25 Best Online Master’s in Family Counseling

Liberty University is a nationally acclaimed school known for producing Christian-oriented leaders in every field. The school’s online Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program is at the top of this list because of its excellent classes, affordability, and flexibility. Christian-focused students should note that this program is overwhelmingly focused on therapy: There is only one Christian-related class.

Some courses that students in this program take are Group Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, Psychopathology, and Theory of Family Systems. In each class, you will study the latest theories and how it applies to your work. Additionally, students engage in several hundred hours of direct clinical experience. 

To graduate, students must complete the 60-credit program with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Students may only get two grades lower than a B- throughout the program. Students must complete the degree within seven years and pass the comprehensive exam. Finally, students must complete the degree completion application in the last semester of their time at Liberty University.

Messiah College offers a unique Master of Arts in marriage, couple, and family counseling program. Students attending Messiah College can choose between a two, three, or four-year program. Enrolled students also benefit from flexible start dates, no application fees, and concentrated eight-week courses. 

Each student enrolled in Messiah College’s online program divides their time between core counseling classes and courses focused on marriage, couple, and family counseling. Some of the core counseling classes are:

• Counseling Techniques
• Group Counseling
• Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals

Some courses more focused on the concentration are:

• Human Sexuality,
• Premarital and Marital Counseling
• Addictions and Families

Messiah College charges students $710 per credit hour. While other schools may look more affordable, Messiah College doesn’t charge any hidden fees. Thus, the total cost of this program—$42,600—is comparable or better than most options on this list. If you want an affordable education at a fantastic school, choose Messiah College.

If you’re a California resident looking for a high-quality and affordable program in marriage and family therapy, look no further than California State University Northridge. The program prepares graduates to work for public health agencies, community organizations, private agencies, or as a preparatory program before a doctoral program. At California State University Northridge, students can choose between a master’s thesis, comprehensive exam, and a master’s project.

Every CSUN counseling student takes core classes, including:

• Diversity in Counseling
• Career Interventions in Mental Health Counseling
• Seminar in Counseling Theory

Some courses in the marriage and family concentration are:

• Community Mental Health
• Family Development Across the Lifespan
• Couples and Sex Therapy

Each student must also engage in fieldwork and community practicums. 

Are you interested in California State University Northridge’s online master’s program? To gain admission into the program, you must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, preferably in a related field. You must have a 2.5 or higher GPA, too, and you must provide GRE scores in the 50th or higher percentile if your GPA is below 3.0.

Fresno Pacific University’s online Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program is an excellent option for Christian-minded students with a strong academic background. To apply to this program, students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA from an accredited institution. Additionally, they must provide three letters of recommendation, including one from a pastor or spiritual mentor. 

Fresno Pacific University is a Christian institution. As part of the counseling program, students also take Christian classes like Bible Knowledge Requirement Seminar, Theology for Integration, and The Church and God’s Mission in the World. Some counseling-focused courses include:

• Contemporary Issues in Counseling
• Family Violence
• Psychopathology
• Professional Ethics in Counseling

Each student must also engage in hundreds of hours of clinical experience.

This program is more challenging than many other programs on this list, but it’s also more rewarding. Students enroll in excellent classes taught by nationally recognized faculty members, all of whom hold a doctorate. 

John Brown University offers an online Master of Science in counseling program. Students must complete 60 credits to complete the program, and they can choose to add a marriage and family therapy, play therapy, or adventure therapy emphasis that are each between three and four classes. Students can choose to complete the degree part-time or full-time.

Students begin this program in the counseling core, which includes classes like Addictions Counseling, Career Counseling, Counseling Theories, and Human Growth & Lifespan Development. Students spend the rest of their time in marriage and family therapy classes, like Advanced Marriage & Couples Therapy, and a combination of internships and practicums. 

At $560 per credit hour, John Brown University is one of the more affordable options on this list. Prospective students should also research the many available scholarship opportunities, employment reimbursement programs, and alternative loans available to John Brown University students. Teachers enrolled in the counseling program can also receive teacher education grants. 

If you’re looking for a perfect blend of theological education and scientific coursework, consider LeTourneau University’s Master of Arts in counseling with a marriage and family therapy specialization. Students in this program focus on core counseling classes, which they supplement with clinical theology coursework and several classes in the marriage and family therapy track for a total of 66 credit hours.

Some notable classes from this program are:

• Integrative Theology for Counselors
• Addictions Counseling
• Healthy Family Functioning
• Research Methods
• Family Assessment
• Group Counseling Methods

Like every school on this list, students must complete several hundred hours of in-person clinical experience in addition to the online courses.

To become a graduate student at LeTourneau University, students must have a 2.5 or higher undergraduate GPA, official transcripts, a professional resume, and evidence of the commitment to Christianity. Students may be accepted with a GPA lower than 2.5, but they must have an especially strong professional resume to prove their case.

