Kansas State University

MFT Application Information

Admission Criteria

The unit faculty in its' review of your application takes into consideration your undergraduate grade point average (especially during the last two years of study), whether your undergraduate institution is accredited, the extent to which our programs match your academic objectives, and your potential for graduate study as reflected by your transcripts and your letters of recommendation. In general, your grade point average must be 3.0 ("B") or better, although in exceptional cases we may consider recommending probational admission if your grade point average is at least 2.5 (C+). Admission is not contingent upon having a specific type of undergraduate degree (many of our graduate students come from areas outside family studies and human services). Academic background in the behavioral social sciences is desired; without it, you may be admitted provisionally until you have completed courses selected by the unit committee to demonstrate your competence in the area. A statistics course is required as a prerequisite to our programs. (Please see requirement listing of each program for possible other prerequisites specific to each program.) You may complete any deficiencies in coursework during your first semester at Kansas State University. It will be helpful to you to have additional previous coursework in research methods, and the basic social sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology) but these are not required for admission.

Required Application Material

M.S. Applicants

  • M.S. MFT Digest (Microsoft Word)
  • M.S. Information Packet (Microsoft Word)
  • K-State Graduate School Application/Information Form completed in full on-line or hard copy and signed at the bottom of the front page.
  • One Official copy(s) of your transcript(s) from each college or university which you have attended. (Copies of transcripts furnished directly to you cannot be accepted by the Graduate School. Please have your schools send your transcripts directly to our office.)
  • Statement of Objectives: why you are interested in graduate study in our school; how it can fit in with your previous education/experience and/or your future career plans; as well as what you hope to achieve while a graduate student.

    Within your Statement of Objectives, we expect you to respond in-depth to the following questions. Please note that applications are partially evaluated on the completeness with which these questions are addressed and the degree of insight demonstrated. Special attention is paid to expression of clear long term professional goals, openness about strengths and weaknesses, awareness of the impact of previous experiences, awareness of family of origin related issues and assets, and openness to self exploration. As a rule of thumb, the statement should be about 10 double-spaced typed pages. Since we do not require interviews for the masters program you can think of this as an opportunity to show the faculty who you are.
    1. Why do you want to be a marriage and family therapist?
    2. What are your professional goals upon completing the degree?
    3. What do you consider to be strengths that will help you achieve your goals? Address both personal and academic background. If you have something unusual in your background that might be considered an asset, please discuss it.
    4. What do you consider to be the area that will need most attention during your training? If you have something unusual in your background that might be considered a deficit, please discuss it.
    5. What critical events from the past have most influenced your present personal and professional development?
    6. Discuss your place in your family of origin. In particular, what about your relationships with your parents and other family members do you believe will constitute resources to make you a better therapist? What patterns or issues will you need to work on?
  • Three letters of recommendation (M.S. form (Microsoft Word)) from former/current instructors, employers, or other professionals in a position to evaluate your potential for graduate study. Make sure you check one of the statements concerning The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and sign your name. If you fail to indicate your preference under the Act, your references will automatically be considered confidential.
  • A 30 U.S. dollar application fee. There are three options for paying your application fee:
    • Personal check of $30.00 (drawn on a U.S. bank) made payable to Kansas State University Graduate School.
    • Money order or cashier's check for $30.00 U.S. made payable to Kansas State University Graduate School.
    • On-line credit card payment.

A variety of graduate research and graduate teaching assistantships are available through the School. If interested, complete the Assistantship Application (Microsoft Word) and submit to the School.

International Applicants

In addition to the required materials previously listed, you must also submit the following:

  • A 55 U.S. dollar application fee. There are three options for paying your application fee:
    • Personal check of $55.00 (drawn on a U.S. bank) made payable to Kansas State University Graduate School.
    • Money order or cashier's check for $55.00 U.S. made payable to Kansas State University Graduate School.
    • On-line credit card payment.
  • Official TOEFL Score: The FSHS Graduate Programs require a TOEFL of at least 600 (paper test), 250 (computer-based test), or 100 (internet-based test) to consider international applicants for admission. This requirement exceeds the minimum requirement by the K-State Graduate School.
  • Affidavit of Financial Support: This form is on the back of the International Application for Admission. You must also submit the required supporting documentation. See specific instructions on this form.

Deadline

Please submit the required application materials by January 2 for Fall entry.

Note: This program begins each Fall semester only. Expected time to complete the degree is 3 years, but must be completed within 5 years.

All materials should be sent to:

Graduate Program Admissions Coordinator
School of Family Studies and Human Services
304 Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas 66506

Once you have had all the necessary materials sent in duplicate (except transcripts) to the school, the faculty of the unit to which you are applying will review your credentials. Upon approval by the School of Family Studies and Human Services, your file will be forwarded for final approval to the Graduate School, which checks the completeness of your application, official transcripts, and verifies that you have or will soon have a valid degree from an accredited institution. If approved, the Graduate School will send you a formal letter of acceptance with admissions details.

After Your Admission

You will be assigned a temporary advisor who will help you select your first courses and assist you in enrollment. This faculty member may or may not become your major professor when you set up your supervisory committee. Please feel free to contact your temporary advisor prior to arriving on campus regarding any questions you may have about Manhattan, being a graduate student, or about our program. If you are not sure who has been assigned as your temporary advisor, please contact the Graduate Program Admissions Coordinator at (785) 532-1473.