Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

The Master of Arts (MA) in Marriage and Family Therapy is a professional-level degree program.  Experiences provide the foundation for marriage and family therapy theory, scientific research, and clinical practice.  In this context, students learn the different approaches and clinical techniques required for today’s practitioners offering therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and families.  Also, a major goal of this program is to help prepare students for licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy in their resident state.  Students graduating from the MA in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree program will be prepared to do therapy in a church setting, private practice, governmental agency, and community agency.  This program also prepares students for advanced studies in related fields.

Students may also consider taking additional courses for dual licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counseling.  Students interested in a dual licensure should consult with the Dean of the School of Human Services.

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, the graduate will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and skills in therapy that can be applied in church settings or other professional settings;
2. Prepare for licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy;
3. Practice Marriage and Family Therapy through comprehensive Clinical Training;
4. Conduct himself or herself according to the Code of Ethics of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT);
5. Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural diversity needs of clients; and
6. Possess the academic credentials necessary to advance to the Ph.D. program in Family Therapy if they so choose.

Graduation Requirements for the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
In order to graduate with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

1.  A total of 60 graduate semester hours of the required course work;
2. At least 33 of the graduate semester hours must be from Amridge University;
3. Complete all required coursework, including the specified practicum and clinical courses. This requirement includes the accumulation and documentation of at least 600 hours of face-to-face clinical experience. Of these 600 hours, a minimum of 500 must be client contact, and a minimum of 100 must be concurrent supervision of that client contact with an approved supervisor, for a minimum ratio of 1 hour of supervision for every 5 hours of client contact;
4. Students in the Master of Arts in the Marriage and Family Therapy program are required to earn at least a grade of B- (3.0) in each course. A course with a grade below a B- must be repeated. Licensure Boards may refuse to grant credit for a course in which the student received a grade of B-. Students should review the grading policy of their respective states. Questions about licensure can be directed to clinicals@amridgeuniversity.edu.
5. Complete an Amridge University DEGREE COMPLETION APPLICATION available from the University’s MyAmridge portal. The properly completed and signed application must be submitted no later than the first day of classes of the semester prior to the semester the student plans to graduate. Following this schedule permits the University to conduct a full audit of the respective student’s records to make sure that all courses, programs, and respective graduation requirements have been met.

Time Normally Required to Complete the Program

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy may be completed in seven semesters.  A student may take courses on a part-time or full-time basis.

Practicums and Clinicals

Students, not Amridge University, are responsible for locating and making arrangements for their practicum and clinical experiences and courses.  As such, students should begin making the required arrangements several semesters before the semester of the respective student’s first practicum or clinical experiences courses.