Develop Your Counseling Skills and Prepare for Licensure

The UMass Global Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is a unique, captivating program that provides the comprehensive academic coursework and professional training to prepare you to become a proficient, effective clinical therapist. Designed by practicing therapists, this online MFT program teaches students to clinically evaluate and decipher information provided by clients to create a therapeutic environment that allows clients to thrive, grow, and persevere through life’s challenges. Online MFT coursework, coupled with 400 practicum hours consisting of supervised, in-person counseling sessions and capstone case studies prepare students for licensure and subsequent practice.

  • Help with Clinical Placement
    Our dedicated UMass Global field support team helps you identify potential clinical sites within your community for your practicum work.
  • Various Career Options
    An MFT degree positions you for various careers: licensed marriage and family therapist, couples therapist, family counselor, group therapist, child and adolescent therapist, and military family therapist.
  • A Career that Fits Your Skills
    Put your skills in active listening, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and therapeutic techniques to work helping others as an MFT.

At a Glance

Online
60 Credits
$730/Credit
Help me estimate my cost
Next Start Date
Summer II (Jun 23, 2025)

Program Benefits that Benefit You.

Connecting

Get Connected

UMass Global’s student organizations provide resources and networking opportunities to help make those industry connections.

Expert

Learn From Experts

Earn a degree that prepares you for real world clinical situations. Our master’s program was designed by scholar practitioners with years of clinical experience.

Experience

Career Advancement

Land that new job, raise or promotion, by gaining valuable experience in research, ethical issues, psychopathology and other desirable skillsets.

Career Outlook for MA in Marriage/Family Therapy (Marriage/Family Therapy)

Results for:
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring

Data source: Lightcast™ 2025 www.lightcast.io

The pathway information provided through this website is based partly on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data licensed by the University of Massachusetts Global from Lightcast. While the University of Massachusetts Global believes this data to be reliable, some of the data is based on estimates made by Lightcast when actual data is unavailable. Those estimates and the corresponding data may need to be corrected.

  1. Change in employment projections 2022 - 2032
  2. Based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and updated quarterly
  3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

Courses You Might Take

MFT 514

Couples Therapy

3 Credits
MFT 522

Individual and Family Development

3 Credits
MFT 518

Child/Adolescent Psychopathology and Child Abuse Reporting

3 Credits
MFT 526

Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Postmodern Emphasis

3 Credits
MFT 538

Gender, Intimacy, and Sexuality

3 Credits
MFT 502

History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices

3 Credits

What it’s like going to UMass Global?

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed—no penalty. Courses include online lectures, group discussions, and structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and peer interaction, making it ideal for students who thrive in a structured learning environment.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Woman shaking hands with man

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed—no penalty. Courses include online lectures, group discussions, and structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and peer interaction, making it ideal for students who thrive in a structured learning environment.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Woman shaking hands with man

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Our Faculty

All Faculty
Portrait of Dr. Isa Ribadu
Dr. Isa Ribadu, PhD
Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Isa Ribadu PhD
Portrait of Dr. Sara Lee
Dr. Sara Lee, PsyD
Assistant Clinical Director, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Sara Lee PsyD

Admission Requirements

Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

  • Completed application
  • Autobiographical Essay
  • Signed Ethical and Responsibility Statement form
  • Acknowledgment of Program Handbook receipt
  • Acknowledgment of Licensure Limitation Policy
  • 2.75 grade point average (GPA)
  • Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate coursework was completed or attempted

Residency Restrictions

This program meets the requirements for licensure in most states. Contact a University Enrollment Coach for additional details.

Grad Level Exams

This Master’s degree program does not require applicants to take costly exams like the GRE. Why? Because we value your professional and life experience. You should get credit for what you already know.

WASC Senior College and University Commission

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

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Testimonials

Vanessa Soto

Someone considering their degree, definitely go for it. Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s easy. I think one of my biggest challenges during my degree was doing it all throughout COVID, but I had a really good support system. The ups and downs is kind of what helps you out throughout the process.

