Top Online Master's in Family Counseling Programs for 2019

Regent University, founded in 1977 in Virginia Beach, is a Christian institution that offers an online master of arts in marriage, couple & family counseling. The program prepares students to sit for the marriage and family licensing exam in most states. Learners complete 57 credits of coursework and two one-week residencies that are offered in January and August. An accelerated option is available for students who attend both residencies during their first year. Regent offers one of the best online master's in marriage and family counseling programs. Requirements for admission include a minimum 3.0 GPA, GRE or MAT scores, and attendance at a pre-admission online workshop. An application fee waiver is available for students who attend an online admissions information session.

Dallas Baptist, founded in 1898, offers an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling with an emphasis on ministry. Students choose between four concentrations for the MA in family ministry, which includes special needs family ministry, Christian counseling, leadership, and a custom option. Students who choose the custom concentration choose three classes that align with their career and personal interests. Learners complete 36 credits of online and hybrid courses, including 15 credits of family ministry, three elective credits, and the nine credit concentration. Accelerated degree options are available, and the school maintains partnerships with other institutions, which students and interns can receive benefits through, such as course credit or tuition assistance. Admissions requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, evidence of sound moral character, and one year of active church membership.

ACU Online offers one of the best online master's in marriage and family counseling programs. The school's master of marriage and family therapy comprises 60 credits of coursework and a 500 hour internship. The program can be completed in 32 months. Students focus on one class at a time with six- or seven-week terms. Four concentrations are available: child and adolescent therapy, treatment of trauma, therapy with military families, and medical family therapy. Medical family therapy is also available as a 15-credit, 11-month certificate program. Admissions requirements include proof of a quality of life that reflects high moral standards and a video interview. Transfer applicants are not charged an application fee.

Touro, a Jewish-sponsored institution, offers an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling with three tracks. For the MA in marriage and family therapy non-clinical track, students complete 54 credits, and no practicum is required. The clinical track requires 60 credits of coursework and six practicum credits. Students who choose the licensed professional clinical counseling track complete 73 credits of coursework and nine practicum credits. Graduates are eligible for licensure as marriage and family therapists in California and most other states. Students can complete the coursework entirely online, and the practicum can be completed out of state at approved sites. The school's accelerated admissions process requires no GRE scores and is transfer-friendly; options for credit include challenge exams and military experience.

A Christian institution in El Cajon, Southern California Seminary offers an MA in marriage and family therapy with a family systems approach. The program requires 78 credits of coursework, including 18 credits of biblical foundations coursework and nine practicum credits. Students seeking licensure as a marriage and family therapist in California can take an additional nine credits to prepare for licensure exams. Licensure in other states is possible, although not guaranteed; students should review the requirements of their state's licensing board. Admission requires a reference from a pastor or chaplain. SCS's program is among the best online master's in marriage and family counseling options. The school considers each applicant's background on a case by case basis and does not automatically disqualify applicants with difficult histories.

Established in 1964, UMass Boston offers an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling with an integrative family systems approach. The school's MS in counseling with a family therapy emphasis requires students to earn 60 credits, including a capstone, and prepares students for licensure in family therapy in Massachusetts. Students also complete 900-1,200 internship hours at an approved site close to their residence. The program operates on a cohort model, in which groups of students complete the requirements together over a period of three years. Most coursework is delivered online. An intensive two-week summer session at UMass is required, with housing accommodations provided by the school. Admission requirements include GRE scores, a minimum of five social science courses, an interview, and one year of work experience in a clinical setting.

Fresno Pacific, founded in 1944, offers an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling that integrates Christian theology with theory and practice. The MA in marriage and family therapy requires students to earn 65 credits of blended online and residential courses, preparing students for the licensure exams in marriage and family therapy in California. The program has diverse practicum opportunities, including options for summer study in Israel and the Hispanic summer program. The core courses integrate marriage and family therapy and ministry students. Learners will take coursework in grief counseling and aging. Admission requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, introductory prerequisites in psychology and human development, and 50 hours of face to face counseling experience.

Founded in 1918 in Cleveland, Tennessee, Lee is a Christian institution that is sponsored by the Church of God. The school emphasizes responsible living in a complex world. For students interested in working in administrative roles in family service or family church ministry, Lee's offering may be among the best online master's in marriage and family counseling programs available. The MS in marriage and family studies is comprised of 36 credits, which includes 21 core credits, 15 elective credits, and a comprehensive final exam or a thesis for students considering doctoral work. The program does not offer licensure. Core coursework focuses on human growth and development, human sexuality, and systems theory. A minimum of four semesters of study are required; full time students typically complete the program in two years.

