Master of Arts in Counseling: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
The mission of the counseling program is to prepare mental health professionals to provide ethical and competent counseling for the real-world needs of a diverse, global community. This Adlerian-based program promotes social interest, advocacy, and harmony throughout the entirety of the coursework. This program is accredited by CACREP.
The Adler Graduate School offers a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (MCFC) preparing students with the knowledge and skills of systems theory to work in various clinical settings serving families, couples, children, adolescents, and individuals. MCFC students will learn to treat a spectrum of relational concerns using an Adlerian, multicultural, trauma-informed, and ethically sound lens while promoting advocacy and social justice for clients and the profession. In addition to coursework, the Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling emphasis includes a practicum and internship experience, offering students practical clinical experiences working with individuals, couples and families. This 60-credit degree requires successful completion of all program requirements, including membership in a professional organization. Students have up to 3.75 years to complete this program. Marriage, Couple and Family Counselors work from a systems-based, holistic approach providing counseling services in different health care settings such as outpatient, hospital inpatient, residential facilities, hospice care centers, or private practice.
Our program prepares students to meet educational requirements for the LMFT credential in MN. In order to verify whether our program meets licensure requirements in the state where you intend to practice, please contact the state licensure board. Information about licensure as a marriage and family therapist in the different states can be found at the American Foundation for Marriage and Family Therapy webpage.
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling Course Requirements
500 | Principles of Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
503 | Introduction to the Counseling Profession | 3 |
504 | Abnormal Psychology & DSM 5 | 3 |
505 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
509 | Comparative Theories Through an Adlerian Lens | 4 |
512 | Introduction to Professional Writing and Portfolio | 2 |
516 | Foundations of Addictions and Co-Occurring Disorders | 3 |
517 | Ethics and Professional Identity | 3 |
519 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention | 2 |
523 | Multi-Cultural Counseling | 3 |
525 | Essential Interviewing Skills | 3 |
528 | Didactic (Individual) | 0 |
529 | Didactic (Group) | 0 |
532 | Group Psychotherapy and Counseling | 3 |
533 | Clinical Assessment | 3 |
539 | Consultation and Advocacy for the Mental Health Profession | 1 |
541 | Theories of Family Therapy | 3 |
542 | Couples Counseling | 3 |
543 | Family Therapy | 3 |
544 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
562 | Foundations of Career Development | 3 |
604 | Portfolio Defense - COD, MCFC, MHC | 1 |
620 | Advanced Seminar in Counseling: Human Sexuality | 1 |
Field Experience Requirements
Students are required to complete a total of 700 hours with a minimum of 300 client contact (face-to-face) hours, including at least 150 relational hours. Students must take 3 credits of 948.
930 | Introduction to Field Experience Seminar | 0 |
947 | Practicum in Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling | 1 |
948 | Internship in Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling | 1 |