Vanessa S.
Marriage & Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling, MA

The counseling program prepared me for my surprise career in behavioral health by providing me with a strong background and practical experience in counseling techniques and a strong skill set in research and critical thinking—key in building a leadership career.

Robert P.
Professional Clinical Counseling, MA

The professors realized I have a life and wanted to pursue my dreams. They didn’t make me feel like I had to choose between family and school. They made me feel like I could be successful in both.

Dominique H.
Psychology, BA

All of my instructors inspired me. They were working in the field as well as teaching, so the stories they shared made it relatable and attainable. The staff and faculty are all very positive and provide motivation for the students.

Quinton J.
Psychology, BA

 

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Program Resources

Program Details

At a Glance

60 Credit Hours

 

23 Courses

 

400 Hours

of clinical fieldwork over 12 months.

2.5 years

completion time on average.*

* When enrolled full-time, the average student can complete the program in 2.5 years. Full-time is designated as enrolling in and completing two courses per session. To accommodate life changes, UMass Global allows students 7 years to complete the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Degree Requirements

To earn an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree you need to complete 60 credits. The curriculum is divided into two sections:

  1. The didactic section, which provides you with the foundational knowledge you need, and
  2. The practicum section, which allows you to demonstrate your practical knowledge and hone your counseling skills in a clinical setting.
    To fulfill your clinical experience requirements, you will need to complete six practicum courses over 12 months while concurrently completing 400 clinical hours at a community-based agency.

Code Course Name Credits
MFT 502 History and Foundations of Therapeutic Practices 3
MFT 506 Ethical & Professional Issues 3
MFT 510 Psychopathology & Diagnosis 3
MFT 512 Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Modern Emphasis 3
MFT 514 Couples Therapy 3
MFT 516 Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse 3
MFT 518 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology and Child Abuse Reporting 3
MFT 520 Advanced Individual Therapy I 3
MFT 522 Individual and Family Development 3
MFT 524 Clinical Issues in Human Diversity 3
MFT 526 Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Postmodern Emphasis 3
MFT 528 Research and Bibliographic Methods 3
MFT 530 Theory and Practice of Group Therapy 3
MFT 534 Clinical Assessment 3
MFT 536 Psychopharmacology 3
MFT 538 Gender, Intimacy, and Sexuality 3
MFT 542 Community and Environmental Mental Health 3

Code Course Name Credits
MFT 660 MFT Practicum I: A Systemic Lens of the Developing Therapist * 1.5
MFT 661 MFT Practicum II: Contextualizing the Content of Therapy * 1.5
MFT 662 MFT Practicum III: Exploring the Therapeutic Process * 1.5
MFT 663 MFT Practicum IV: Theoretical Application and Capstone 1 * 1.5
MFT 664 MFT Practicum V: Social Context and Capstone 2 * 1.5
MFT 665 MFT Practicum VI: Beyond the Classroom and Capstone 3 * 1.5

* If a student does not complete the required practicum hours during the MFT 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665 course series, they will be enrolled in a required MFT 696 MFT Practicum Continuation course (0 credits) and required to pay a Graduate Practicum Continuation Fee. The student will remain enrolled in MFT 696 until they complete the required practicum hours, or until the student's seven-year program completion timeline has expired. Students will accumulate hours toward their practicum requirements only when enrolled in MFT 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, or 696.

Disclaimer — State Licensure Requirements

Some states simply do not accept degrees earned in an online environment. States may require specialized accreditation or unique course/credit requirements above and beyond the standard clinical degree plan. These requirements may hinder a student’s application for licensure within those states. The MFT program administration strategically and frequently evaluates the requirements for all states and makes that information available to all students on the MA MFT State Specific Licensure Requirements webpage. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements for their particular state are met.

Students are informed of licensure limitations during admissions and must sign a licensure limitation acknowledgment form, acknowledging their understanding that the MA MFT degree may not meet the licensure requirements in their state of residence.