Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy - 54 semester hours

Aug 26, 2026

Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy is structured around 54 semester hours, combining foundational and contemporary family therapy theory with practical experiential learning. The curriculum covers foundational and contemporary approaches, therapist self and relational techniques, multicultural and intersectional family issues across the lifespan, and professional identity with relational ethics. It also integrates human development, research methods for informed consumers and investigators, couple-focused therapy, mental health diagnosis, advanced family systems assessment and treatment, and specialized coursework addressing children, adolescents, parents, addiction, trauma, and sex therapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Program Overview

Course Plan (54 Semester Hours)

Core Family Therapy Courses

Human Development and Research

Diagnosis and Assessment

Specialized Therapy Topics

Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy (54 semester hours) | Course \# | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites | Course Description | Semester offered | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CMFT 5150 | Foundational Family Therapy Theories | 3 | | This course offers an introduction to foundational family therapy theories and intervention strategies. Emphasis is on historical development of systems theories. | Fall and Spring | | CMFT5160 | Individual & FT Foundational Techniques and Self of the therapist | 3 | | This didactic and experiential course presentsan overview of foundational techniques and theories in family therapy. It will help students continue to develop a theoretical framework for engaging in foundational theory driven therapeutic interventions via practice of individual relational and family therapy role plays. | Fall and Spring | | CMFT 6180 | Family Issues: Multicultural Intersectional Systems through the
Lifespan | 3 | | This is a family studies course designed to assist you to become more informed about multicultural and social justice issues that affect you, your clients, and families in society. The course addresses multicultural theories and critical consciousness such as decolonization theories, liberation theories, and intersection family life cycle. | Fall and Spring | | CMFT 5151 | Contemporary Family Therapy Theories | 3 | CMFT 5150, 5160 | This course offers an introduction to contemporary family therapy theories and intervention strategies. Emphasis is on historical development of systems theories. | Fall and Spring | | CMFT 5161 | Individual & FT Contemporary Techniques and Self of the Therapist | 3 | CMFT 5150, 5160 | This didactic and experiential course presents an overview of contemporary | Fall and Spring | | | | | | techniques and theories in family therapy. It will help students continue to develop a contemporary family theoretical framework for engaging in theory driven therapeutic interventions via practice family therapy role plays. | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CMFT 5330 | Professional Identity & Relational
Ethics | 3 | CMFT 5150, 5160 | This course addresses the professional identity and ethics of couple and family therapists. It concentrates on couple and family therapist’s ethical and legal responsibilities and liabilities as described in mental health and family law, insurance claims, and private practice management. | Fall and Spring | | LDFS 6200 | Human Development | 3 | | An inquiry into the experience and meaning of human development over the full span of life. Both analytical and reflective modes of exploration are utilized to approach the study of personhood and the courses and themes of life. | Fall, Spring, and Summer | | RSEM 5120 | Introduction to Research | 3 | | This is a survey course that examines the purposes of research, the methods of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research, and the processes involved in research studies. The primary aims ofthis course are to improve your skills as an informed consumer of research and to provide you with the skills to conduct your own research. | Fall, Spring, and Summer | | CMFT 5180 | Therapy with
Couples/Relationships | 3 | CMFT 5150,
5151, 5160,
5161, 5330 | This course is didactic and experiential dealing with therapeutic techniques applied to the improvement of intimate/couple relationships. Emphasis is placed on empirically based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of couple/relationship problems. This is a survey course covering | Fall and Spring | | | | | | different approaches working with couples/relationships. | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | COUN 6250 | Mental Health Diagnosis | 3 | | This course addresses individual diagnosis from a variety of perspectives: Biological, developmental, medical, neurological, psychosocial, cultural and interpersonal. It will provide students with a broad theoretical base for understanding psychopathology, fro

FAQs

What is the total credit structure for the program?

The program requires 54 semester hours across the listed courses.

Which courses build foundational family therapy theory and techniques?

CMFT 5150 and CMFT 5160 cover foundational family therapy theories and techniques, followed by CMFT 5151 and CMFT 5161 for contemporary perspectives.

How does the program prepare students for clinical work in family therapy?

It combines theory and intervention strategies with didactic/experiential technique courses, assessment and treatment in family systems, empirically based couple relationship assessment and diagnosis, and role-play practice.

Aug 26, 2026

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