Counseling isn’t for everybody. If you’d prefer to work in the administrative side of organizations and agencies concerning marriage and family units, consider Lee University’s Master of Science in marriage and family studies. The program prepares graduates to become leaders for community service agencies, collect data about individuals and communities, and communicate with diverse cultural groups. 

To graduate from this program, students must complete four or more semesters of online study, which most graduates finish in two years. These four semesters include 36 credit hours of courses, combining classes in the marriage and family studies specialty with several electives that are conducive to building students’ expertise in the field.

Some of the fantastic classes comprising the curriculum are:

• Family Resource Management
• Introduction to Family Studies
• Systems Theory
• Human Sexuality
• Family Life Education Methodology
• Intimate Relationships

As the program isn’t rooted in counseling, students aren’t required to complete an internship or practicum.

The University of West Alabama offers one of the most affordable and quickest Master of Science in family counseling programs in the nation. The school charges only $429 per credit; students can finish the program in as little as one year, although many students take two or more years. Between these qualities and an excellent class selection, you can’t go wrong by choosing to study at the University of West Alabama. 

Students divide their time with required courses, concentration classes, and fieldwork. Some required core courses are:

• Educational Statistics
• Techniques of Educational Research
• Systems Theory in Psychology

Concentration classes include:

• Lifespan Development and Learning
• Systems of Psychotherapy
• Professional Orientation and Ethics

Finally, some applied concentration courses are Internship in Counseling Psychology, The Therapeutic Relationship, and Advanced Techniques in Family Counseling.

The University of West Alabama has a relatively simple admissions process. Students only need to complete an online application and submit official college transcripts to gain admittance.

Prescott College offers several pathways within the Master of Science in counseling with an emphasis on marriage, couple, and family counseling program. Students can choose to pursue a post-graduate certificate in adventure-based psychotherapy, expressive art therapy, ecotherapy, and equine-assisted mental health. While they aren’t mandatory, these certificates offer students a unique skill set that can supplement them throughout their careers.

Some courses that students in this program take are:

• Professional Counseling Ethics
• Professional Orientation to Mental Health Counseling
• Counseling Theories
• Helping Relationships
• Basic Counseling Skills
• Research and Program Evaluation in Mental Health Counseling

Additionally, every student must accumulate extensive experience in the field through the three-credit supervised counseling practicum and the six-credit supervised counseling internship.

Graduates from this online master’s program have become leading therapists and administrators in non-profit organizations, government agencies, private practices, and hospitals. Prescott College equips students with the skills they need to succeed, no matter what their goals may be.

As one of the most robust educational institutions in the world, each of Arizona State University’s programs offers the excellence and flexibility that every prospective student seeks. And the school’s Master of Science in family and human development program is one of the quickest options on this list. Students should note that this program is research-focused; it is not a preparatory program for counselors.

ASU’s family and human development curriculum offers a well-balanced approach, including core courses, research, a culminating experience, general requirements, and capstone courses. Some of the classes in this program are Theoretical Issues in Child Development, Parenting, Social Statistics, and a three-part Capstone experience that includes Professional Development, Exploration, and Application.

Admitted students can begin this 18-month program in mid-August, mid-January, or mid-May. The school offers two scholarship options for students with an excellent academic and extracurricular history. The two scholarships require a 3.0 and 3.5 GPA, respectively, and a few additional requirements that you can find on the financial support page.

If you want to become a licensed marriage and family therapist in Texas, consider Houston Baptist University’s Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program. Note that this program isn’t completely online. State laws require that many of these courses be taught on campus, and students must also complete many hours of in-person clinical experience. If you don’t mind a hybrid format, though, Houston Baptist University is an excellent option.

Students in this 60-credit program take courses like:

• Multicultural Counseling
• Theories of Counseling
• Clinical Psychotherapy
• Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders
• Counseling Children

Every student is required to complete a two-part internship and practicum to meet the graduation requirements and begin accumulating the 3,000-hour experience requirement for licensure.

To gain admittance to this program, students must submit official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a professional resume, GRE scores, and engage in an admissions interview with a representative from HBU’s admissions department. 

The intent of Concordia University Wisconsin’s Master of Science in family life online program is to connect Christian understanding with the best and latest practices in family counseling. From learning techniques to intervening in domestic issues to navigating multicultural contexts, Concordia’s Family Life program will prepare you for the many challenges and successes of family counseling.

The 36-credit curriculum includes courses, a thesis, and clinical experience. Some classes that students take are:

• Family Resource Management
• Human Sexuality
• Marriage and Family Relations
• Professional Ethics
• Contemporary Issues in Family and Parenting

Students use these classes to become family therapists, social workers, human service assistants, and more.

