Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy Program Guide

In a master’s in marriage and family therapy program, you’ll learn how to become an effective therapist for couples and families working through relationship issues. You’ll gain the skills to diagnose and treat various mental health conditions. You’ll also help patients improve their communication and conflict-resolution skills.

So, what can you expect in a master’s in family counseling program? We cover everything you need to know, including coursework, program length, application requirements, and jobs.

A marriage and family therapy degree is a type of counseling master’s degree that trains you to become a licensed therapist specializing in relationship counseling. These graduate programs are designed for those with a passion for helping patients improve their mental health and relationships.

Traditional full-time programs take 2-3 years to complete. Accelerated options are quicker, typically lasting just 16-18 months. Most programs require around 60 credits of coursework.

You’ll take courses on topics like couples therapy, family systems theory, research methods, ethics, and cultural competence. You’ll also need to complete 400-700 practicum hours, during which you’ll work directly with patients in clinical settings.

While many marriage and family therapists work in clinical settings, you could also work for the government or legal system or in educational and corporate environments.

In your online master’s in marriage and family therapy program, you’ll learn psychotherapy approaches rooted in ethical practice. Your coursework will teach you active listening and critical thinking skills, as well as cultural competence.

Some master’s in marriage and family therapy programs may offer concentrations in areas like alcohol and drug counseling, integrated behavioral healthcare, and play therapy. These concentrations let you tailor your education to work with the populations that most interest you.

Here are some examples of classes you might take for your master’s in family therapy:

As you research potential online master’s in marriage and family therapy programs, it’s important you understand how long each program is and what resources you’ll need to apply.

Expect to spend around two years in your online master’s in family therapy program. Your program will likely require around 60 credits, though this can vary depending on the school.

Ultimately, the program structure will influence how long it takes you to earn your degree. For example, online accelerated programs can take as little as 16-18 months to complete.

If you’re a part-time student, you might spend up to three years earning your graduate degree.

Before you apply to a master’s in marriage and family therapy program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 2.7-3.0 GPA.

You may also need to complete coursework in the behavioral sciences, especially if your bachelor’s degree was not in a psychology-related field.

Some programs require you to complete prerequisite courses in the social and behavioral sciences, such as psychology, family science, and human development.

Here’s an overview of the basic application requirements for most marriage and family therapy programs:

“The application process for [master’s in marriage and family therapy programs] commonly includes an interview component,” says Rayelle Davis, a nationally board-certified counselor and owner of a private psychotherapy practice in Maryland.

But, as Davis advises, try to look at the interview as an opportunity instead of as a barrier.

“[The interview] is helpful for admissions decisions, but it is also helpful for students to meet professors and get an idea about which program best meets their needs,” she adds.

According to 2019-2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the typical master’s in marriage and family therapy program costs $17,840 for on-campus programs and $11,314 for online programs.

To give you some real-world examples, tuition for Eastern University’s online 60-credit master’s in family and marriage therapy program costs $450 per credit. At Campbellville University, students in the online master’s in marriage and family therapy program pay $445 per credit.

Full-time tuition at Northwestern University for master’s in marriage and family therapy students runs at $22,304 per quarter, while part-time students pay $5,576 per unit.

You’ll have many career opportunities in a variety of settings once you earn your master’s in marriage and family therapy degree online. Discover your options below.

Most graduates of master’s in marriage and family therapy programs go on to become marriage and family therapists — but you’ll need a license to legally practice.

State licensure generally requires:

The field of marriage and family therapy is rapidly growing due to an increased need for mental health services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 16% increase in jobs for marriage and family therapists from 2022 to 2023 — much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

The median salary for marriage and family therapists is $58,510 per year, according to the BLS.

That said, your earnings will vary depending on factors like your experience, your work setting, and your location.

Therapists working for state governments earn a median of $86,030 per year, while those working in individual and family services earn around $50,700 per year.

Your location can also influence your earnings. For example, licensed marriage and family therapists in Tennessee earn an average of $44,380 per year, while those in New Jersey earn around $92,120.

The highest earners practice in the Central Oregon region, earning around $119,970 per year.

Source: BLS

After you earn your master’s in marriage and family therapy, you can pursue a doctorate to advance your career.

You have several options. Many choose a doctor of marriage and family therapy (DMFT). Alternatively, you could seek out a related doctoral program, such as a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.), a Ph.D. in counseling, or a Ph.D. in psychology.

Some of the biggest factors to consider when selecting a master’s in family therapy program are cost, accreditation, program length, and program format.

Think about your budget before you enroll in a master’s in marriage and family therapy program to ensure you don’t owe more in student loans than you can pay back after you graduate.

Estimate the total cost of your degree and compare that against your potential earnings to find the degree’s return on investment.

You can also save money by applying for financial aid, such as graduate school scholarships and teaching assistantships.

Before you enroll, it’s crucial to consider the time commitment.

Longer master’s in family therapy programs can delay your career entry and increase total costs, including student debt. Alternatively, accelerated programs may be more rigorous and overwhelming in the short term but can let you enter the workforce sooner.

Accreditation ensures your program meets rigorous standards and provides a quality education. Your school should hold institutional accreditation, ideally from a regional accreditor, while your master’s program should hold programmatic accreditation.

“Accreditation is an important consideration for counseling programs because it can impact your ability to qualify for licensure,” says Davis.

When researching marriage and family therapy programs, look for accreditation from:

But which accreditor should you prioritize?

“Licensure is determined by the state you will practice in, not the school you attend,” explains Davis. “Some states require a degree from a CACREP- or COAMFTE-accredited program for licensure. This doesn’t mean that a program accredited by MPCAC won’t qualify, but some states may not accept it or they may have additional requirements.

Your program’s format will influence your learning experience.

In-person programs let you directly interact with your classmates and professors, but online learning provides flexibility and asynchronous learning options.

In an online program, you can more easily balance your studies with your other obligations.

Hybrid learning models combine the benefits of online and in-person learning, offering flexibility and face-to-face interactions.

Practicums give you direct clinical experience, so you’ll have counseling skills before you graduate.

While in-person practicums are standard, some programs may permit a mix of in-person and telehealth services.

“[A practicum is] like having a job that is also a class,” says Davis. “Students generally start out shadowing other counselors and learning about proper documentation, and progress to having their own caseload.”

Many online programs in marriage and family therapy require somewhere between 400 and 500 practicum hours at university-approved counseling sites.