The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy consists of 60 semester hours course work, 500 hours of face-to-face direct-client-contact therapy (with at least 50% being with couples and families), and 100 hours of faculty supervision (of which 50% or more should be individual supervision). Recommendation for the granting of the MSMFT degree requires the completion of prescribed course work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and completion of the client contact and supervision hours. Students seeking to become Licensed Professional Counselors in Arkansas (and other states) are encouraged to take six (6) additional hours. Practicum in the Clinic may begin during the latter part of the spring semester. Beginning date is determined by client load and contact hours of the second year class. Third semester initiates clinical practicum (3 hours) and nine (9) hours of academic course load. Students will continue practicum for four semesters, and are evaluated continuously during that period. In addition to completion of course work and 500 hours of therapy, students are required to demonstrate pre-professional competence in the following areas before final approval for graduation: personal maturity and integrity, adherence to Harding University's Code of Conduct, conceptual understanding of personal and interpersonal behavior, familiarity with marriage and family theory and therapy literature, coherent therapeutic methodology, insight into own personality, and sound ethical judgment culminating in a satisfactory internship experience.