Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

Progress through a 60 credit–hour program divided between core courses (54 credit hours) and electives (6 credit hours). Subjects reflect COAMFTE recommendations and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics. Through this sequence, you’ll:

• enrich your multicultural perspective to assist and uplift diverse and marginalized communities;
• discover and practice methods for strengthening family relationships and effectively addressing personal and relational issues;
• uncover your leadership style, Christian character and professional identity;
• be exposed to a range of therapy and clinical training models and related Christian principles;
• understand the role of research in marriage and family therapy, including conducting and applying to improve client services;
• strengthen your systemic thinking while exploring early and contemporary MFT models and principles; and
• learn to foster your clients’ development through theirs and your own faith and worldview.

Alongside coursework, practice your skills, gain real-world experience and fulfill licensing requirements through a 500-hour internship and 100 hours of supervision. We place many MFT students at our on-campus multilingual Marriage and Family Institute, in addition to other locations and settings. Here, you’ll interact with and shepherd the progress of clients, both one-on-one and in group or multi-person settings, assisting a variety of individuals and promoting healthful strategies across several situations and issues under the direction of an experienced LMFT professional. Clinical experiences begin during the fall semester of your first year and continue through the program.

Formats

Considering your immediate and long-term goals, ACU presents the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy in three formats:

• Thesis: Ideal for those aspiring to a doctoral degree, you’ll participate in an independent research project meant to enhance and inspire the field under the guidance of a faculty member. Review the list of courses and all descriptions. 

• Non-Thesis: If you aim to build off your bachelor’s degree with a master’s credential to open a broad and varied spectrum of clinical opportunities, this format foregoes the thesis for a group research project. You’ll collaborate with other MFT students under the direction of a faculty member to illustrate and apply your understanding of the field’s principles. Review the list of courses and all descriptions. 

• Online: Reach your ambitions while continuing to work full time with the online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy. You’ll engage in and grow your knowledge through 100% online coursework and then participate in in-person clinical experiences. Learn more about the online MFT degree. 

Careers with an MFT Degree

Your MFT degree and clinical experience are an essential cornerstone of becoming an LMFT, but your journey doesn’t stop here. In order to begin practicing professionally, you’ll need to take and pass the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards’ MFT National Examination. Understand more about taking this exam, from preparation to the steps for obtaining your license after you pass. 

As an LMFT, you’ll have abundant opportunities for making a difference by nurturing and empowering others, including for:

• private practices;
• churches;
• family and social service agencies;
• mental health agencies;
• youth ranches;
• schools;
• substance abuse treatment agencies;
• residential treatment centers; and
• eating disorder recovery centers. 

Reflecting current and future demand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies a 22% increase for the number of marriage and family therapists needed through 2029.