At $630 a credit for only 36 credits, Concordia University Wisconsin’s Family Life program is quite affordable. Students with financial limitations can apply for financial aid, loans, grants, and thousands of dollars in scholarships offered directly by Concordia. To find a scholarship that may suit you, look through the institution’s scholarship catalog today.

Regent University offers an excellent online Master of Arts in marriage, couple and family counseling program. While the university’s program is designed to meet the licensure requirements of Virginia, it more than likely meets or at least contributes toward the requirements of your state. For ease of access, Regent University’s program page provides a chart of how its program contributes to states’ requirements.

Regent University is a Christian-leaning institution. Thus, students combine clinical experience and coursework in family therapy with theology courses informed by some of the most recognized biblical researchers in the nation. Students that have graduated from Regent University’s marriage, couple & family counseling program have become leading therapists and researchers for public agencies, church counseling centers, mental health facilities, and private practices.

If you’re more inclined to educate others and engage in groundbreaking research, you may use this master’s program as a stepping stone toward Regent’s Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision.

Abilene Christian University’s online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program offers four tracks: general, medical family therapy, treatment of trauma, and child and adolescent therapy. While the majority of your course load will focus on marriage and family therapy in general, the three specialized tracks offer a unique and expanded perspective into issues that may affect your future clients.

Some classes in this program are:

• Couples Therapy
• Family Theory
• System Diagnosis and Assessment
• Cultural Diversity in Family Therapy

Like every program on this list, each student is expected to meet a specified goal in clinical experience hours. These hours not only lead toward your graduation requirement, but also to the requirements for licensure.

Around half of the students at Abilene Christian University’s master of marriage and family therapy program graduate in 33 months. Others take longer, but all students must graduate within six years from the start date of the program. 

Students enrolled in Concordia University Saint Paul’s Master of Arts in family science benefit from a curriculum focused on the challenges of domestic violence, disputes, and coping mechanisms. This degree isn’t designed for aspiring therapists. Rather, it’s for people who want to work in the administrative or social work sectors that deal with children and family units. Graduates from this program can earn a certified family life educator qualification, which can boost them to excellent opportunities.

Some classes in this program are:

• Family Decision Making
• Parent Education
• Families in Society
• Methods in Programming
• Seminar in Human Growth

To graduate, students must complete a capstone. The capstone will be influenced by the student’s choice of whether to become a certified family life educator. 

The program boasts impressive statistics: 95% of the program’s graduates received a job offer within a year of graduation. To join this program, students must have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA from an accredited institution. They must also submit a personal statement and official transcripts.

Graduate students can complete Pepperdine University’s online Master of Arts in clinical psychology with a focus on marriage and family therapy program in as few as 24 months, which is quicker than most options on this list. Thus, the program is rigorous, but if you’d rather condense your work and finish as quickly as possible, Pepperdine University is one of your best options on this list.

Students in this program learn how to interact and help clients that suffer from depression, addiction, psychological disorders, and family conflict. They also learn how to interact with family members who are trying to help and cope with their loved ones who suffer from these issues.

With fieldwork hours and an excellent curriculum, Pepperdine University will ensure that you graduate as a mature and able therapist who is a keen listener, excellent observer, impartial interventionist, and a thoughtful counselor. If you want to help families thrive, choose Pepperdine.

Mid-America Christian University’s Master of Science in counseling with an emphasis on marital, couples, and family counseling will help you become the counselor that families need. Whether you’re assisting patients that are dealing with parental issues or marital stress, this program will prepare you to guide families through the most challenging issues confidently. This program is Christian-leaning; students learn counseling techniques equally inspired by biblical and scientific dogma and theories.

Mid-America Christian University will prepare students to become licensed therapists in Oklahoma. If you live elsewhere, this program should contribute to most, if not all, of the licensing requirements of your state, but be sure to compare the requirements before enrolling in this program.

Graduates from this program have worked with equal strength in religious and secular contexts. The program also prepares students to understand the unique effect of Christianity on the day-to-day lives of couples and families.

Brandman University’s excellent online master’s in marriage and family therapy program meets the licensure requirements of California, Washington, and 39 other states. That fact alone makes Brandman University’s program a stand-out on this list. Whether you’re from California or Florida, this program will help you reach your goals. Students can enroll in this program online or in an online-campus hybrid format. 

Brandman University students must reach the 60-credit requirement to graduate. Some courses in this program are:

• The Counseling Process
• Clinical Issues in Human Diversity
• Advanced Individual Counseling

Each student must also complete a three-part practicum, which they can do near the Brandman campus or in an approved location near their residence. 

At $660 per credit, Brandman University is neither the most affordable nor the most expensive school on this list. But with the reach of the graduation credentials across the United States, this program is one of the better secular options on this list. 

