The coursework of the program is designed to be completed in 5 sequential semesters.  Students who need additional time to complete the clinical hour requirement may enroll for additional semesters while they complete the clinical hours.

Students who enroll in fewer than all credits offered each semester and students who take a leave of absence from the program will need additional time to complete graduation requirements.  Graduation requirements must be completed within 6 years of initial matriculation.

 

Semester	Course Name	Credits
Fall     12 credits	Ethical Issues in MFT	3
	Systemic Foundations of MFT	3
	Systemic Assessment and Diagnosis	3
	Pre-Practicum	3
Spring       12 credits	Contemporary Approaches to MFT	3
	Couples Therapy	3
	Working with Diversity	3
	Practicum I	3
Summer   9 credits	Research in MFT	3
	Group Therapy	2
	Community Intervention	1
	Practicum II	3
Fall       12 credits	Child & Adolescent Development	3
	Family Therapy	3
	Individual Therapy	2
	Contemporary Issues in MFT	1
	Practicum III	3
Spring     9 credits	Adult Issues in Human Development	3
	Either Clinical Business Development     OR	2
	Special Topics Elective	1-3
	Capstone	1
	Practicum IV	3

The UVU MFT program tuition and fees are determined by the Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents. Tuition and fees are adjusted and published each spring for the following year beginning summer semester. 

Additional program expenses include:

Expense	Estimated Cost	Timing
Required course textbooks	Costs vary by course	Each semester
AAMFT Student membership	$200.00 ($90 - 100 per year)	1st semester in Ethics and/or Pre-Practicum course(s)
Program iPad - Provided by the program	Replacement cost if broken or lost. Replacement cost is $409	Practicum I
AMFTRB Practice Exam	$70.00 per attempt	Capstone Course
Note:  Students must pass the AMFTRB exam, which may require multiple attempts.
Additional courses	Costs vary by year and number of credits	Whenever a repeated course is necessary due to course grade or insufficient clinical hours
Personal Therapy	Costs vary.   $10.00 for sessions at UVU health center.	If desired by the student, or when required by the program

The program enrolls one cohort of students each fall semester. The maximum enrollment for a cohort is 24 students.

Classes are held from 9 - 2:30 Tuesday and Thursday for first-year students and 9 to 2:30 Monday and Wednesday for 2nd-year students.  All academic courses within the UVU MFT program are delivered at the Orem campus. The program does not offer online or hybrid courses.  The program does not offer evening or weekend classes.

 

The MFT program is offered as a full-time program only. Students who do not enroll in the recommended sequence of courses will need to wait until a course is offered again (See program schedule.  FAQ: How long does the program take?).  Any variation from the recommended program schedule should be discussed with the MFT Program Director and Advisor.

No. The UVU MFT program emphasizes clinical training and specifically prepares students for licensure and employment as an MFT. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in all program outcomes prior to graduation. Summative assignments include a clinical presentation, essays, and a comprehensive exam. Students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree after graduation would benefit from seeking individual opportunities to participate in research with faculty members as an addition to their required program coursework.

 

The UVU MFT program is designed to align with the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Utah. Upon graduation from the UVU program, students should be eligible for licensure as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.

The UVU MFT program does not influence the decisions of the Utah MFT licensing board and cannot, therefore, guarantee licensure.

Please refer to https://dopl.utah.gov/mft/  for additional information about MFT licensure in Utah.

Students who plan to leave Utah after graduation should make themselves fully aware of the licensing requirements for another state. It is strongly advised that students obtain current and accurate information about licensing requirements in a state to which they may move prior to starting the UVU program. 

The UVU MFT program has relationships with many local practicum sites. Students should work closely with the Director of Clinical Training to determine if one of these sites would be a good fit.

Any student who wishes to work at a site that is not approved by the UVU MFT program should seek approval from the Director of Clinical Training prior to providing services at that site. (See Current Students: Program Resources)

 

Yes, the UVU MFT program is COAMFTE accredited.

Sometimes this question is specifically - Can I still get licensed, and can I get a job if I graduate from a non-COAMFTE-Accredited program? The short answer is yes. You can get licensed, and you can get a job.

There are three things to know about graduating from an MFT program that is not COAMFTE-Accredited:

1.  When you apply for an Associate MFT License in Utah, you will need to list out your courses to show that they meet the education requirements for a license in Utah. The program courses are mapped to licensing requirements in the Program Handbook.

This is what the Utah Application for MFT License states:

EDUCATIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS TO be completed by applicants who have not graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program in marriage and family therapy. Graduates from COAMFTE accredited programs are not required to complete this section.

Note: The UVU program aligns with Education Requirements required by Utah Admin. Code R156-60b-302a. Qualifications for Licensure - Education Requirements. 

Go to the DOPL Website or review the UVU MFT Graduate Handbook to see all educational requirements for MFT licensure in Utah.

ALL APPLICANTS:

Documentation of meeting the education requirement (submit one of the options below):

• • • Official transcripts documenting completion of a master’s or doctorate degree from a marriage and family program accredited by COAMFTE.  
    • Official transcripts evidencing completion of a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from an institution which is accredited by a professional accrediting body approved by CHEA and completion of course requirements.  Please use page 4 of this application to record the required courses.  NOTE: You can expedite the review process by providing a copy of the graduate catalog course description and/or syllabus of any identified course.

 

Note:  The following information documents that the UVU program meets the second bullet point listed in the documentation section above:

Utah Valley University is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is an accredited body approved by CHEA.  The website link states:

“The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is pleased to announce that we have been awarded recognition by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). At its meeting on January 28, 2019, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Board of Directors reviewed the recommendation of the CHEA Committee on Recognition regarding the recognition application submitted by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The Board of Directors accepted the committee recommendation and recognized NWCCU for the following CHEA-recognized scope of accreditation:  The accreditation and pre-accreditation (“Candidacy status”) of postsecondary degree-granting educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and internationally, and the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within these institutions. (2018)”.  You can look up UVU on the CHEA website.

2.  You need to make sure you know the licensing requirements in any other state you think you may want to apply for an MFT license. 

Portability of the MFT degree for licensure across state lines can be a little more difficult if you graduate from a non-COAMFTE accredited program.  If you are planning to move out of Utah, make sure you are working toward your state’s licensing requirements throughout the MFT program.  Schedule a time to review your plan with the Program Director.  Make sure to save copies of all course syllabi.  Some state requirements are much more difficult than others.  Plan ahead and start with your end-goal in mind.

3.You may not be able to work for the VA.  Most employers of MFTs do not require graduation from a COAMFTE-accredited program. 

For information about employment with the VA, please click on this link to view the VA Handbook for MFT qualifications.  

To read more about AAMFT’s relationship and advocacy efforts with the VA, click on the AAMFT website. 

Individuals with graduate credit are welcome to apply to the MFT program via the regular annual application process. 

The UVU MFT program has a residency requirement of 42/54 credits, which means the program can accept no more than 12 transfer credits.  All potential transfer credits are evaluated by the Program Director in accordance with Graduate School policies.

 

Graduate Transfer Credit

Graduate credits from another regionally accredited institution or equivalent shall have been completed within four years of the graduate student’s matriculation into the graduate program and cannot be older than six years at the time of graduation with a master’s degree or a graduate certificate from the University. Graduate transfer credits are also subject to grade and grade-point average minimums of the graduate program. (Policy 524, Section 4.5.1).