M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy
When you join Concordia University, Nebraska’s Marriage & Family Therapy program, you will discover a Scripture-infused view of modern psychology and therapy that transforms marriages, families and communities by focusing on faith and family perspectives.
With a master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, you will:
- Prepare for therapy licensure that applies to various psychology and counseling environments including schools, hospitals, churches, private practice, community mental health and social services organizations, and more.
- Acquire in-depth, real-world experience through a 300-hour practicum.
- Strengthen modern therapy and enhance the impact you have on your clients through Christ-focused perspectives.
Due to program design, requirements and commitment, this program is ineligible for the Graduate Assistant (GA) Program.
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Program Highlights
WHY CHOOSE CONCORDIA FOR A DEGREE IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY?
With an M.A. degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Concordia University, you will find a distinctive blend of faith-based instruction and real-world experience:
- Consider modern psychological theories and practices with a Christian worldview that empowers both therapist and client to navigate real-world issues within a family systems perspective.
- Emphasize a holistic client view that considers how, in light of creation, our humanity influences the therapeutic relationship and family systems perspective.
- Apply and exercise the strategies and perspectives you learn during a 300-hour practicum you will complete within your second year of study.
Concordia’s MFT program includes online classes as both synchronous, live classes twice a week, as well as asynchronous assignments and discussions to apply the course learning.
Due to the nature of the cohort model, the MFT program has only one start in the fall of each academic year.
Accreditation
Concordia’s MFT program is aligned with the standards for the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and will be applying for and seeking full accreditation with COAMFTE upon eligibility. Concordia’s MFT program is also recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACCREDITATION
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Information Sessions
Learn more about our programs at one of our next information sessions.
You may register for an information session by clicking "RSVP" next to your desired date and time.
Information sessions run approximately 20 minutes. During these meetings, we will discuss the program formats, application process, financial aid, payment plans and questions that you may have.
Degree Goals
A graduate of Concordia University’s Marriage and Family Therapy master’s degree will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of family science/therapy in a culturally appropriate manner to a wide range of demographic groups.
- Demonstrate awareness of one’s personal narrative and faith identity and apply concepts to individual contributions to the field of marriage and family therapy/family science.
- Become clinicians who are ethically grounded, demonstrate integrity and operate within the laws of the profession.
- Utilize a variety of theoretical approaches to marriage and family therapy and family education.
- Effectively generate lifespan family educational applications for children, adolescents and adults in the study of human growth, development and sexuality; family dynamics and resource management; parent education and guidance; family life education and interpersonal relationships; and more.
Career Outcomes
A degree in Marriage and Family Therapy not only enables you to secure a job in therapy or counseling, but also unlocks additional career roles in leadership and administration, teaching and higher education positions, speaking about mental health and specific areas of interest and pioneering education of Christian perspectives and influence on ministry and counseling.
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST / COUNSELOR
- Use your knowledge and skills to treat individuals, couples, families and groups to support and enhance relationships.
- Utilize Christ-focused perspectives to support and restore marriages, strengthen relationships and families and positively influence entire communities.
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
- Work in hospitals, community outreach organizations, higher education counseling programs and a wide range of other community-based agencies serving clients while also supervising therapists in training.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR PSYCHOLOGY
- With a Marriage and Family Therapist master’s degree, you can explore the world of teaching in higher education as an adjunct professor.
FAQs
A degree in Marriage and Family Therapy may be right for you if you are passionate about using your skills in interpersonal relationships and psychology to assist individuals, couples and families in effectively evaluating, understanding and developing solutions through a faith-focused lens that holistically and faithfully emphasizes a Christian view of marriage and family.
Yes! During the second year of course work, students will also be required to start real-world experience in a practicum setting. Students will be responsible for working with the University to find practicum sites in their specific location that meet standards for learning and developing therapy skills. The practicum is required to be 12 months long and 300 hours.
Courses will remain online, including University supervision as students complete their practicum. Practicum sites, however, will be in your city/location and will be required in-person for the duration of the practicum. The University will work directly with site supervisors to ensure support of the students and meet learning objectives.
Yes! There will be a required residency at the beginning, middle and end of the program. On-campus residencies will be held to enhance cohort relationships, get to know faculty and staff and develop critical relational skills among students.
While the program prepares students for licensure in the state of Nebraska, the required courses and learning objectives are aligned with the accreditation body, COAMFTE, so that students can apply for MFT licensure in the state where they reside. Please see your own state requirements to assure licensure in your state. This program can lead to licensure in most states. It is the sole responsibility of the student, not the program, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state board of counseling. To obtain your state’s web address, view State Licensure Boards.
The MFT program is aligned with the standards and competencies of COAMFTE, which adds merit and verifies the quality of your degree for future employers. The program plans to apply for accreditation as soon as the application is allowed (once the program has produced its first graduates).
U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations require that Concordia’s programs leading to licensure, certification or endorsement must satisfy all accreditation and educational requirements for the state where the student is located at the time of initial enrollment or where the student attests that they will seek employment.
Related Programs
Family Life Education
With Concordia University, Nebraska’s Master of Science in Family Life Education program, you can enhance your churchwork role and guide your congregation using a holistic view of modern therapy that’s infused with Scripture and emphasizes faith and family perspectives.