Apply

What is the Research track and how is it different from the Clinical track?

• One part of the mission of the BYU program is to train interested MS students to contribute as MFT scholars. As such, applicants are encouraged to consider the Research Track if they want additional research training and/or plan on enrolling in a PhD program afterward.
  
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: student decisions to apply to the Research track or Clinical track will not affect admission decisions. Furthermore, an additional, full-page essay response is expected as part of the application to the Research track - this will probably take a few hours to complete so DON’T WAIT until the last minute to apply.
• The primary differences (between the 2 tracks) are that: (a) students in the Research track will take 2 additional courses (MFHD 600, MFHD 605) for a total of 66 credit hours (compared to the 60 credits for the clinical track; (b) the 2 tracks will follow a slightly different course sequence; (c) clinical track students will complete a clinical project while research track students will complete a thesis; and (d) research track students are required to present at a state/national conference while clinical track students are required to engage in regular clinical outreach activities..

The BYU MFT graduate studies applications will open in September and the deadline each year is December 1st. All materials must be received by that date in order for the application to be considered for admission for the following fall semester.

All of our candidates for admission are reviewed once a year and at the same time.

More application information (see “Applying - International Applicants” on this page for information if you are an international applicant) or apply now.

MFT Programs Mission Statement:
We provide training that recognizes the divine worth of all God’s children, and promotes spiritual, intellectual, and character growth in future professionals who will systemically understand and appropriately intervene to improve the health and well-being of people and relationships across the world.

MFT MS Program Goals:

1. Prepare competent, ethical, and systemically grounded marriage and family therapists.
2. Develop scholar-practitioners who critically evaluate, apply, and may contribute to research that advances systemic understanding or practice.
3. Prepare culturally responsive therapists who honor diversity and the dignity and worth of all people.
4. Cultivate spiritual, intellectual, professional, and character growth in future therapists.

MFT PhD Program Goals

1. Develop scholar-practitioners who advance systemic understanding, practice, and education through rigorous scholarship and research.
2. Prepare leaders who integrate theory, research, and systemic practice to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
3. Prepare professionals who contribute to the advancement of marriage and family therapy through leadership, teaching, service, scholarship, or clinical innovation.
4. Cultivate spiritual, intellectual, professional, and character growth while.

In general, successful applicants to our program have the following:
310 combined verbal & quantitative GRE score *not required
4.5+ writing GRE score *not required
3.5+ cumulative GPA (for upper division coursework)
3 Strong Letters of Recommendation from faculty, mentors, and/or work supervisors who know them well and can attest to their ability to be successful. (We recommend at least 2 come from faculty if possible.) *PLEASE NOTE: Applicants do not have the option of selecting "Offline" as an option for their recommender. ALL letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically.
Some experience within a 1) Human Services and/or Clinical Context OR 2) Research Experience under the direction of any faculty mentor or within the context of a class (Note: Please, do not list church mission experiences here)

Selection Process:
December 1st at 10:00pm MT Application Deadline
December
MFT Faculty will evaluate how each applicant contributes to the AIMS of a BYU Education and their fit with the program.

Individuals who match our initial criteria will be invited to interview in early to mid February (MS and PhD). Individuals who haven't been selected to interview will be notified by the graduate school via email.

The interview process is a half-day campus visit (typically 8:00-1:00 or 12:00-5:00). MS and PhD interviews are typically held from early to mid-February.

After the interviews, faculty deliberate and review applications and interview data and select students for a cohort who are then assigned to faculty advisors. Each of the 10 faculty members will often select 1-2 students each year. Typically, 12 students are admitted to the MS program and 3-5 to the PhD program.