Marriage & Family Counseling (M.A.)

Marriage & Family Counseling (M.A.)

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Program Courses
Early Core Courses
COUC 500Orientation to Counselor Professional Identity and Function3
COUC 501Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling3
COUC 502Human Growth and Development3
COUC 503Gate 1/Counseling Foundations: Orientation to the Program0
COUC 504Multicultural Counseling3
COUC 505Counseling Techniques and the Helping Relationship3
COUC 506Integration of Spirituality and Counseling3
COUC 508Gate 2/Field Placement Preparation and Professional Readiness0
COUC 510Theories of Counseling3
Advanced Core Courses
COUC 512Group Counseling 13
COUC 515Research and Program Evaluation 23
COUC 521Assessment Techniques in Counseling3
COUC 522Career Development and Counseling3
COUC 546Psychopathology3
COUC 601Theories of Family Systems3
Specialization Courses
COUC 670Comprehensive Exam - CPCE 30
COUC 671Comprehensive Exam - Integration 30
COUC 602Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning in Marriage and Family Counseling3
COUC 603Advanced Couple and Marital Counseling3
COUC 620Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families3
COUC 650Gate 3 / Practicum Application and Fieldwork Readiness0
COUC 685Gate 4 / Internship I Application and Career Readiness0
COUC 690Gate 5 / Internship II Application and Future Planning0
COUC 692Counseling Practicum3
COUC 693Counseling Internship I3
COUC 694Counseling Internship II 43
Marriage and Family Electives
COUC 610Human Sexuality 53
or COUC 691 Substance Abuse: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Total Hours60
1

A background check will be required.

2

Students must successfully complete three hours of undergraduate coursework in statistics. Those who did not complete these courses in their undergraduate programs may fulfill this prerequisite requirement during the first two semesters of the program.

3

Counseling Comprehensive Exam prerequisites: COUC 500, COUC 501, COUC 502, COUC 504, COUC 505, COUC 506, COUC 510, COUC 512, COUC 515, COUC 521, COUC 522, COUC 546, COUC 601, and COUC 602

4

COUC 694 may be taken a second time

5

Three hours of coursework in diagnosis and treatment of addictive behaviors is required in Virginia for LMFTs.

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 60 total hours
  • A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
  • No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
  • Successful completion of Comprehensive Exam
  • Liberty University course work that is more than 10 years old may not be applied towards this degree. Students are required to repeat the course if it has exceeded the age limit
  • Degree must be completed within 7 years
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Resident Format

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
COUC 500 Orientation to Counselor Professional Identity and Function 3
COUC 501 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling 3
COUC 502 Human Growth and Development 3
COUC 503 Gate 1/Counseling Foundations: Orientation to the Program 0
COUC 504 Multicultural Counseling 3
 Hours12
Second Semester
COUC 504 Multicultural Counseling 3
COUC 505 Counseling Techniques and the Helping Relationship 3
COUC 506 Integration of Spirituality and Counseling 3
COUC 508 Gate 2/Field Placement Preparation and Professional Readiness 0
COUC 510 Theories of Counseling 3
COUC 601 Theories of Family Systems 3
 Hours15
Second Year
Third Semester
COUC 515 Research and Program Evaluation 1 3
COUC 521 Assessment Techniques in Counseling 3
COUC 522 Career Development and Counseling 3
COUC 546 Psychopathology 3
COUC 650 Gate 3 / Practicum Application and Fieldwork Readiness 0
 Hours12
Fourth Semester
COUC 512 Group Counseling 3
COUC 602 Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning in Marriage and Family Counseling 3
COUC 603 Advanced Couple and Marital Counseling 3
COUC 685 Gate 4 / Internship I Application and Career Readiness 0
Marriage & Family Elective 2 3
 Hours12
Third Year
Fifth Semester
COUC 620 Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families 3
COUC 670 Comprehensive Exam - CPCE 3 0
COUC 671 Comprehensive Exam - Integration 3 0
COUC 690 Gate 5 / Internship II Application and Future Planning 0
COUC 692 Counseling Practicum 3
 Hours6
Sixth Semester
COUC 693 Counseling Internship I 3
 Hours3
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester
COUC 694 Counseling Internship II 4 3
 Hours3
 Total Hours63
1

Students must successfully complete three hours of undergraduate coursework in statistics. Those who did not complete these courses in their undergraduate programs may fulfill this prerequisite requirement during the first two semesters of the program.

2

Choose one of the following courses: COUC 610 or COUC 691.

3

Counseling Comprehensive Exam Prerequisites: COUC 500, COUC 501, COUC 502, COUC 504, COUC 505, COUC 506, COUC 510, COUC 512, COUC 515, COUC 521, COUC 522, COUC 546, COUC 601, & COUC 602.

4

COUC 694 may be taken a second time.

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