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Master of Science in

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prepare for LMFT licensure through a flexible online program with in-person residencies.

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Wall Street Journal ranks Cornerstone University as one of America's best colleges 2026.

NEXT START
August, 2026
January 2027
Fully Online
with Two In-Person Residencies
Transfer Friendly
Transfer up to 75% of your program credits

Become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree

You can help individuals, couples, and families find healing and strengthen the relationships that shape lives and communities with a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. This flexible online Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Cornerstone University prepares you for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Michigan and across the nation. Through the integration of evidence-based clinical practice, family systems theory, and a Christian worldview, you’ll be prepared for licensure and professional practice as a marriage and family therapist.

Concentration in Clinical Mental Health (dual licensure).

Licensure & Program Overview

  • Complete degree in 24 months* (12 credits per semester).
  • Designed to meet Michigan LMFT licensure requirements
  • Prepares graduates to pursue Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure
  • Supports licensure pathways in Michigan and many states nationwide
  • Fully online with two required on-campus residencies
  • COAMFTE-aligned curriculum

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Develop Clinical Skills for Marriage and Family Therapy Practice

Cornerstone’s master’s program meets licensure requirements and equips you with the clinical skills and experience needed to prepare for professional practice as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Family Systems Assessment and Clinical Practice – Evaluate relational, emotional, and behavioral concerns through a family systems perspective while developing effective treatment plans for individuals, couples, and families.

Icon: Counseling

Couples and Family Therapy Techniques – Develop therapeutic skills that help individuals, couples, and families navigate conflict, strengthen relationships, and promote healthy functioning.

Evidence-Based Therapy and Clinical Decision-Making – Evaluate research, apply evidence-based therapeutic approaches, and use clinical judgment to support effective treatment planning and client outcomes.

Icon: Cross

Christian Worldview and Relational Healing – Approach individuals, couples, and families as people created in the image of God, allowing a Christian worldview to inform ethical care, professional practice, and the pursuit of healing and restoration.

Courses

Learn counseling theories, ethics, diagnosis, trauma, addictions, multicultural counseling, and supervised clinical training required for licensure.

Counseling Foundations

Explore counseling foundations, family systems theory, couples therapy, diagnosis, assessment, and supervised clinical training required for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure.

COU-501: Counseling Theories

Survey the history and development of major counseling theories, including linear and systemic models. Evaluate diverse approaches and establish a personal theoretical orientation through study, interaction, and research.

COU-502: Counseling Ethics & Issues

Learn the professional roles, legal standards, and ethical codes guiding the counseling profession. Examine common legal and ethical challenges and apply a decision-making model using the ACA (2014) and AAMFT (2015) Codes of Ethics.

COU-503: Introduction to Counseling/Professional Development

Examine the history and philosophy of counseling, systemic work, professional roles and responsibilities, supervision and consultation theories, and diverse practice settings. Address collaboration across individual, group, and organizational contexts. Establish a counseling model that reflects multicultural competence and a Christian worldview.

COU-520: Child and Adolescent Counseling

Examine the unique developmental needs of children and adolescents while exploring counseling theories, strategies, and interventions that support healthy emotional and behavioral development.

COU-521: Foundations of Marriage & Family Counseling

Gain a theoretical and practical foundation for counseling diverse couples and families using a systemic approach to assess, treat, and intervene effectively.

COU-525: Social & Cultural Foundations in Counseling

Discover key theories and dynamics involved in counseling across diverse cultural contexts. Emphasize cultural awareness, counselor bias, and the development of culturally sensitive practices. Address current research on race, ethnicity, class, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability.

COU-610: Counseling Techniques

Explore key counselor behaviors, methodologies, and techniques for facilitating change, risk assessment, and crisis or trauma intervention for individuals, couples, and families.

COU-611: Career Development

Apply career development theories, models and assessment tools to support clients’ career and personal development.

COU-612: Group Techniques

Analyze the theories and dynamics of group counseling across various settings. Learn strategies for group formation, leadership, and facilitation, and gain hands-on experience by participating as both a member and leader in a counseling group.

COU-643: Trauma-Informed Advocacy & Crisis Intervention

Prepare to respond to a range of potentially traumatic events, including suicide, homicide, school violence, natural disasters, terrorism, and trafficking. Emphasize ethical guidelines, professional protocols, and immediate interventions that address the psychological impact of crisis from a counseling perspective across individual, family, and community settings.

COU-653: Addictions Counseling: Treatment & Intervention

Learn counseling theories, techniques, and ethical standards for treating addictive and compulsive disorders. Review evidence-based models that support recovery, healing, and change. Focus on treatment planning, documentation, crisis intervention, clinical supervision, and the impact of intrapersonal awareness on the counseling process.

