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AmridgeUniversity-Marriage and Family Therapy

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. Synthesize and utilize the major theories recognized by professional marriage and family counselors.
2. Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural diversity needs of clients.
3. Demonstrate a practical, working knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional issues bearing directly on the practice of counseling as promoted by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
4. Practice Marriage and Family Therapy through comprehensive Clinical Training.
5. Delineate systemic and environmental factors that affect human development, functioning, and behavior.
6. Evaluate reliability and validity of specified assessment tools.

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.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), Amridge University provides information pertaining to the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy degree programs as it relates to licensure within each state.

In order to become licensed as a marriage and family therapist, candidates must complete the degree, program, and/or coursework required by their chosen state. States also have licensing requirements beyond a program’s graduation requirements that include post-master’s supervised clinical experience, examination(s), background check, and application for a license. Professional licensure requirements vary by state. If you are considering an academic program that leads to professional licensure, we recommend you contact the appropriate licensing agency in your home state for information and guidance prior to starting a program outside your state. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy provides a listing of state licensure boards on its website: https://www.aamft.org/Directories/MFT_Licensing_Boards.aspx?hkey=c0f838ad-2672-4b4e-8b51-b9578fe5c28a

As of July 1, 2020, the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy degree programs meet the degree and coursework requirements in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, DC.

Modifications to the practicum and clinical training portion of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy degree programs must be made in order to meet the requirements in Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, and Utah. Contact the University’s Clinical Training Director at clinicals@amridgeuniversity.edu for additional information.

Amridge University’s Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy degree programs do not meet the licensure requirements of Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

A determination has not been made as to whether or not the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy degree programs meet the educational requirements for licensure in New York.

While Amridge University strives to ensure the information contained here within is current and accurate, human error may occur, and state requirements may change or be updated without our knowledge. We recommend that you regularly check your state’s licensure requirements throughout your studies to ensure ongoing eligibility. For more information contact clinicals@amridgeuniversity.edu or 800.351.4040, extension 7802.

The Course Requirements of 60 semester credit hours for the degree program Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy consists of program specific courses.

Required Courses for the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Sem. Hrs.
FT 7300 Ethics and Professional Identity
FT 7306 Community and Social Systems
FT 7310 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
FT 7311 Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy
FT 7320 Human Development
FT 7321 Human Sexual Development
FT 7322 Theories of Personality Development
FT 7323 Marriage and Family Development
FT 7326 Social and Multicultural Diversity
FT 7330 Interpersonal and Family Dynamics
FT 7331 Marital and Family Systems
FT 7332 Counseling for Abusive Relationships
-OR- FT 7333 Systemic Treatment of Substance Related Disorders
FT 7335 Advanced Therapy
FT 7336 Basic Counseling Techniques/Helping Relationships
FT 7340 Assessment of Individuals and Families
FT 7355 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
FT 7370 MFT Practicum
FT 7371 MFT Clinical Training I
FT 7372 MFT Clinical Training II
RS 6339 Research and Evaluation
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

Total Hours for Masters Degree 60
A student needing extra courses for Licensure or Certification may select from the following:
FT 7302 Professional Ethics and the Law
FT 7334 Psychology of Grief, Death and Dying
PT 7350 Lifestyle and Career Development
FT 7373 MFT Clinical Training III (if needed)
3
3
3
3

Employment Settings:

  • Inpatient facilities
  • Counseling Centers
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Health Maintenance Organizations
  • Community Mental Health Centers
  • Schools and Head Start Centers
  • Social Service Agencies
  • Universities and Research Centers
  • Courts and Prisons
  • Private Practice

Job Listings:

 Professional Organizations:

Salary Information: