Department of Pastoral Counseling
& Marriage and Family Therapy

Admission Requirements
Contact Information

PROGRAM: Marriage and Family Therapy

Degree: Master of Science

Marriage and Family Therapist is a licensed profession in New York State. This program is in candidacy for accreditation by AAMFT: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to move toward licensure.

Campus Location: New Rochelle

Accreditation:
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) - Candidacy Status

Does the program lead to licensure?
Yes. The curriculum has been designated as "Licensure Qualifying" by NYS Department of Education. Post-Master’s clinical experience required for licensure as well as national MFT Examination.

Clinical hours toward licensure provided within the degree program:
As a recognized program, 500 practicum hours in the program can be applied toward the Post-Master’s clinical hours

Specific Focus of program:
The approach is systemic and relational: structural, strategic, narrative.

Key features:

• Program structured to meet COAMFTE accreditation guidelines
• One of only three “licensure-qualifying” programs in New York State, and the only one in the greater New York metropolitan area
• Small size of the program enables students to develop mentored relationships with faculty
• Vibrant clinical practice in the New Rochelle community with opportunities to work with a diverse, heterogeneous population
• Faculty are active in private practice, community organizations, and professional organizations
• Students represent a variety of ages, cultural and professional backgrounds

Sample job titles of alumni:
Assistant clinical director
Adjunct faculty
Marriage and family therapist
Counselor
Case manager

Faculty research areas/interests:
Varied, but include the effects of chronic illness on families, family therapy effectiveness, use of reflective teams in training marriage and family therapists

Calendar:
Semester (no summer classes)
Two hours, one evening a week
Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some starting as early as 5:30 pm to enable completion of two classes in an evening

Entry terms:
Fall, spring (spring entry may be limited by program capacity)

Average course load per term:
3 courses (Three credits each)
Part-time study is possible but will lengthen the time to complete the degree. The degree must be completed within 5 years of the commencement of the program.

Credits to completion: 54

Average time to complete degree: 3 to 3.5 years

Internship/practicum required for degree completion:
Practica and internships are an integral part of the program and begin in the second year of full-time study, and are performed within the clinical practice at Iona and at community agencies under qualified supervision. Five hundred of the clinical hours may be applied toward licensure.

Preferred academic preparation or background experience:
Preference in admission will be given to behavioral science majors and those with related experience

Application deadline:
March 1 is strongly suggested

Admission requirements:

• Application for admission
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Two professional letters of recommendation
• Minimum GPA 3.0 or at discretion of the director
• GRE (if cumulative undergraduate GPA is below 3.0; minimum 450 on verbal section)
• Autobiography/personal statement
• Resume
• Interview with program chair

Cross reference:

• Post-Master’s Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in Pastoral Counseling
• MA in Mental Health Counseling

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