Application Deadline

Applications for Fall 2026 admission will open on September 15, 2025 and close on January 5, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed for admission and no exceptions will be granted. Please note that new students are admitted each year for the fall term only. 

Faculty review all components of each application thoroughly before selecting candidates to interview. Interview invitations are sent via email by/during the third week of January. All applicants—whether invited to interview or not—will be notified of their status at that time. 

Interview Dates and Format 

To support accessibility and accommodate applicants from a variety of locations, we offer two interview options for the CFT program: 

• Zoom Interview Day: February 6, 2026
• On-Campus Interview Day: February 9, 2026 

Applicants are required to attend one full day of interviews. Interview date selection is only available after applicants have been invited to interview. At that time, you will receive detailed instructions on how to confirm your preferred date. 

Both formats follow a similar schedule and carry equal weight in the admissions process—choosing one over the other will not impact your chances of acceptance. We encourage applicants to select the format that best supports their needs and decision-making process. 

Each Interview Day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes a series of required sessions, such as: 

• an informational session about the CFT field and the UO CFT program, led by core faculty and staff
• a small group interview with a CFT core faculty member
• a small group interview with a departmental faculty member
• a small group interview with current students.  

A detailed, personalized schedule will be sent to each applicant a few days in advance. Participation in all scheduled sessions is mandatory for admissions consideration—no exceptions. We will work closely with international applicants to accommodate time zone needs. 

Acceptance Rates

Each year, our cohort size is typically 22 students and faculty review all complete applications.

Prerequisites

The CFT program is carefully designed to provide you with all the coursework you need, even though students are entering with different levels of experience.

Applicants do not need to have an undergraduate degree in psychology to be eligible for admission.

Approximately 20 percent of our admitted students did not have an undergraduate major in psychology, sociology or a related field.

Students admitted into the CFT program typically have extensive volunteer or employment experience in counseling and human services.

Application Instructions

Complete the online Division of Graduate Studies Admission Application. Select Couples and Family Therapy as your major within the College of Education. There is not a specialization. The application will launch September 15, 2024.

Nonrefundable Application Fee: $70 (domestic applicants)/$90 (international applicants), paid by credit card. You will need to pay the application fee before you are able to submit the application.

• You do not need to complete the online application in one sitting.
• You will be able to log in and work on different sections of your application until your payment is made or the application deadline passes.

In the application you will be asked to upload:

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Your vitae should include the following information, beginning with most recent education, including degree and institution (with dates of graduation):

• Work experiences
• Volunteer experiences
• Research experiences
• Presentations at conferences or workshops
• Publications, if any
• Organizational affiliations
• Any other relevant professional information

Purpose Statement

Three pages, single-spaced, describing all aspects of the following:

• Discuss your professional goals, including reasons that this degree will support these goals. Additionally, describe what interests you about the University of Oregon’s CFT program, in particular.
• Discuss your perspective of how anti-racism and intersectionality play a role in clinical work. Describe ways in which you have acted as an anti-racism and equity activist in your life and/or work.
• Discuss how your lived experiences may help or hinder your future work with clients.
• Finally, in your final sentence (in one sentence), if applicable, please list any language(s) other than English in which you believe you could offer a session to a client.

You also need to provide the following items:

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are qualified to evaluate your academic competence, strengths and limitations as a potential therapist, and/or experience in professional or leadership roles. The best letters are from professors, supervisors, and employers who have had sustained engagement with you. Letters of recommendation are not accepted from personal contacts (e.g., personal therapist, family members, or friends).

You need to provide the email contact information for three individual sources for letters of recommendation.

• Once you enter and confirm this information, you cannot change it.
   
• As soon as you submit the contact information, an email will automatically be generated and sent to your referees requesting a letter of recommendation for you.
  • The email will provide instructions on the information to include and how to upload the letter.
     
• You will receive an automated email notifying you when each of your references uploads their letter, and you may also check the status once you have paid. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure letters are received on time.
   
• If you need to make a change to the information provided about references, send corrections to cft@uoregon.edu. 

Transcripts:

At the time of application, applicants must submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, including the University of Oregon. Unofficial transcripts are uploaded as part of the online application. Applicants who accept their offer of admission and matriculate must submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities from which they received a bachelor’s degree or higher. Detailed information about submitting official transcripts is available here.

English Language Proficiency:

All applicants for whom English is not a native/primary language must satisfy one of the following English Language Proficiency criteria in order to be eligible for admission.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) Scores are not required.

Checking Your Application Status

• Your application is not considered complete until all items have been received and payment has been submitted.
   
• If you have questions concerning this form or the $70 application fee, or problems with your login, contact the Division of Graduate Studies at 541-346-5129.