M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
A Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is designed to enhance students’ understanding and use of intervention methods with individuals, couples, and families.
Through the program at Saint Mary's, you'll deepen your understanding and skills in facilitating relational health with a diverse client base. And true to our practitioner-based learning model, all instructors are experienced therapists who engage in clinical practice. You'll benefit as you gain confidence through trained therapy simulations, all of which are supervised by licensed professionals.
Saint Mary's curriculum in the Marriage and Family Therapy program prepares graduates to seek licensure with the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are mental health professionals who are trained in psychotherapy and family systems. They are licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders with individuals, couples, and family systems.
Cohorts
Students admitted to the program will be part of one of two cohorts:
- The fall cohort, beginning in late August, is flexibly designed for working adults. Courses are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings, and the cohort will take nine semesters, or three years, to complete.
- The summer cohort, beginning in early May, is intended for students who wish to finish the program at a more accelerated pace. Courses are held throughout the day and evening on Mondays, and the cohort will take seven semesters, or 2.3 years, to complete.
Accreditation
The Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary's is accredited with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Graduates of a COAMFTE accredited program increase the portability of their degree and are better positioned to meet licensing requirements in a number of states. (Most states base their educational requirements on COAMFTE standards.) Specialty accreditation requires programs to maintain rigorous training and outcomes. It is a recognized method for ensuring competence of faculty and the curriculum.
COAMFTE Student Achievement Criteria Data for M.A. in Marriage & Family (PDF)
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty and Supervisor Demographics (PDF)
M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy Student Demographics (PDF)
Admission
Applications for the Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 cohorts are due by December 15th,. Applications completed after the December 15th deadline may be considered for the 2021 cohorts only if there is still space available in the program.
The number of students admitted each year is limited. Admission decisions are based on the applicant's ability to meet the expectations for academic performance outlined in the Program Handbook. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not ensure admission to the program. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework.