Located in Montgomery, AL, Amridge University is an independent Christian school with a commitment to distance education and spiritual vitality. The school offers an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling with an emphasis on family systems and sensitivity to social and cultural diversity. The MA in marriage and family therapy comprises 60 credits and prepares students for licensure in marriage and family therapy in their resident state. A dual licensure option is available for students seeking licensure in marriage and family therapy and professional counseling; this requires additional coursework. Students are responsible for locating and arranging their own practicum and clinical experiences. Full-time students typically complete the program in seven semesters; part time options are also available.

The University of West Alabama, chartered in 1835 in Livingston as a church-related academy for women, offers an affordable online master's degree in marriage and family counseling. The program is tailored for students who are not seeking professional licensure or certification. Emphasizing a non-pathology based perspective, the MS in family counseling requires students to earn 33 credits of coursework that are delivered in eight-week terms. Curriculum requirements include an internship. Coursework includes professional ethics and educational statistics. Most students complete the program in 12-18 months. Up to nine credits of graduate work completed within the previous nine years may be accepted. Student resources include an assigned personal success coach.

CityU boasts over 20 locations in the Northwest and worldwide. The school has trained clinicians since 1994. The online master's degree in marriage and family counseling comprises 48 credits, including five sections of supervised counseling experience that totals 600 hours. The program is offered as a concentration through the MA in counseling. Most of the learning is face-to-face, with additional asynchronous online coursework also required. Students complete the program in a regional cohort. The school offers a two-year intensive, full-time option and a three-year, part-time option. Graduates are qualified to apply for associate licensing in Washington and can work toward licensure as a mental health counselor or a marriage and family therapist. Admissions requirements include a minimum 2.75 GPA and an interview.

Houston Baptist, founded in 1960 and affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church, offers an online master's in marriage and family counseling that prepares students for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in Texas. The MA in marriage and family therapy emphasizes research-supported counseling skills. Required coursework is delivered online and on-campus. Students complete a three semester supervised practicum in an approved setting. Graduates must pass the jurisprudence exam and complete a minimum of two years (3,000 hours) of supervised work experience in marriage and family services before earning licensure. Admissions requirements include GRE scores, an interview, and a minimum grade of B in introductory psychology and statistics classes. Applicants with a minimum 3.0 GPA may receive a GRE waiver.

Mid-America Christian University, located in Oklahoma City, offers an affordable MS in counseling with a marital and family therapy emphasis that students can complete entirely online. On-campus and hybrid options are also available. The program prepares students for licensure in therapeutic counseling and integrates a Christian perspective to facilitate success in secular and ministry settings. Most students complete the 48-credit program in two years; an accelerated option is also available. Classes begin in October, November, and December. The school evaluates transfer credits on a case by case basis, and there is no maximum number of allowable transfer credits. Military personnel and veterans may be eligible for transfer credit based on experience, and they also receive a 15% tuition discount with proper documentation.

Western Seminary, which is located in Portland, Oregon, has additional campuses in California and Washington. The school is a pioneer in seminary distance learning. The school's online master's in marriage and family counseling requires the completion of 24 credits online and 49 credits on campus. The MA in marital and family therapy comprises 72-73 credits and can be completed in three years. The program prepares students for licensure in California and other states. Students must complete 225 hours of supervised counseling. Admissions requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA and foundational knowledge of psychology. Transfer credits can fulfill up to 50% of the required coursework. An advanced standing option is available, permitting students to waive up to 12 credits of theology and biblical studies if they demonstrate subject competency in an interview.

Palo Alto University, founded in 1975, offers programs in the behavioral and social sciences, including an MA in counseling with an emphasis in marriage, family, and child counseling. The school maintains international collaborations, permitting students in China and Latin America who are studying for the online master's in marriage and family counseling to obtain local clinical practicum training. Students complete 93 quarter credits, mandatory fieldwork and intensives, and a 700 hour practicum. All coursework can be completed online. Students must attend a one-week summer residency at the Palo Alto campus. Students complete practicum and internship requirements in their home community. Most distance learners complete the program in 11-12 quarters, or approximately three years. The program prepares students to pursue California licensure as a marriage and family therapist or professional clinical counselor.