Master of Science (MS) in Marriage and Family Therapy
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Learners in the MS in Marriage and Family Therapy specialization who need to enhance their knowledge in the area of psychopharmacology for licensure purposes may register for PSY7330 or COUN5268. This course is in addition to the specialization requirements.
The COAMFTE-accredited Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program is designed to prepare learners to serve as marriage and family therapists for a diverse population of clients in various therapeutic settings. Learners interact with the curriculum through a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. In the program, learners gain and demonstrate knowledge in systemic case conceptualization and theories, family developmental dynamics, and clinical training designed to instill high standards for professional practice based on the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) code of ethical standards and sensitivity to the complex family systems needs of a multicultural and ethnically diverse society. The primary goal of this program is for learners to develop the ability to apply systems-based theory to clinical services, as well as integrate wellness approaches and relevant research through assessment and intervention with individuals, groups, couples, and families.
Personal Suitability and Fitness for the Profession
Capella embraces the principles and guidelines set forth by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The faculty, clinical supervisors, and administrators within the Marriage and Family Therapy degree program have a professional, ethical, and potentially legal obligation to ensure, insofar as possible, that all learners have the competence to manage professional relationships in an effective and appropriate manner and that they possess the personal suitability, emotional maturity and stability, and intellectual judgment required to work with vulnerable populations. Personal suitability and fitness for the profession includes but is not limited to demonstration of sufficient interpersonal and professional competence; self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation; openness to processes of supervision; and resolution of issues or problems that interfere with professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner. Throughout the graduate training of each learner, faculty and clinical supervisors are responsible for educating and assessing learners with regard to their personal suitability and fitness for the profession.
Residency Requirement(s)
Two four-and-a-half-day residencies. See university policy 3.04.05 Attendance at Residencies, the Residencies page on Campus, and the Residency section, below, for more information. Also see each graduate school’s residency courses.
Practicum/Internship Experience Requirement(s)
Minimum of 300 internship hours. See the Practicum/Internship Experience section, below, for more information.
Additional Program Requirements
| MFT5008 | Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy | 4 |
| MFT5106 | Assessment, Tests, and Measures for Marriage and Family Therapy Practice | 4 |
| MFT5107 | Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavior Disorders | 4 |
| MFT5108 | Impact of Addiction and Addictive Behavior on Family Systems | 4 |
| MFT5222 | Professional Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy | 4 |
| MFT5232 | Systemic Approaches to Gender and Sexuality | 4 |
| MFT5270 | Systemic Family Therapy Theory and Practice 1 | 4 |
| MFT5271 | Working with Families Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| MFT5273 | Couple and Marital Therapy | 4 |
| MFT5275 | Utilizing Systemic Approaches: Infancy Through Adolescence | 4 |
| MFT5336 | Diversity and Social Justice in Systemic Family Therapy | 4 |
| MFT5820 | Systemic Family Therapy Theory and Practice 2 | 4 |
| MFT5822 | Systemic and Group Interventions for Grief, Loss, and Trauma | 4 |
| MFT5876 | Research Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy | 4 |
All academic courses listed below include specific residency or clinical experiences.
Learners must complete prerequisites and residency and clinical experience requirements to be eligible to complete each course in the sequence.
| MFT-R5821 | Advanced Marriage and Family Therapy Theory and Pre-Clinical Practice: Residency Track 1 | 4 |
| MFT-R5823 | Advanced Marriage and Family Therapy Theory and Pre-Clinical Practice: Residency Track 2 | 4 |
| MFT6231 | Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Internship 1 | 2 |
| MFT6232 | Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Internship 2 | 2 |
| MFT6233 | Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Internship 3 | 2 |
| MFT6234 | Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Internship 4 | 2 |
Total
At least 72 quarter credits
One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
Capella University cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. State licensing boards review each applicant's completed education, exam scores, supervised experience, criminal history, and application materials at the time of license application to determine eligibility. For more information, see the professional licensure disclosures for this program on Capella’s website.
Residency
The residency requirement for the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program is satisfied by the completion of two online courses, each consisting of three full-day and two half-day experiences (MFT-R5821 and MFT-R5823). Learners must have completed the residency requirement prior to starting their site-based learning experience. Each residency experience for the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program requires learners to practice in the areas of systemic theories and intervention, assessment, multicultural issues, legal and ethical issues, and advanced therapy. Through the pre-clinical residencies, learners gain a stronger sense of academic community by networking and discussing concepts and issues in the field of professional marriage and family therapy. This experience provides a learning environment that fosters the application of critical thinking and integrated knowledge to professional issues.
Practicum/Internship Experience
Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program complete supervised clinical internship experiences in their community as a requirement of their program.
The internship courses (MFT6231, MFT6232, MFT6233, MFT6234) require completion of 300 direct client contact hours across the four courses, with 100 or more of those hours being relational. The site-based learning experience is a supervised clinical experience performed at an approved internship site. Learners apply the skills developed throughout the course of their program while working in a clinic, agency, or other settings that provides couple and family services. Learners may register for additional internship courses should they need additional time or have a need to meet additional requirements for state licensure. In the degree program’s capstone exam, which learners take during internship course MFT6233, learners must pass a 200-question, multiple choice, practice, national licensing exam. Study resources for the capstone are available throughout the internship courses.
Learners should consult the Marriage and Family Therapy Program Handbook for a full description of the internship experience and all site-based learning requirements.