The Family Institute is invested in attracting the highest caliber students to our graduate programs. The diversity of students in our programs is crucial to impacting the field of behavioral health at large. In order to reach clients with needs spanning the behavioral health spectrum, the field needs clinicians who come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a range of experiences and perspectives.
A generous donation from the Harris Family Foundation and Irving Harris Foundation is aimed at increasing opportunities for traditionally underrepresented students in the educational programs at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. The Harris Scholarship provides $25,000 per year toward tuition for each of the two years the recipient studies and trains at The Family Institute.
Four scholarships are available, two for each incoming class of the campus programs in Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy.
Prospective students are eligible to apply for a Harris Scholarship along with their program application to either the Master of Arts in Counseling or the Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy. Applicants representing racial and ethnic minorities are strongly encouraged to apply for these scholarships. A preference is given to Black or Latino applicants.
Scholarship awards are based on the following criteria:
- Application and admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling (on campus learning) OR Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy
- Demonstration of academic excellence and achievement
- Articulation of plans to serve under-resourced/underserved communities upon graduation
Awardees will commit to working in an underserved community in Chicago for at least one year following graduation. Recipients will be notified that they have received a Harris Scholarship at the same time as they are admitted to the program.