Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy Overview
The nuclear family has evolved and the American household no longer looks the same as it has in the past, yet the family unit remains the cornerstone of our society. In this online, and COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy master's degree program, you'll learn to help individuals and families, regardless of their home structure or circumstance. The MA in Marriage and Family Therapy is a therapy program that prepares you to be adept practitioners in the field of therapy psychology. The MFT masters program gives knowledge in behavioral science, mental health therapy, and the ways to address issues in dysfunctional family interactions under the supervision of a reputable MFT faculty.
Family therapy is a form of therapy psychology that aims to improve communication and resolve family conflicts. Many modern families and couples rely on the help of therapists with a clinical psychology background to guide them through life changes and challenging times. With a family therapy education and clinical practice experience, you can help make a difference as a therapist or mental health therapist in how these people relate to one another, and provide them with the tools to make their lives better.
As a graduate from the family therapy program, you'll have the education, skills, and clinical experience you need to join the profession with confidence as a couple and family therapist or mental health therapist. Some of the topics you'll touch on in the marriage and family therapy master's program include family science, parent-child therapy, group therapy, trauma and crisis intervention, and all else related to your therapist education. Learn more about course offerings below.
To learn more about this family therapy graduate program and other offerings, visit our CSPP-dedicated microsite. You’ll find videos featuring our university president, dean of CSPP, and faculty, along with numerous interactive features!
Program Highlights
A Portable Degree
Alliant offers one of only a few on-campus, COAMFTE-accredited MA MFT programs in the state of California. MFT licensure is issued on a state-by-state basis, and a degree from a COAMFTE-accredited graduate program makes it easier to complete the licensure requirements and obtain MFT licensure in a new state.
Accredited Online MFT Program
Coursework is offered completely online, and is one of only a small number of online MFT programs in the nation to be COAMFTE-accredited. Choosing an online master program with COAMFTE accreditation makes it ideal if you are going to pursue becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and plan on traveling between states.
Hands-on Training
Gain invaluable experience in a family therapy clinic setting while studying your therapy degree. Get into clinical mental health therapy and hands-on training through 300 hours of direct client contact, 100 supervision hours, and at least 100 professional development hours, giving you 600 to 1,300 hours to apply towards your license.Six Steps to a Successful Practicum
Service and Investment
If qualified, you can receive up to $50,000 of loan reimbursement from the National Health Services Corps in exchange for two years of work in an underserved area.
Cultural Competency
This MFT program has cultural competency at its core, and consistently adds culturally and linguistically qualified mental-health professionals into the workforce. Learning the principles of human development and family study, the MS marriage therapy program prepares you to conduct effective family therapy and address behavioral health challenges within familial dynamics.
Compelling Coursework
In the marriage family therapy program, you'll explore areas relevant to mental health professions such as parent-child therapy, couples therapy, MFT theories and techniques, sex therapy, and more.
Admissions
Learn About Admissions Requirements
Faculty
Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty
Degree Information
Continuing a Legacy of Impact
MFT programs at CSPP have a long and storied history of esteemed faculty and industry luminaries that have passed through its doors to share knowledge to the next generation of family therapists. Students must meet specific admission requirements and fulfill all program requirements. For the last 50 years, these programs have worked to produce the best marriage and family therapists and the most-respected thought leaders in the field.
Chemical Dependency Specialization Track
MFT graduate students have the option to earn a specialization in chemical dependency. This CAADE-accredited chemical dependency specialization provides a unique opportunity for you to prepare to work with individuals, couples, and families facing addiction through professional development hours, directly related to chemical dependency treatment.
Understanding how to treat addiction is one of the most valuable professional tools an MFT masters program can have. When working with families who are struggling with addiction, it's imperative to know the best care clinical practices for treating chemical dependency.
This specialization covers how to treat families from a systemic perspective, with a focus on treating clients who are experiencing addiction and substance abuse. This will be a part of your internship hours at a residential treatment center or intensive outpatient program, not as a separate clinical internship that would require increased hours. This specialization is embedded into the MA program and does not require any additional coursework.
Links and Downloads
Disclaimer Regarding Program Outcomes Data:
The employment and licensure data provided in the School Performance Fact Sheets (SPFS) is required by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and is based on limited survey responses from graduates. Due to low response rates, this data may not fully or accurately represent the outcomes of our graduates.
For a more comprehensive and representative overview, please review our Graduate Achievement Data reported to the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), which includes graduation, job placement, and licensure rates.
San Diego Graduate Achievement Data
Los Angeles Graduate Achievement Data
Sacramento Graduate Achievement Data
Irvine Graduate Achievement Data
Online Graduate Achievement Data
As part of COAMFTE requirements, we provide the diversity composition of our student body, faculty, and supervisors. Please follow the link below for the related data. We hope this information will help you make an informed decision regarding your graduate study.
Career Outcomes
- Mental health services in schools
- Mental health services in the community
- Social work and human services
- Facilities for residential treatment, including specialized care for substance abuse, eating disorders, domestic violence, and trauma
- Mental health services offered by private practitioners
- Instruction and education services
- Doctoral level education and training
- Writing and publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I get the MFT masters program?
Marriage therapists and family therapists are experts in clinical mental health therapy which is crucial as there are various struggles that families and couples encounter that require professional intervention. Whether it is a newly engaged couple looking to establish a strong foundation for their marriage or a family struggling to cope with their children's behavioral problems, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) can use their clinical training and expertise in behavioral sciences to provide the necessary guidance for them to overcome their difficulties and achieve success.
What scholarship and financial aid options are available?
Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your education, and Alliant International University offers institutional scholarships for many of our students. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more in our Financial Options Guide.
When does the program start?
The master’s program is offered as both a semester-long and eight-week term program and is open for enrollment during each of those respective enrollment periods. You can find our eight-week term academic calendar here.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The MA MFT degree program is a 60-credit program and takes a minimum of two years to complete, either across six semesters or 13 terms, depending on which calendar is applicable to you.
What is the modality of the program?
You can earn your MA in marital and family therapy degree online or on-campus at Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, or Sacramento. Each student learning outcome is made to ensure graduates are prepared for successful practice in the field.
Can I enroll in individual courses at Alliant?
Alliant only offers full academic programs. If you're interested in taking individual courses, or specific courses for licensure, we recommend exploring our Lifelong Learning and Professional Development program, which may offer what you need. You can contact them directly at ce@alliant.edu for more information.
"I chose Alliant because they are COAMFTE-accredited, and degree portability was really important to me. My experience through the masters and doctoral MFT programs has not only prepared me to be a therapist, but also to be an advocate for my clients, and for the MFT profession as a whole."
Why Alliant
At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.
Why CSPP
Founded in 1969, CSPP was one of the nation’s first independent schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through graduate-level degree programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, and more.
