Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Students in the MS program complete a research thesis that makes a contribution to knowledge in family studies and human development. For students in these specializations, the MS is a non-clinical degree. However, students who are accepted into the Marriage and Family Therapy program have the option of completing a thesis and receiving an MS with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, in addition to their required clinical experiences.
Students also complete course requirements under their chosen specialization in Marriage and Family Relationships, Infancy and Childhood, Adolescence and Youth, or Adult Development and Aging (or, for students already accepted into the Marriage and Family Therapy program, the specialization for the MS is Marriage and Family Therapy). Elective courses and thesis topics are individualized with each student by faculty supervisory committees. For more specific information, see the department’s Graduate Student Handbook at: ccehs.usu.edu/hdfs/graduate/handbook.
Human Development and Family Studies - MS: Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization
Students admitted into the Marriage and Family Therapy program are trained to be marriage and family therapists. While they receive their clinical training, students have the option to complete a thesis and receive the Master of Science with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy.
This program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and qualifies students for associate-level licensure as marriage and family therapists in the State of Utah. Students are encouraged to research licensure requirements for other states.
Because we are a COAMFTE-accredited program, all courses are required. See http://hdfs.usu.edu/programs/graduate/mft-hdfs for the course requirements. For more specific information, see the department’s Graduate Student Handbook at: cehs.usu.edu/hdfs/graduate/handbook.
In addition to the department’s requirements, the following are the School of Graduate Studies guidelines and are the minimum requirements for students to complete a degree.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
- Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower
Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree. Graduate Students may earn no more than two “C’s” in their courses.
- Course Number Acceptability
The Program of Study for a master’s degree or a doctoral degree must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
- Matriculation Start Semester
A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
- USU Residency Requirement
At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University.
- Master’s Forms:
- Approval of academic forms required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies
- Supervisory Committee
- Program of Study
- Thesis/Project Approval
- Appointment for Exam
- Record of Examination
- Authorship and Copyright
- Thesis Format & Style
- Department, SGS, and library review and approval
- Graduation Check Request
- Required for all Plan A/defense degrees-
- Six thesis credits (6970) are required.
- Successful defense and submission of the thesis to the library.
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