Degree Requirements
Comprehensive Examination
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required for graduation. The exam is taken in the second year and covers three areas: Theory & Application, Assessment, and Law & Ethics. Students are given two hours to complete each section.
Clinical Contact Hours
Students must successfully complete a total of 500 clinical contact hours (minimum of 200 relational hours) and 100 supervision hours (minimum of 50 with raw data) while enrolled in Practicum.
Completion of Prerequisite Requirements
Students must complete the three prerequisite requirements (Human Development, Research Methods and either Counseling Theories or Theories of Personality) either prior to enrollment in the program or before the beginning of their second semester in the program. MFT Prerequisite Form
Practicum In MFT
An important part of the training program is the practical experience and training students receive during the clinical practicum. The MFT faculty maintains a variety of sites that meet the rigorous clinical hour and supervision requirements. Practicum placements are typically non-paying positions.
Practicum (MFTS 595P, MFTS 596P, MFTS 597P) is a 12-month, three-semester sequence that is completed during the student’s final year in the program. During this clinically rich experience, students will be expected to complete 500 direct client-contact hours, 200 of which need to be with couples or families. Students receive a minimum of 100 hours of supervision from MFT faculty during this time, in addition to the supervision received from on-site supervisors. Faculty supervision is in both individual and group format, with live and videotaped data being used as the primary source of session information.
International Requirement
At SOLES, all masters and doctoral students participate in an international experience designed to support the growth of cultural competency. Our goal is to inform best practices in working with culturally diverse populations locally, nationally and globally. International experiences are approved by each student’s faculty advisor and can be credit based or non-credit based activities.
PORTABILITY OF USD MFT DEGREE- Helpful Links
USD Program Requirements By State
Students who anticipate practicing in another state outside of California should compare the requirements for licensure in that particular state with the educational and clinical experience offered by the MFT program at USD.
The Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) offers a state-by-state comparison of licensing requirements.
Licensing Boards for the Various States
The AMFTRB recommends contacting the licensing board for each state to ensure you have the most up to date information.