Master of Science in Family Therapy

“The MSFT program at Friends is student-focused, it is professionally relevant, it is well-respected and it is a family. What other graduate program can boast that its alumni return to teach, supervise, volunteer and host students on a regular basis?”

Erin Cavanaugh, Family Therapy Graduate 2011

Costs & Value

Getting an MFT graduate degree has great long term success and value. With the competitive advantage, higher salary and real world experience that comes from a graduate degree, it only makes sense to pursue a graduate degree! Did you know that those with a graduate degree earn almost 20% more than those that only have an undergraduate degree? Read more reasons why it pays to get a graduate degree.

What jobs can you get with a master’s degree in family therapy?

Marriage and family therapy is an ideal profession for those who value helping others discover positive change in the midst of personal and relationship struggles. A family therapy degree at Friends University prepares you with the theoretical, clinical, multicultural and interpersonal competencies for eventual licensure and practice as a Marriage and Family Therapy mental health professional. Current Marriage and Family Therapy graduates are working as counselors, therapists and social workers.

With a high job growth in therapy degrees over the next decade, there has never been a better time to get a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. The need for jobs in social work, therapy and counseling is expected to grow 22% by 2028.

Counselor or Therapist Degree?

Are counselors and therapists the same thing? While titles like “counselor” and “therapist” are often used interchangeably when identifying health professionals, there are distinct differences that are key to helping you make the right degree choice.

A degree for counselors, therapists and social workers

The MSFT program trains students in the context of a relational and systemic perspective and strives to produce ethically sound clinicians who are competent in multicultural, theoretical, clinical, and interpersonal domains.

Psychotherapy with individuals, couples and families all require specialized knowledge and training as well as personal inspiration. Our COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) accredited program offers extensive training and experience providing care to others in personal distress. Each year advanced students in the program collectively provide more than 10,000 hours of relational services to individuals, couples and families. In this, we believe we have created a unique graduate training experience that offers you these practices and more.

The Master of Science in Family Therapy Program at Friends University is pleased to provide a public portfolio of program information in compliance with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. This information includes but is not limited to the MSFT program’s mission statement, program goals, student learning outcomes, faculty information, demographic data, student achievement data, and policies and procedures supporting the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Friends University. To access the information, please select the following link to the MSFT LiveText Portfolio Management System (www.livetext.com), select the “visitor pass,” and enter the following code: 340BA284

Accreditation

The marriage and family therapy graduate degree at Friends University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), 112 S. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314 (703-838-9808), coa@aamft.org.

Application Deadlines

Wichita Application Calendar:

The Master of Science in Family Therapy program information meetings are for program applicants to learn about the MSFT Program in Wichita and for program faculty to meet with prospective students about the 24 month, 60-credit degree, COAMFTE accredited degree program. All applicants are required to attend one informational meeting. There are officially three interview rounds during the 2022-2023 academic year. A potential fourth round will only be held if the program has openings. Early applicants have the first option on the limited number of available seats in the program and are encouraged to apply early.

*Potential to be adapted into a Webinar

Early Admission Application Review and Interviews

Deadline to complete early applications: Friday, October 6, 2023
Early bird applicant Interviews: Monday, October 23, 2023 
Application Decision letters sent: Friday, November 10, 2023 
Early Bird Deposit Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023

Second Application Review and Interviews

Deadline for Round 2 applications: Friday, January 12, 2024
Second Round Interviews: Monday, January 29, 2024
Application Decision letters sent: Friday, February 16, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2024

Third Application Review and Interviews

Deadline for Round 3 applications: Friday, March 15, 2024
Third Round Interviews: Monday, April 1, 2024
Application Decision letters sent: Friday, April 19, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024

Fourth Application Review and Interviews: (only held if program spots are available) 

Deadline for Round 4 applications: Friday, May 24, 2024
Fourth Round Interviews: Monday, June 10, 2024
Application Decision letters sent: Friday, June 21, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, July 5, 2024

MSFT Pre Program Academic Orientation

Monday, July 15, 2024 (Wichita) planned/hosted by MSFT faculty & staff

If you would like to know more about the Master of Science in Family Therapy program, please contact Melanie Flynn at melanie_flynn@friends.edu or 316-295-5874.

