Family Therapy Program

Program Overview/Mission

Goals and Objectives

To accomplish this mission, the faculty has established four educational outcomes.  Students graduating from the UHCL master's program in Family Therapy will demonstrate competence in the following four areas:

• Clinical: Graduates will demonstrate clinical competence in providing therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Theoretical: Graduates will demonstrate theoretical competence with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Research-Informed: Graduates will demonstrate research-informed competence with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Professional Issues: Graduates will demonstrate competence in professional issues in the field of couple and family therapy.

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

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Program Degrees

• Family Therapy M.A.

Admission Requirements

• Family Therapy M.A.
• Admission Deadline
  • Fall Only:
    • Final Deadline: January 25 (We are currently not accepting applications for the Fall of 2024)
• Application
  • Apply online through Apply Texas for admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a graduate student.
  • Select Four-year College/University and Graduate School.
  • Program application is only available within the selected Fall semester.
  • Select HSH-Family Therapy as your first choice major only.

  Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the Apply Texas application.  All required documents are due by the program application deadline.

• Requirements
  • GRE Scores Not Required: The GRE requirement will be automatically removed after successful submission of the admission application.
    
    
  • Official Transcripts: Students should submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Office of Admissions or International Admissions.
    • Please review New Student Admissions in the Graduate Catalog under Transcripts and Records Information to learn how to submit an official college transcript to UHCL.
    • Prerequisites: Foundation courses include 6 hours of undergraduate Behavioral Sciences coursework in Introduction to Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. Similar courses may be substituted for these classes and coursework from various classes may meet these content requirements as well.
  • Required Additional Supporting Documents: The following documents should be emailed to the Family Therapy department assistant (Shelly Matejka) at familytherapy@UHCL.edu:
    • Curriculum Vitae: An expanded résumé describing previous education; all work experience; relevant course work and relevant volunteer activities; any honors, presentations, papers, avocations or other relevant life experiences.
    • Statement of purpose and goals (not to exceed 1,000 words): describing your reasons for wanting this degree and how it fits into career goals.
    • Three (3) letters of recommendation and recommendation forms should be submitted directly by the recommenders to familytherapy@UHCL.edu. Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are preferred.
  • Program Application Fee: In addition to the university application fee, there is an additional program application fee of $35 for the Family Therapy M.A. program. The program application fee may be paid by credit card online or by check payable to "University of Houston-Clear Lake" and sent to:
    • Family Therapy Program Applications
      University of Houston-Clear Lake
      2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 73
      Houston, TX 77058
• Admission Review Process

  After initial review of the application materials (application, recommendations, and supplemental material) an admissions committee will invite selected applicants to campus for an interview. Interviews will typically be scheduled in March. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status by April 15.

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Additional Admission Information

Students wishing to enroll in this degree plan must formally apply. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the faculty coordinator.

• Recommendation Form (PDF)
• Student Handbook (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Program Faculty

Curriculum and Instruction

Clinical and Research Opportunities

In addition to classroom training, our students engage in clinical practice at the campus-based Psychological Services Clinic and community-based internship sites. Throughout their clinical training, students receive supervision from licensed MFTs who hold an AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation. In addition to consulting with supervisors, students also utilize their colleagues to discuss and conceptualize their clinical work. These rich clinical experiences leave our students feeling confident and prepared to launch into successful careers.

Students who have an interest in research also have opportunities to work with program faculty and across other disciplines. All program faculty have active and diverse research agendas and welcome student involvement (see faculty profiles). Many students also seek opportunities to conduct research in neurofeedback with Dr. Sarah Prinsloo at MD Anderson (adjunct faculty).

Student Resources

Information for Current Students

• Student Handbook
• Family Therapy Student Association
• Houston Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Texas State Board

University Student Resources 

• Class Schedule
• E-Services
• Payment
• Enrollment Processes
• Waitlisting a Class
• Enrollment Verification
• Catalog
• Types of Aid
• Scholarships

• Academic Calendar
• Final Exam Schedule
• Campus Events Calendar
• Payment Due Dates

Additional Information

Career Opportunities
Investigate Your Career Options

Many of our students go on to be full-time clinicians, while others pursue doctoral studies and go on to work in academic and research settings. Many also become credentialed as State Approved or AAMFT Approved Supervisors. This allows them to supervise other clinicians working toward full licensure. While there are many ways to utilize a degree and license in MFT, here are some of the clinical settings in which MFTs practice:

• Private practice
• Community mental health agencies
• Residential treatment centers
• Wilderness programs for at-risk youth
• Collaborative care settings with family physicians
• Non-profit agencies

We also encourage our students to think outside the box in terms of careers that fit their interests. One notable example of this is Robert Andrews, one of the program's first graduates, who has built a career working with athletes that include many Olympic gold medalists.

For immediate assistance, please call or email Department Assistant III, Shelly Matejka, at 281-283-3491 or Matejka@uhcl.edu.

Or contact:

Human Sciences and Humanities
Academic Advising Office
hshadvising@uhcl.edu
281-283-3333

University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX 77058-1098