The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers the following graduate degree options:

• Marriage and Family Therapy degrees (M.A.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Development and Family Science
• Marriage and Family Therapy (Ph.D.) — Restructuring in process, not currently admitting students
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Human Development and Family Science — Not currently admitting students

The Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). For information about graduate achievement, visit our COAMFTE Graduate Achievement Data section within our Accreditation Information manual.

Did you know:

• Syracuse University offered the first COAMFTE-accredited MFT–therapy master degree in the country, and now offers an accredited MFT online master degree?
• It offered the first 60-credit MFT master degree in the State of New York?
• MFT students gain hands-on clinical experience in the on-site Couple and Family Therapy Center?

Master applications are now being accepted. Ph.D. applications for the HDFS program are due by December 15. Selected candidates will be invited for an in-person interview in January.

Marriage and Family Therapy, M.A.

The COAMFTE accredited Syracuse University Marriage and Family Therapy (SUMFT) program educates clinicians, scholars and researchers through the "Self and Systems" training approach, integrating self-understanding with systems framework for clinical work.

The 60-credit M.A. program is available in two formats:

• Traditional on-campus program utilizing the Couple and Family Therapy Center and local community sites
• Part-time online program delivered through courses with both synchronous and asynchronous content with practicum hours obtained in students' local communities

Admission requirements include a completed bachelor's degree, 3 letters of recommendation and a personal statement. While there is no minimum GPA requirement, the department uses a benchmark of 3.4 as a standard.

Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science

The Ph.D. program consists of 72 credits, including completion of a dissertation. It provides in-depth study of familial, societal and cultural factors that shape child development and family relationships, with primary focus on scientific inquiry and research methodology.

The program trains professionals for careers in academia, research and human development and family service agencies. Courses emphasize multicultural perspectives and diverse research methodologies. Doctoral students have the opportunity to obtain university teaching instruction through Syracuse University's Future Professorate Program.

Marriage and Family Therapy, Ph.D.

Restructuring in Process, Not Currently Admitting Students

The COAMFTE-accredited 72-credit MFT doctoral program prepares scholars who will advance research, theory and teaching in marriage and family therapy. Students are prepared primarily for research, teaching and supervisory positions in graduate institutions, training institutes and healthcare settings.

The program builds upon a clinical master's degree in marriage and family therapy and provides students with advanced theory understanding and expertise in process and outcome research methodology in the field.

M.S. in Human Development and Family Science

Not Currently Admitting Students

The M.S. program is a 30-credit degree that promotes understanding human development across the lifespan with an emphasis on social-cultural contexts. Students gain broad knowledge of childhood and family systems across various cultural and societal contexts.

Students complete core course and elective requirements, with training emphasizing multicultural perspectives and diverse research methodologies. The program allows personalization through courses from various departments including anthropology, biology, marriage and family therapy, psychology, education, sociology, social science, nutrition, special education, or women's studies.

M.S. students must complete either a master's thesis or a master's project. The program prepares students for careers in research, health services and community agencies. Students completing a thesis are eligible to apply to the HDFS doctoral program.