COU-662: Individual and Family Life Cycle

Examine human and family development across the lifespan through developmental and family systems theories while considering cultural influences and factors that shape healthy development.

COU-700: Research Methodology

Apply foundational research designs used in counseling, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Address research ethics, statistical analysis, needs assessment, evidence-based practice, and program evaluation.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Develop specialized expertise in family systems theory, couples therapy, relational assessment, and evidence-based interventions that prepare you for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure and practice.

COU-672: Systemic Assessment, Treatment, & Interventions

Develop skills in clinical and relational assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning through a family systems and systemic therapy approach. Learn to apply assessment tools, trauma-informed interventions, and evidence-based strategies while supporting ethical collaboration with medical and psychiatric professionals.

MFT-661: Psychopathology & Psychopharmacology

Examine the biological, psychological, and systemic factors that influence mental health, co-occurring, and addiction disorders. Learn to apply the DSM-5-TR and ICD in diagnosis and treatment planning while exploring psychopharmacology and collaboration with medical and psychiatric professionals.

MFT-720: Advanced Marriage & Couples Therapy

Develop advanced clinical skills for working with premarital, marital, and couple relationships through a family systems approach. Explore assessment, treatment planning, intervention strategies, human sexuality, sex therapy, and affair recovery while strengthening marriage and couples therapy practice.

MFT-730: Advanced Family Therapy

Develop advanced clinical skills for assessing and treating families through a family systems approach. Explore family therapy theories, assessment, treatment planning, and intervention strategies while strengthening clinical practice with diverse family systems.

MFT-735: Couples and Sex Therapy

Examine human sexuality, sexual health, and relational dynamics through a biopsychosocial, systemic, and Christian worldview perspective. Explore assessment and intervention strategies related to sexual functioning, dysfunction, intimacy, fertility, and couple relationships.

MFT-774: Counseling Intern I Lab

Apply marriage and family therapy skills in a supervised clinical setting while receiving ongoing feedback from faculty and site supervisors. Evaluate professional growth, clinical effectiveness, and progress toward internship requirements.

MFT-775: Counseling Intern II Lab

Continue supervised clinical training while refining marriage and family therapy skills through self-assessment, faculty feedback, and clinical supervision. Evaluate professional growth, clinical effectiveness, and progress toward internship requirements.

MFT-779: Internship III Lab

Demonstrate advanced clinical competence through supervised practice, self-assessment, and clinical supervision. Evaluate professional growth and readiness for independent marriage and family therapy practice.

MFT-784: Internship I – Counseling Field Experience

Gain supervised clinical experience in a professional setting while working with individuals, couples, and families. Develop competencies in interviewing, assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and clinical documentation while applying marriage and family therapy skills in practice.

MFT-785: Internship II – Counseling Field Experience

Continue supervised clinical experience while strengthening skills in assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and clinical documentation. Work with individuals, couples, and families in professional settings while developing advanced competence in marriage and family therapy practice.

MFT-788: Internship III – Counseling Field Experience

Complete a culminating supervised clinical experience while providing therapy services to individuals, couples, and families in professional settings. Strengthen advanced competencies in assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, documentation, and marriage and family therapy practice.

Transfer Course Credits

Cornerstone offers a transfer-friendly policy for qualified graduate coursework.

Equivalent master’s-level courses may be considered for transfer if they meet the following criteria:

  • A grade of B or higher
  • Completed within the past seven years
  • From an accredited institution
  • Equivalent in content and rigor
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Licensure & Professional Preparation

Cornerstone’s Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet Michigan educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure and prepare students for professional practice. Graduates may pursue the Limited Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LLMFT) credential in Michigan and continue toward full LMFT licensure.

Learn about Michigan licensure requirements, out-of-state licensure pathways, and opportunities to connect with the broader marriage and family therapy profession.

Michigan Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure

Cornerstone’s Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet Michigan educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure and prepare graduates to pursue the Limited Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LLMFT) credential.

In Michigan, the LLMFT is a limited license that allows graduates to practice under supervision while completing additional requirements for full licensure.

After earning your degree, graduates will complete the following steps toward full LMFT licensure:

  • Apply for the Limited Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LLMFT) credential
  • Complete required supervised post-graduate clinical experience
  • Pass the Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) National Examination
  • Apply for full LMFT licensure through the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

For more information, visit the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Out-of-State Licensure

Cornerstone’s online format allows students from across the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. Because Marriage and Family Therapist licensure requirements vary by state, students should review the requirements of the state where they intend to practice.

