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MSMFT ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

What are the requirements to be a candidate for admission to Fuller Theological Seminary's MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program?

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Arizona MSMFT Program

  • Application and file completion deadline:
    • Spring Quarter: February 7 (02/07)
    • Fall Quarter: July 31 (07/31)
  • Click here to see the upcoming quarterly Masters Application Deadlines

Pasadena MSMFT Program

  • Priority Deadline for Application to 2-year Fall Cohort: February 15*
  • Final Deadline for Application to the Fall Quarter: June 1
  • Applicants interested in starting coursework before the Fall Quarter may submit an application for admission to Spring by January 31. Click here to see the upcoming quarterly Masters Application Deadlines.
    * International applicants needing a U.S. student visa may only apply to the Pasadena Campus Fall Quarter two year program and are strongly encouraged to apply by April 1st.

Because admission to the MSMFT program is competitive and spots are limited, applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applying to the program early may result in a competitive advantage in the application review process, and some favorably reviewed applicants may be placed on a waitlist or offered admission to a later term if not initially admitted to the term of their choice.

Please note: applicants to the Fall Quarter will not be reviewed before February 15th.

Fall Quarter Applicants:

Applicants to the Fall quarter may apply to pursue the MSMFT program in either the two year program or the three year program.* 

Spring Applicants:

Applicants to the Spring quarter will be considered for “early start” admission to the MSMFT program and must select either the two year program or the three year program to begin in the following Fall quarter.* Please note that an early start does not lead to early program completion, as much of the required coursework is offered in a structured cohort pace. 

* Please be aware that the 2-year and 3-year options refer to the different course structures of the MSMFT program and are not necessarily exact estimates for degree completion time. Please consult your admissions counselor to determine the specific timelines associated with your preferred plans of study.

ALL APPLICANTS

  • Application for Admission
  • Reference Forms
    Within the Application for Admission, you will be prompted to list four references:

    • You must provide one (1) reference from a pastor or denominational leader, one (1) academic reference, AND two (2) references that are either academic or professional.
  • Essay Responses
    Once you have completed the Application for Admission, you will be prompted to upload and submit your essay responses to the following questions into the application portal.

    • Religious Autobiography
      Reflect on your past Christian experience, including the most significant spiritual event/influence in your life, the role of Christ in your religious experience, your involvement in Christian service, and your reason(s) for attending your church. (minimum 250 words; maximum 500 words)Your response should convey an accurate current representation of yourself, your Christian experiences, and the relationship of future life goals to your study at Fuller. It will also serve as a writing sample to assist the Admissions Committee in determining academic potential and possible scholarship eligibility.
    • Statement of Purpose
      Please answer each item, briefly (between 200-300 words) yet thoroughly.

      1. How is a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy the next step in your personal and vocational development? How is it an outgrowth of your present or previous career? What factors have contributed to your current desire for a career in this field?
      2. Describe the most important personal experiences that have shaped your interest in seeking training as a marriage and family therapist.
      3. Describe your work or volunteer experience in the counseling field, particularly in marriage and family.
      4. Briefly describe your goals for emotional and interpersonal growth during the next few years.
    • The following essay question is in addition to your other application materials, and is optional.
      1. In applying to Fuller’s Marriage and Family Therapy program do you have a vision, tentative or otherwise, for how your training might serve the social and/or relational needs of an organization (including, but not limited to, local congregations)? In what ways, apart from providing psychotherapeutic services, do you anticipate using your skills in some form of organizational intervention, or marriage or family oriented ministry? How important is this to you?
  • Official Transcripts
    • Submit official transcripts from ALL post-secondary schools  attended, including a transcript showing a bachelor's degree earned from an accredited institution, with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above
      • All transcripts are evaluated in determining admission to Fuller master's degree programs.
      • Transcripts must be in English or Spanish or Korean. If an issuing school is not able to provide the transcript in one of these languages, please request an official transcript evaluation from a NACES member institution. Please email admissions@fuller.edu if you have any questions.
      • Applicants are strongly recommended to have completed courses in the social and behavioral sciences prior to admission. A course in introductory social science research or statistics, and coursework in Theories of Personality (or Counseling Theories), Abnormal Psychology, and Lifespan Development (or Developmental Psychology) are recommended. The appropriateness of an applicant's academic preparation will be evaluated.
  • Application Fee
    • A $75 non-refundable application fee is required for applicants applying online.  You may pay your application fee online with a U.S. credit card, PayPal, check, money order, or international bank transfer.
  • English Language Requirements
    If your native language is not English or your medium of instruction for all post-secondary education is not English, you must either submit a test score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the past two years or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic Format, taken within the past two years. Please click here for additional requirements.
  • Fuller Arizona applicants only: MFT interviews are offered to selected applicants as part of the decision process. An invitation to interview is not a guarantee of acceptance to the program.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

  • If you are not a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident and planning on studying on applying to the MSMFT program, you may only apply to the Pasadena campus Fall Quarter two year track.
    • Please note: the latest possible application completion deadline for visa-seeking prospective students intending to begin studies in Fall ‘21 is February 15, 2022.
  • You must verify your immigration status with the International Services Office. Those seeking a F-1 or J-1 visa from Fuller must submit a satisfactory Declaration of Financial Support prior to beginning residential coursework. Please click here for additional information.

PAYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL

Attending seminary is an investment in your future. We want to help you see more concretely what it costs to pursue a degree at Fuller, as well as the kinds of support available to you to potentially offset that cost. Click here to find average tuition for each of our programs, a cost estimator to help you calculate your approximate total expenses, and several questions and answers about your financial aid options with links to more information.

COMPLETE AND SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Notification Dates
Applicants are notified of admission decisions, in most cases, around 3-5 weeks following the completion of an application file. Some programs require that an enrollment deposit be paid within 30 days of notification of acceptance. The enrollment deposit will be applied toward the first quarter's tuition and is nonrefundable.

Katie Newton

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