Master’s in Family Counseling Degrees

Capella University

The School of Counseling and Human Services offers a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy. They are also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The online program requires nine core courses and seven specialization courses, along with two residencies, an integrative project, a practicum, and three internships.

Admission into the program requires a Bachelor’s degree, a transcript that contains a minimum 2.7 GPA, and two letters of recommendation given by professionals in counseling. A resume and three-to-six page essay should detail your experience, accomplishments, skills, and future goals in the industry, and there will be a $50 fee that can be waived if the school offers a discount code on their website. GRE/MAT scores are not required to submit.

Capella uses a GuidedPath learning format that enforces weekly deadlines and class discussions for students to develop better study habits. It also provides a flexible schedule for those that are willing to be either a part-time or full-time student based on availability and budget. Tuition is $487 per credit — each course is generally listed as four credits and 23 courses are required — with a resource kit fee of $175 per quarter.

Here is a listing of some of the required courses in the curriculum:

• Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors
• Principles of Psychopathology and Diagnosis
• Foundations of Addiction and Addictive Behavior
• Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling
• Professional Ethics in Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy
• Systemic Approaches to Gender and Sexuality
• Marriage and Family Systems
• Life Planning and career Development
• Counseling and Advocacy with Diverse Populations

These courses will provide an education theories to counseling and how to serve and evaluate clients through family dynamics and customs. Along with receiving hands-on training and evaluating real-life therapy sessions, students will be able to develop their own approach to helping clients that matches professional standards and requirements.

Two week-long counseling residencies will be required with a minimum of 40 total hours of training. The practicum requires 100 hours of supervised counseling at an approved location and three internships in total require 600 total hours of supervised fieldwork.