Faculty advisors work with students to understand state-specific requirements and identify any additional coursework or experiences that may be needed for licensure eligibility.

View participating states and licensure information.

Professional Networking & Development

Connect with the marriage and family therapy profession through organizations that support professional growth, continuing education, networking, and career development.

Students are encouraged to explore professional associations such as:

  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
  • Michigan Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • American Association of Christian Counselors

COAMFTE-Aligned Curriculum

Cornerstone’s Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum is aligned with standards established by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and designed to prepare students for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure.

COAMFTE accreditation is not required for licensure in many states. Both COAMFTE-accredited and non-accredited programs may lead to licensure when they include the required coursework, supervised clinical experience, and state-specific educational requirements.

Students are encouraged to review the licensure requirements of the state where they intend to practice.

Concentrations

Expand your career opportunities and gain specialized skills with an optional concentration in clinical mental health counseling.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Allows for dual licensure

COU-602: Clinical Assessments

Understand the role of assessments in improving mental health services. Develop skills in selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological, educational, and vocational statistical tools. Apply assessment data to support diagnosis, guide treatment planning, and promote behavior change and client wellness.

COU-675: Technology-Assisted Counseling

Investigate best practices, ethical standards, and legal requirements for telemental health counseling. Review HIPAA-compliant technologies, emergency response protocols, and strategies for serving diverse individuals, couples, and families through digital platforms.

COU-680: Psychopharmacology & Neuroscience in Counseling

Analyze foundational neuroscience concepts, research, and practice issues related to psychopharmacology. Consider the psychological and physiological effects of medication in the treatment of mental disorders from a non-medical counseling perspective.

COU-772: Counseling Practicum Lab

Complete a supervised clinical practicum alongside COU-782. Develop and assess counseling skills through self-evaluation and supervisor feedback in accordance with the Practicum and Internship Handbook. This course requires 100 hours of clinical experience.

COU-782: Practicum: Counseling Field Experience

Begin supervised clinical practice in a professional counseling setting. Cultivate skills in interviewing, assessment, case conceptualization, and documentation while working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Receive feedback through both self-assessment and supervisor evaluation throughout the experience.
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Careers with a Marriage and Family Therapy Degree

Prepare for careers in marriage counseling, couples therapy, family therapy, and mental health settings throughout Michigan and across the United States.

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • Marriage Therapist
  • Family Therapist
  • Couples Therapist
  • Behavioral Health Clinician
  • Community Mental Health Therapist
  • Private Practice Therapist
  • Family Services Counselor

Tuition

Online

Online

$3,390 per semester for full-time students

Cornerstone University is one of the most affordable private universities in the nation. Our team is ready to help you explore options for financing your education.

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Your Next Steps

Review application requirements and take the first step by applying today.

  1. Application submission — (choose the Speciality Master’s degree application)
  2. Minimum 2.7 GPA from an accredited undergraduate college or university
  3. Two recommendations (1 professional and 1 personal)
  4. Resume
  5. Virtual interview with counseling faculty

Note: Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and receive a B or higher in each course.

Learn more by scheduling an appointment with an admissions counselor. Call or text 616.816.5023.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does this program prepare students for LMFT licensure?

Yes. Cornerstone University’s Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure in Michigan and many states across the country.

Can I complete this program online?

Yes. Cornerstone University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program delivers coursework fully online and includes two required on-campus residencies for clinical skill development, cohort engagement, and spiritual formation.

Where do students complete practicum and internship experiences?

Students complete supervised practicum and internship experiences within their local communities, supported by Cornerstone University’s practicum coordination system. Students may complete clinical training at approved sites in Michigan and across the United States.

What is the difference between Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy?

Clinical Mental Health Counseling typically focuses on diagnosing and treating individuals, while Marriage and Family Therapy approaches mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns through the context of relationships, family systems, and interpersonal dynamics. Cornerstone University offers both degree pathways to help students pursue the counseling profession that best aligns with their interests and career goals.

Is Marriage and Family Therapy the right fit for me?

Marriage and Family Therapy may be a good fit if you are interested in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate relational, emotional, and mental health challenges. Through a family systems perspective, marriage and family therapists examine how relationships influence well-being and support healing within individuals, couples, and family systems.

How does Cornerstone's Marriage and Family Therapy program integrate faith and clinical practice?

Cornerstone University’s program integrates evidence-based clinical practice, family systems theory, and a Christian worldview. Students learn to serve individuals, couples, and families through rigorous clinical training while approaching people as individuals created in the image of God. This perspective informs ethical care, professional practice, and the pursuit of healing, restoration, and healthy relationships.

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E:
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Address

1001 East Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Hours

MON - FRI: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SAT & SUN: Closed
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