For public information regarding graduation rates, national exam pass rates and other learning measures, a public portfolio is available at www.livetext.com and entering 340BA284 into the Visitor Pass section.

Kansas City Application Calendar

The Master of Science in Family Therapy program information meetings are for program applicants to learn about the MSFT Program in Kansas City and for program faculty to meet with prospective students about the 24-month, 60 credit, COAMFTE accredited degree program. All applicants are required to attend an informational meeting. There are four interview dates during the 2022-2023 academic year. Early applicants have the first option to reserve one of the maximum 51 available seats in either the daytime or evening programs and applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Early Admission Application Review and Interviews

Deadline to complete early applications: Friday, October 6, 2023
Faculty review of priority applications: Friday, October 13, 2023
Early bird applicant interviews: Friday, November 3, 2023
Application Decision letters sent: Friday, November 17, 2023
Early Bird Deposit Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023

Second Application Review and Interviews

Deadline for Round 2 applications: Friday, December 1, 2023
Faculty review of applications: Friday, December 8, 2023
Interview for second round of applicants: Friday, January 19, 2024
Application Decision letters: Friday, January 26, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2024

Third Application Review and Interviews

Deadline for Round 3 applications: Friday, March 1, 2024
Faculty review of applications: Friday, March 8, 2024
Interview for third round of applicants: Friday, March 22, 2024
Application decision letters sent: Friday, April 5, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, April 19, 2024

Final Application Review and Interviews

Deadline for Round 4 applications: Friday, May 10, 2024
Faculty review of applications: Friday, May 17, 2024
Interview for final round of applicants: Friday, May 31, 2024
Application decision letters sent: Friday, June 14, 2024
Deposit Deadline: Friday, June 28, 2024

MSFT Pre Program Academic Orientation

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 (Kansas City) planned/hosted by MSFT faculty & staff

If you would like to know more about the Master of Science in Family Therapy program, please contact Program Director, Christopher M Habben, Ph.D., LCMFT at chabben@friends.edu or call 913-233-8706.

For public information regarding graduation rates, national exam pass rates and other learning measures, a public portfolio is available at www.livetext.com and entering 340BA284 into the Visitor Pass section.

*As need might occur, in an effort to advance the admission process, the MSFT Program may create additional interview dates for those with completed applications.

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes for the Marriage & Family Therapy graduate program are below:

• Demonstrate awareness and regulation of self emotion.
• Demonstrate awareness and regulation of self in interaction.
• Demonstrate constructive response to difference.
• Demonstrate the ability to promote therapeutic alliance.
• Demonstrate the ability to use therapeutic influence constructively.
• Demonstrate understanding of relevant conceptual knowledge.
• Demonstrate application of relevant conceptual knowledge.
• Demonstrate integration of multiple concept frameworks organized by systematic/relational orientation.
• Initiate and assess treatment need.
• Plan and facilitate research/theory informed intervention.
• Evaluate progress and conclude treatment.
• Utilize supervision and professional collaboration.
• Follow legal, ethical and professional standards.

Featured Faculty

Dr. Rebecca Culver-Turner

• Associate Professor of MFT (Wichita) and Wichita Site Program Director
• B.A., Ozark Christian College; Ph.D., Kansas State University

Dr. Chris Habben

• Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy; Kansas City Site Program Director; Kansas City Site Specialized Accreditation & Assessment Administration
• B.A., Hope College; M.S., M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Emily E Janes

• Assistant Professor MFT

Dr. Sarah Lyon

• Assistant Professor of MFT (Kansas City) and Kansas City Site Clinical Director and Internship Supervisor
• B.A., University of Kansas; M.S., Oklahoma State University; Ph.D., Kansas State University

Dr. Steve Rathbun

• Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy
• B.A., Mid-America Nazarene College; M.A., University of Northern Colorado; Ph.D., Kansas State University

Dr. Rebekah R Reyes Adams

• Assistant Professor Marriage Family & Therapy

Dr. Michelle Robertson

• Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
• B.A., Midwestern State University; M.M.F.T., Abilene Christian University; Ph.D., University of Louisiana

Amanda G Spruill

• Associate Professor of MFT