Marriage & Family Therapy (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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Courses | ||
| Early Core Courses 1 | ||
| CEFS 500 | Orientation to Counselors Professional Identity and Function | 3 |
| CEFS 501 | Ethical & Legal Issues in Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 502 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CEFS 504 | Multicultural Considerations in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CEFS 505 | Counseling Techniques and the Helping Relationship 2 | 3 |
| CEFS 506 | Integration of Spirituality in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CEFS 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| Advanced Core Courses | ||
| CEFS 512 | Group Counseling 2,3 | 3 |
| CEFS 515 | Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| CEFS 521 | Assessment Techniques in Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 522 | Career Development and Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 546 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CEFS 601 | Theories of Family Systems | 3 |
| Specialization Courses | ||
| CEFS 602 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning in Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 603 | Advanced Couple & Marital Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 620 | Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families | 3 |
| CEFS 670 | Comprehensive Exam - CPCE 4 | 0 |
| CEFS 671 | Comprehensive Exam - Integration 4 | 0 |
| CEFS 698 | Practicum | 3 |
| CEFS 699 | Counseling Internship 5 | 3 |
| CEFS 699 | Counseling Internship 5 | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Substance Abuse: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention 6 | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Students must successfully complete three hours of undergraduate coursework in statistics. Those who did not complete this course during their undergraduate program may fulfill this prerequisite requirement during the first two semesters of the program
- 2
Course offered in Synchronous Online Format
- 3
A background check will be required
- 4
Counseling Comprehensive Exam prerequisites: CEFS 500, CEFS 501, CEFS 502, CEFS 504, CEFS 505, CEFS 506, CEFS 510, CEFS 512, CEFS 515, CEFS 521, CEFS 522, CEFS 546, CEFS 601, and CEFS 602
- 5
Course may be taken a third time
- 6
CEFS 691 is required by Virginia Licensing Board for LMFT
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 60 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 Online Format
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CEFS 500 | Orientation to Counselors Professional Identity and Function | 3 |
| CEFS 501 | Ethical & Legal Issues in Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 502 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CEFS 504 | Multicultural Considerations in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CEFS 505 | Counseling Techniques and the Helping Relationship 1 | 3 |
| CEFS 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| CEFS 506 | Integration of Spirituality in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CEFS 512 | Group Counseling 1 | 3 |
| CEFS 515 | Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| CEFS 521 | Assessment Techniques in Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 546 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CEFS 601 | Theories of Family Systems | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fifth Semester | ||
| CEFS 522 | Career Development and Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 602 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning in Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| CEFS 698 | Practicum | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| CEFS 610 or CEFS 691 | Human Sexuality ** or Substance Abuse: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention | 3 |
| CEFS 699 | Counseling Internship | 3 |
| CEFS 603 or CEFS 620 | Advanced Couple & Marital Counseling or Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families | 3 |
| CEFS 670 | Comprehensive Exam - CPCE 2 | 0 |
| CEFS 671 | Comprehensive Exam - Integration 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Seventh Semester | ||
| CEFS 603 or CEFS 620 | Advanced Couple & Marital Counseling or Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families | 3 |
| CEFS 699 | Counseling Internship | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Course offered in Synchronous Online Format
- 2
Counseling Comprehensive Exam prerequisites: CEFS 500, CEFS 501, CEFS 502, CEFS 504, CEFS 505, CEFS 506, CEFS 510, CEFS 512, CEFS 515, CEFS 521, CEFS 522,CEFS 546, CEFS 601, and CEFS 602
- **
Remember: The M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy program meets the Virginia Board of Counseling licensure requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist. Three hours of course work in Substance Abuse Diagnosis and Treatment is required by the Virginia licensure board.
All applicable prerequisites must be met