FormatThis program is delivered online (with some required courses meeting in synchronous online format). Students wishing to pursue professional Marriage & Family Therapy licensure should contact the appropriate state licensing board for more information about specific licensure rules and regulations. The Marriage and Family Therapy licensure program at Liberty University/Liberty University Online may not fulfill licensure requirements for all states. Students should verify their state’s requirements before beginning a program of study. Show Additional information on states that have unique state board requirements can be found at: https://www.aamft.org/Directories/MFT_Licensing_Boards.aspx. PurposeThe Marriage and Family Therapy degree is designed to lead to professional licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) as outlined by most state boards of marriage and family therapy. (The 60-hour M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet the Virginia Board of Counseling educational requirements for LMFT.) The faculty provide quality professional training from a faith-based perspective. The purpose of the program is to produce ethically and spiritually aware marriage and family therapists who possess the knowledge, values, skills, and personal disposition to promote the mental health and holistic wellness of individuals and families across diverse populations. This purpose is achieved, in significant measure, through offering rigorous academic programs, dynamic online interaction with faculty, and carefully structured practicum and internships. Program Learning OutcomesThe student will be able to:
Program Specific Admission ProceduresIn addition to the General Admission Procedures outlined in this Catalog, Master’s applicants to the Marriage and Family Therapy program must have:
Students must agree to the Department of Counselor Education and Family Study’s Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Mission Statement and Diversity Statement, which is available at the following link: https://www.liberty.edu/behavioral-sciences/counselor-ed/. Notification of AdmissionAdmission decisions normally are made within a few days following the receipt of all of the student’s documentation. Official notification of admission, and of any conditions attached to that admission, is sent by letter to the applicant by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Correspondence or notification from other sources does not constitute official notice of admission. The term for which the applicant is admitted is stated in the official admission letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Transfer of CreditStudents may transfer up to 30 hours of coursework into the 60-hour Marriage and Family Therapy program. For a transferred course to replace a Liberty University course, the following requirements must be met:
Courses related to counseling that meet all but the last criterion may be transferred in as elective courses. Course work must have been completed within the previous ten years. Transfer credits will not be accepted for the following courses: Course List
Credit will not be awarded for life experience or continuing education workshops. Students in the 60-hour Marriage and Family Therapy program are required to take CEFS 505 Counseling Techniques and the Helping Relationship (3 c.h.) and CEFS 512 Group Counseling (3 c.h.) in residence (on campus). LicensureLiberty University’s Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies provides academic course work in all areas required by the Virginia Board of Counseling for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). The 60-hour M.A. degree program has been
designed to meet licensure requirements established by the Virginia Board of Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapists for licensure as a Family Therapist (LMFT) in Virginia. Students interested in licensure in states other than Virginia are required to contact the licensing boards of those states to obtain copies of their licensing laws and regulations. These will help students ensure they take all courses necessary for licensure in those states. Evaluation and RetentionStudents are responsible for meeting the academic and professional standards of Liberty University and the counseling profession. The following requirements apply to all students:
Consult specific program sections of this catalog for additional requirements. Course RequirementsThe M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program consists of a minimum of 60 hours of counseling courses that provide students with a thorough background in the areas of integration of faith and practice; individual and group counseling theories and skills; clinical practice; ethical, professional, and legal issues in counseling; social and cultural factors in counseling; human development across the lifespan; work, leisure, and career development theories and interventions; appraisal and assessment issues in counseling; and the application of research methodology and statistics to understand mental health issues. Marriage and Family Therapy students take an additional 12 hours of specialized coursework in marriage and family therapy, see Marriage & Family Therapy (M.A.) program of study. Students’ internship experiences must consist of work with couples, families, and individuals from a systems perspective, with the majority of the direct service clock hours occurring with couples and family units (review Virginia requirements for number of hours for direct couple/family counseling). These courses and internship experiences prepare those seeking licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), national certification, for careers in mental health agencies, hospital programs, private practices, ministry-related counseling centers, and other public and private facilities. Detailed information, policies, and procedures regarding the various programs offered are provided in the Student Handbook. Students should familiarize themselves with the Student Handbook before they begin their studies and before they register for classes every semester. Comprehensive ExaminationStudents enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy program must take a comprehensive examination. The examination should be taken after the student has completed at least 39 hours of graduate coursework, including all of the 500-level core coursework and COUC 667 Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3 c.h.) or CEFS 602 Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning in Marriage and Family Counseling (3 c.h.). Students will be given three attempts to successfully complete the exam. Students who have failed the CPCE© twice are required to complete a CPCE© Third Attempt Plan (CTAP) form and prepare an additional minimum of one semester before registering for their final attempt. If after three attempts, a student has not been able to pass the comprehensive examination, the student will not qualify for a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. At that point, students may choose to apply to the Human Services Counseling program for possible conferral of the MA in Human Services Counseling degree. This examination is offered periodically throughout the year. (See the Study Guide for the Counseling Comprehensive Examination for scheduling). The study guide is available online on the Comprehensive Exam website at http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=24247. To register for the Comprehensive Exam, please contact the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator 30 days prior to the exam date (See the Counseling Comprehensive Examination website for specific scheduling information). Administrative DismissalStudents will be eligible for Administrative Dismissal from the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy if any of the following are true:
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