Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT)

The program follows a cohort system, and all applicants start in the fall and follow a cohort model (cohorts take all courses together). Due to the cohort model, the program does not allow for potential applicants from other programs to take courses. All applicants are expected to apply by the deadline and participate in an interview to be considered for acceptance. For full admission, the applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

An interview is scheduled in the Spring of each year. Upon completion of their admission file, potential applicants will be notified in writing whether or not they are invited to the interview. Following the interview, students will be notified of the application status within two weeks.

Applications for Fall 2024 will be accepted until February 1st, 2024.

Admission materials must include:

• A completed online application, including the $40 application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Catalog descriptions of graduate coursework for transfer credit
• CV/Resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Invited interview with MFT faculty
• *A personal statement
• **A response to the prompt below

*Provide a 1000 word autobiographical statement, answering the following prompts:

• Reasons for wanting to become a marriage and family therapist;
• Reasons for applying to the Converse MMFT program;
• Personal history and how it has led to your decision;
• Professional history and how it has led to your decision;
• Professional goals;
• Personal characteristics that will contribute to your being a good family
  therapist; and
• Response to the Converse University mission statement: The mission of the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy is to train clinically skilled and culturally competent systemic marriage and family therapists who can practice effectively and ethically in a wide variety of settings. We value diversity in our faculty, students, and the client population we serve. Our definition of diversity includes, but is not limited to, the following: race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, physical status, and geographical location. We are committed to creating a learning environment in which the accompanying values, beliefs, traditions, and symbols of diverse cultures are respected and cultivated.

**Provide a 750-word response to the following prompt: Define general systems theory and connect your definition to your own family system or a family system showcased in popular media (tv, movies, books, etc.). The purpose of this response is to demonstrate your ability to reflect on a basic tenant of the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and connect the theory to yourself or another family system.

A defining aspect of Converse’s MMFT education is our partnership with EMERGE Family Therapy and Teaching Clinic. During your 15-month practicum, you’ll be able to provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families who present various diagnoses, relational problems, and life challenges.

To successfully complete the practicum, you’ll provide 500 hours of client contact, 250 of which will be relational (e.g., couples therapy or therapy with parents and children) with more than one member of the client system in the therapy session. You’ll also receive 100 hours of supervision from AAMFT Approved Supervisors, 50 of which entail raw data or video/live supervision.

Our partnership with EMERGE is an essential part of the program. Here are some highlights of the partnership:

• A dedicated clinical practicum experience for all Converse MMFT students.
  1. This removes the stress from students needing to find their clinical placement site.
• A unique clinical experience working with a small business that holds a special nonprofit tax status but yet operates as a healthcare clinic.
  1. EMERGE offers sliding scale fees, and this allows for a broad spectrum of clients to be seen by students.
• Opportunities to work in the Upstate Community in addition to EMERGE.
  1. Some opportunities our students have had include working with The Prisma Health Psychiatry Program, with schools conducting group and play therapy, and assisting with groups focusing on anger management and life skills.
• Supervision from AAMFT Approved Supervisors.
• Completing clinical work with your community.
  1. Since all Converse students complete their clinical experience at EMERGE, students can build community with other cohort members. This provides a sense of community where no students practice in isolation. To learn more about the support EMERGE provides, watch this video.

Student Handbook

For detailed information about admission and graduation requirements, demographic makeup, campus life, coursework,  learning outcomes, faculty and more, please consult the handbook below.

MMFT Student Handbook

Graduate Achievement Data Table

The summary below from COAMFTE provides student achievement data including graduation rates, national exam pass rates, and job placement rates.

• Converse Main Campus MMFT Graduate Achievement Data
• Converse UCG Branch Campus MMFT Graduate Achievement Data

There is a practicum fee that is $1400/semester in addition to the tuition and term access fees for practicum courses. There are 5 semesters in the practicum; this fee is assessed for all sections of MFS-648 (A,B,C,D, & E).

See comprehensive graduate tuition and fees here.*

Learn about Financial Aid opportunities.

*Tuition and fees subject to change

What is a marriage and family therapist?

The name is misleading. No, we do not just work with couples and families. We work with individuals as well. As a marriage and family therapist (MFT), you are trained as a systemic therapist. For example, when you work with an individual with depression, you work with the client to understand how their family, workplace, community, and other systems are connected to the depression. To learn more, check out this video from AAMFT, our national organization: click here.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in Psychology?

No; we accept students who have all types of undergraduate degrees. There is no assumption that you will know psychology terms or concepts when you enter our program.

Can I apply to start the program in Spring?

No. We only accept students for the Fall semester. We follow a cohort model, which means that students will enter in the Fall and take each class with their cohort.

Do you offer assistantships?

Yes. There are a limited number of assistantships available each year. Students will be notified of these opportunities when they become available.

What type of career can I have with an MMFT?

Our alums hold jobs in a variety of settings. These settings include private practice, school-based therapy settings, group practices, nonprofits, and Ph.D. programs.

How many students are accepted each year?

Each cohort will average about 15 students per campus. We maintain small cohort numbers to ensure that each student receives the best training possible.

Can I enroll in the program part-time?

No. As of Fall 2023, the program only offers a full-time program of study.

When are classes held?

Classes are typically held Monday – Thursday at either 9 am-12 pm or 1 pm-4 pm. Each class meets once per week.

Can I have a job while in the program?

Yes! Many of our students maintain a part-time job while in the program. It is more challenging to do so after you begin seeing clients in the clinic (typically during your second year in the program) but still manageable.

Can I take courses at both Spartanburg and Greenville campuses?

No. Once you select a campus, you will complete all courses at that specified campus.

Do I need to take the GRE?

No! We have dropped the requirement for the GRE. We viewed it as a financial barrier to potential student success. In place of the GRE, we have added an essay requirement.

Why is it important that Converse has the only COAMFTE accredited program in South Carolina?

The most significant benefit of attending a COAMFTE program is the licensure portability. For example, if a student graduates and decides to move to another state, coming from a COAMFTE accredited program allows that process to occur more smoothly. Additionally, the accreditation process ensures that our students are receiving the most rigorous and research-informed training possible.

Are there research opportunities?

Yes! Core faculty have research agendas and are more than willing to bring students on as collaborators. The faculty will also work to support student research.

If I am a student in another program, can I take a class at Converse?

No. Due to our cohort model, we do not allow outside students to take our courses.

Can I transfer graduate courses from other Universities into the program?

Yes, but it is not easy to do so. You can transfer up to 9 credit hours, but the courses must be from another COAMFTE program. The courses must be approved by the Department Chair.

Is there an online program?

No. Outside of accommodations made recently due to COVID-19, all our courses are in person. We value this type of learning and view it as essential to becoming an ethical and well-trained systemic therapist.

Read the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Transgender Affirming Therapy Statement.