Northwestern University MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Family Institute at Northwestern offers a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, which includes over 500 hours of direct clinical work and 250 hours of supervision.
All clinical practicum sessions will take place within the university's own clinic, The Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies. There are two different tracks that students can take to customize their experience: the Clinical track and Clinical and Research track.
Clinical MFT Track
The Clinical track will focus on internship placement and a capstone project related to the experience, along with a written paper. The Clinical and Research Track will offer lab sessions and is geared toward those taking a PhD course int he future. This track concludes with a Master's thesis and capstone project.
Consider a Featured Online MFT Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements | Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University Master’s Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor) | ✔ Online No GRE Required Bachelor's Degree Required | Bachelor's holders can prepare to become a licensed professional counselor online. With no GRE scores required to apply, the 24 month online MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine allows you to advance your career and be a catalyst of change. Learn More |
| University of Denver Online MA in School Counseling Designed to adhere to CACREP standards | ✔ Live, online classes No GRE Required; Minimum GPA 2.5 Required | Earn your degree in as few as 24 months Learn More |
| Northwestern University Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy COAMFTE Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required | The COAMFTE-accredited [email protected] is offered by The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Full and part-time tracks available. Learn More |
| University of Southern California Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling Prepares you for school counseling credential | ✔ Live, online classes No GRE requirement | Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required Learn More |
| Capella University Master's and PhD in Counseling  CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Not Required | Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More |
| Our Lady of the Lake University Online Master of Arts in Counseling | ✔ Online No GRE required. | Help students navigate the emotional terrain of getting an education, empower people of all ages to overcome mental health hurdles, or support someone recovering from drug addiction as they obtain or maintain a job, with the Master of Arts in Counseling from OLLU. Learn More |
| National Louis University M.S. in Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online No GRE Required. Bachelor’s Degree Required. Minimum GPA 3.0. | CACREP accredited program prepares you to work as a counselor in schools, private practices and mental health clinics. Concentration in Addictions, School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Learn More |
| Capella University MS in School Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online No GMAT or GRE Required | Our CACREP- and CAEP-accredited MS in School Counseling puts you in control, so you can learn on your own schedule and gain the skills to pursue your professional school counselor credential. Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling CACREP Accredited | ✔ Online Bachelor's Degree Required. | This online CMHC program prepares students for a career offering mental health services in a variety of settings; helping diverse clients through issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, stress, relationship difficulties, and suicidal impulses. Learn More |
Northern Illinois University MS in Applied Human Development and Family Sciences
There is a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy within the Master of Science in Applied Human Development and Family Sciences program at Northern Illinois.
The entire program requires 54 credit hours to complete, which takes approximately two years.
Courses
Examples of courses in this specialized program include Human Development and Family Studies, Treatment of Children and Adolescents, and Family Stress and Structural Diversity. Students are admitted once per year before the spring semester, and final deadline for applications is January 15th. Application requirements include unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, updated resume, and a statement of purpose. A background check must also be performed before entering practicum courses.
Adler University MA in Couple and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy helps students gain the experience needed to work with established faculty members in the industry through community-based practicum sessions and providing an opportunity to explore real-world scenarios.
This program is anticipated to be for full-time students and can be completed within two years.
Along with clinical practicum, there is a comprehensive exam that culminates the program at the end. Being part of the alumni association will give students the ability to expand their networking opportunities when looking for employment after graduation. Students that have entered the program in 2015 and 2016 have enjoyed a 100 percent pass rate on national exams when gaining the licensure.
LMFT Licensure in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation handles licensure for MFT positions throughout the state. Those that have taken a program accredited by COAMFTE will meet the requirements needed for licensure, otherwise specific coursework in family relations, clinical practice and practicum, professional studies and ethics, and research are needed.
In total, there should be 48 total semester hours dedicated to subjects within MFT. At least 3,000 total work experience hours should be accounted for, with that being under professional supervision between two to five years. A third of those hours should be dedicated to directly working with patients.
Beginning in 2017, those that have been previously excluded from health care work can apply for a licensure and it will be reviewed by the department.
Illinois Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing and Disciplinary Board
Illinois Dpt of Professional Regulation
320 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Website
LMFT Licensure:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT Careers and Salaries in Illinois
Illinois has a median salary of approximately $47,200, which is lower than the national average according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is normal around the central part of the United States, but is a little lower than some neighboring states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee.
There are over 440 employees within MFT, and the sector will continue to get larger as health insurance continues to expand their coverage on mental health. Eventual graduates from these programs will find plenty of opportunities within MFT at Pillars Community Health in Berwyn, the Great Lakes Psychology Group in Naperville, and North Shore Family Services at various locations throughout the state.
Popular Online MFT Programs
Liberty University 🗹 Online
Campus-Based COAMFTE Accredited Illinois MFT Degrees
The COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) is the top accrediting board for MFT programs. Below is a list of COAMFTE accredited MFT programs in Illinois. You can view online COAMFTE accredited MFT counseling programs or all Illinois counseling degrees.
- Master's (M.A.) in Couple and Family Therapy
- PhD in MFT
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
- MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
