Master's Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy

A Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy opens doors to a range of career paths in the mental health field. Family therapists work in private practice settings, community agencies, hospitals, crisis intervention organizations, employee assistance programs, and university clinical settings. Many graduates also pursue roles as mental health professionals in legal and correctional systems, faith-based counseling centers, and residential treatment facilities.

Demand for licensed marriage and family therapists continues to grow as more individuals and families seek professional support for relationship challenges. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of family therapists is projected to grow 13% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with approximately 7,700 annual job openings. This MFT program prepares you to provide therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and family members facing substance abuse, domestic violence, communication breakdowns, and other challenges within their family systems.

CCU's marriage and family therapy program is rooted in a biblical worldview that addresses prevention, intervention, and restoration for families under pressure. The family therapy education you receive draws from systemic, relational, and biblical frameworks, allowing you to integrate your Christian values with evidence-based clinical practice. MFT faculty guide you through coursework that explores the intersection of faith and professional practice, helping you develop both clinical competence and spiritual depth.

Throughout your studies, you are supported in examining and deepening your spirituality and its connection to your clinical work. This approach acknowledges that lasting healing often involves addressing the whole person, including their relationships and faith. The program challenges you to think and practice as a marriage and family therapist while developing cultural humility and ethical standards that honor both your calling and the diverse clients you will serve in your professional practice.

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy requires 63 credit hours and can be completed in approximately 24 to 33 months of consecutive coursework depending on which degree plan you choose. This full-time program follows a structured sequence that balances academic coursework with clinical training, allowing you to build skills progressively while managing work and family commitments. Students complete the program requirements through online coursework combined with three required in-person residencies held on the Colorado campus.

Clinical training components include practicum and internship experiences where you apply family therapy theories in supervised settings, gaining hands-on experience with real clients. While the program cannot be accelerated, the structured approach ensures successful completion of all requirements for professional licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Admission to CCU's marriage and family therapy program is selective, with each applicant carefully evaluated for graduate-level aptitude, career goals, and potential for forming effective therapeutic relationships. The admission requirements include a completed application with an essay and transcripts; a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA; a current resume; a criminal background check; and a personal statement through the candidacy writing sample. Applicants with GPAs between 2.0 and 2.49 may be considered for conditional admission.

After completing your application materials, you will participate in admission interviews with program personnel. Students admitted to the MFT program undergo formal assessment after their first semester, evaluating academic performance, basic therapy skills, and professional behavior. This evaluation process fulfills professional gatekeeping responsibilities and ensures each student has the capacity to develop the competencies required for the field of marriage and family therapy. Financial aid options are available for students who qualify.

The marriage and family therapy program provides extensive clinical training through practicum and internship experiences. You will complete 300 hours of direct clinical contact and receive 100 hours of marriage and professional family therapy supervision during your Professional Practice Experience. During your Professional Practice Experience, you will be working directly with individuals, couples, and families under professional supervision. This hands-on clinical work allows you to apply family therapy theories, systemic interventions, and couples therapy techniques in real-world therapeutic relationships.

Your clinical practice experiences prepare students to address complex issues, including substance abuse, domestic violence, family development challenges, and relational conflict. Working from a systemic perspective, you learn to view clients within the context of their family systems and broader cultural context. MFT students develop competence in conducting assessments, creating treatment plans, and implementing evidence-based interventions. Upon successful completion of these requirements, you will have the clinical hours needed to pursue professional licensure as an LMFT.

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Colorado and most other states. While CCU's family therapy program provides the academic foundation for professional licensure, state regulations vary, and the university cannot guarantee licensure in any state. You are responsible for researching the specific requirements of the state where you intend to practice marriage and family therapy.

Licensure typically requires completing an approved master's degree program, accumulating supervised clinical hours, and passing a national examination. Before enrolling, students interested in practicing in specific states should verify that this program meets their state's requirements. CCU provides professional licensure disclosure information to help you understand how this master's degree in marriage and family therapy aligns with your career goals.

CCU's marriage and family therapy program stands apart through its integration of clinical excellence with a Christ-centered approach to higher education. MFT faculty members are licensed marriage and family therapists who bring both academic expertise and real-world clinical work experience to your education. The program combines rigorous training in family therapy with opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and community engagement, preparing you to serve others with compassion and competence.

The program curriculum covers contemporary couple relationships, family therapy theories, research findings in the field, human development, and ethical standards for professional practice. You will explore systemic interventions, cultural context in therapy, and recovery-oriented care while developing your identity as a mental health professional. Through three in-person residencies, you connect with faculty, fellow MFT students, and the broader CCU community, building relationships that support your journey toward licensure as a marriage and family therapist in private practice, community agencies, or other clinical settings.