Program Details
Welcome to the UMass Global MFT program webpage. We are pleased to provide this comprehensive resource for prospective students, academic partners, and members of our broader community of interest. This webpage serves as an official source of detailed information about the structure and expectations of our Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program.
Visitors will find an overview of the program’s academic framework, including the total number of credit units and courses required for graduation, along with the advertised completion timeline of 2.5 years. Additional information includes specific program requirements, a complete listing of courses, and profiles of our core and non-core faculty members.
This page also includes access to key documents such as the Program and Clinical Handbooks, and our Outcome-Based Education Framework, which collectively articulate our commitment to academic rigor, clinical competency, and student success. The program’s Graduate Achievement Data is provided to support transparency and informed decision-making.
We encourage you to explore the resources available here and learn more about the academic and professional opportunities offered through our MFT program.
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.
Program 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:
- The didactic section, which provides you with the foundational knowledge you need, and
- 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 |
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* 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. |
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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.
