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.
When will I start seeing clients?
Students start seeing clients in the fall semester of their second year. The first year is spent acquiring the basic knowledge and skill base needed for successful supervised practice.
How long after graduation do you have to wait to get licensed?
There is no minimum amount of time required. However, a person must receive 1,000 hours of additional supervised clinical experience in North Carolina. Different states have different supervised experience requirements.
What kind of graduate assistantships are available?
Graduate assistantships on campus are readily available. Students are encouraged to complete the application for graduate assistantships when they apply for admissions into the program.
Are there many opportunities to participate in research?
In our program, there is a thesis option that students can choose to enroll in. In addition, all faculty members engage in the Human Development and Psychological Counseling Department are active scholars. Frequently faculty members engage in collaborative projects with students. However, students are not required to engage in formal research activities.