If you’re a secular student in Alabama or elsewhere, Amridge University’s Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program will suit your needs and challenge you to become an able, mature, and motivated therapist. The 60-credit program focuses on the challenges and theories of marriage and family therapy. Additionally, it requires students to complete a two-part clinical training session and a practicum.

Some courses that Amridge University students take are Human Sexual Development, Assessment of Individuals and Families, Ethics and Professional Identity, Theories of Personality Development, and Advanced Therapy. In these courses, you’ll learn about the foundational theories of the field and how the latest research should inform how you practice as a counselor.

Students can enroll in this program on a full-time or part-time schedule. In any case, students must complete the program within six years to graduate. Students should also note that they must arrange their practicum and clinical experiences. Amridge University must approve your desired location, but they will not help you find a suitable clinical placement. 

Touro University Worldwide offers many perks as part of their Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program. Some notable perks are the omission of a GRE requirement, an expedited admissions process, affordable tuition, and the 100% online format of the program. The program offers three tracks: the M.A. in marriage and family therapy clinical track, M.A. in marriage and family therapy non-clinical track, and M.A. in marriage and family therapy licensed professional clinical counseling (LPCC) track. 

Program requirements vary depending on the track you choose. The quickest track is the non-clinical option, while the most demanding option for students is the licensed professional clinical counseling track. Thus, the program costs vary with the credit requirements of each pathway. The non-clinical track costs $27,000; the clinical track costs $36,000; the LPCC track costs $41,000.

Some core courses that all students take are Couples Counseling, Child-Focused Family Therapy, Foundations of Psychopathology, Treatment of Trauma in Families, and Assessment and Testing for the Marriage and Family Therapist.

The City University of Seattle offers an excellent online Master of Arts in counseling program with a CACREP-accredited track in marriage, couple, and family counseling. The program will prepare you to work in a variety of settings: Graduates have gone on to work in the public and private sector, with roles as counselors, social workers, and administrators. The focus of the program, though, is to educate aspiring marriage, couple, and family counselors. 

Some classes that students in this program take are Counseling Theory, Group Counseling, Human Growth and Development, Systemic Theory: Multicultural Counseling, and Career Counseling in School Settings. The City University of Seattle also requires its students to complete a three-part practicum and three-part internship in an approved clinical setting.

The City University of Seattle is relatively affordable. It is also a Yellow Ribbon school, meaning it provides substantial discounts to active service people and their spouses. Every prospective student should also research and take advantage of the many grants, loans, work study, and scholarships that the City University of Seattle offers.

Northcentral University’s Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy was the first online program of its kind to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Thus, you can expect a seasoned and well-designed curriculum and support staff that understands the unique context and challenges of online learning. 

The MFT program at Northcentral University may be the most flexible program in the country. Students can choose among ten specializations within the marriage and family therapy umbrella. Some of them are system treatment of addictions, systemic sex therapy, military family therapy, medical family therapy, and trauma informed systemic therapy. Each student takes between 15 and 20 courses, which are divided between core courses, specialization classes, and clinical experience. 

Graduates from this program have become behavioral therapists, social workers, medical office managers, human service managers, and much more. With the extensive course options of this program, Northcentral University will take you down your chosen path. 

If you’re a religious Christian who wants to gain the credentials to work in Christian and secular contexts in California, Southern California Seminary’s Master of Arts in marriage and family therapy program is for you. One notable feature of this program is to gain credentials as a licensed professional clinical counselor with the addition of one class—Vocational Counseling.

Students take a combination of core courses, biblical classes, clinical experiences, and specific training for licensure preparation. Some of these classes are Theological Foundations of Counseling, Counseling Process, Group Counseling, Survey of the Bible, Ethics of Sexual Care and Human Sexuality, and Crisis Intervention. Students also must complete a three-part practicum in an approved location.

Given the strict licensing requirements of California, completing Southern California Seminary’s program puts you in a good place to gain licensure in many other states across the nation. To be sure, though, always check the requirements of the state where you wish to practice before enrolling in an out-of-state school. 

Last but not least, Indiana Wesleyan University’s Master of Arts in marriage and counseling therapy is an excellent option for Indiana residents with an interest in counseling with a Christian worldview. Students in this program benefit from having access to their peers’ video therapy sessions. That way, they can learn from teachers and each other. This program is small, and even though it’s on an online platform, students at Indiana Wesleyan University benefit from the tight-knit community.

Some classes in this program are Human Growth and Development, Multicultural Counseling, Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychopharmacology, and Integration of Christian Faith in Professional Counseling. Each student must also complete 100 practicum hours and 900 internship hours to reach the graduation requirement.

To gain admittance to this program, students must provide official transcripts that prove a 3.0 or higher GPA from an accredited institution. Additionally, they must have taken six credits in psychology and six credits in Biblical classes. Finally, students must submit GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, prove their writing expertise, and participate in an admissions interview.