Program Statistics
Visit Master's Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Type: MS
The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (MSMFT) is a terminal degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. With this degree, following a period of post-graduate supervised practice, graduates can become licensed as marriage and family therapists. The program is designed for students drawn to the field of mental health who have a passion for understanding and treating relationships.
The program is offered through on-campus and online branches with differing admission schedules:
The on-campus branch, is offered as a full-time program with enrollment in the fall quarter only and is completed in two years, including the summer quarter following the first year.
The online branch is offered in both full-time and part-time modes, with enrollment available every quarter, and can be completed in as little as 21 months for full-time students and 36 months for part-time students. An exception to this applies to full-time students residing in the state of California, whose programs will be a minimum of 24 months long to account for state regulations on pre-internship curricula.
The program prepares students by using a 21st century approach to therapy developed over 25 years at The Family Institute. Known as Integrative Systemic Therapy, this approach is used to teach therapists to skillfully deliver family, couple, and individual therapy. The curriculum and clinical training are informed by multi-cultural and social justice perspectives.
The program also emphasizes research. Courses are research informed and students learn to apply research findings to their own cases. For students interested in pursuing a doctorate following graduation, research opportunities exist as does a thesis option.
The program includes a comprehensive curriculum of 20 academic courses and 6 quarters of an intensive clinical internship. During the internship on-campus students conduct therapy with clients in the clinic of The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Online students conduct therapy in clinical settings in their home state.
During their time in the program, students conduct 400 hours of therapy, at least 125 of which are conducted with couples and families. Students will also receive approximately 250 hours of group and individual supervision.
For students in the online branch of the program, participation in an on-campus immersion event during their program is required for graduation.
The program is a partnership between The Graduate School and The Family Institute at Northwestern University, a world-renowned center which has been providing teaching, and researching marriage and family therapy for over 50 years.
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Yadira Wardlow
Coordinator of Education Programs
847-733-4300
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Total Units Required: 25
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| MS_FT 400-0 | Professional Identity Seminar |
| MS_FT 400-6 | Professional Identity Seminar |
| MS_FT 401-0 | Basic Concepts of Systems Therapy |
| MS_FT 401-6 | Basic Concepts of Systems Therapy |
| MS_FT 402-0 | Methods of Systems Therapy |
| MS_FT 402-6 | Methods of Systems Therapy |
| MS_FT 403-0 | Self and Other Systems: Theory and Interventions |
| MS_FT 403-6 | Self and Other Systems: Theory and Interventions |
| MS_FT 410-0 | Human Development and the Life Cycle |
| MS_FT 410-6 | Human Development and the Life Cycle |
| MS_FT 411-0 | Intimate Relations I |
| MS_FT 411-6 | Intimate Relations I |
| MS_FT 412-0 | Special Problems and Populations |
| MS_FT 412-6 | Special Problems and Populations |
| MS_FT 413-0 | Intimate Relations II |
| MS_FT 413-6 | Intimate Relations II |
| MS_FT 421-0 | Systemic Assessment |
| MS_FT 421-6 | Systemic Assessment |
| MS_FT 422-0 | Family Research |
| MS_FT 422-6 | Family Research |
| MS_FT 424-0 | Group Therapy |
| MS_FT 424-6 | Group Therapy |
| MS_FT 427-0 | Family of Origin: Systemic Perspectives on Risk and Resilience |
| MS_FT 427-6 | Family of Origin: Systemic Perspectives on Risk and Resilience |
| MS_FT 428-0 | Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 428-6 | Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 429-0 | Sex Therapy |
| MS_FT 429-6 | Sex Therapy |
| MS_FT 430-0 | Power, Privilege and Difference: Practicing Cultural Curiosity and Humility in a Multicultural World |
| MS_FT 430-6 | Power, Privilege and Difference: Practicing Cultural Curiosity and Humility in a Multicultural World |
| MS_FT 436-0 | Family Therapy Treatment Models |
| MS_FT 436-6 | Family Therapy Treatment Models |
| MS_FT 437-0 | Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents |
| MS_FT 437-6 | Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents |
| MS_FT 440-0 | Systemic Perspectives in the Treatment of Substance Use/Misuse and Addiction |
| MS_FT 440-6 | Systemic Perspective in the Treatment of Substance Use/Misuse and Addiction |
| MS_FT 480-0 | Pre-Practicum in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 480-6 | Pre-Practicum in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 481-0 | Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 481-6 | Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 482-0 | Advanced Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 482-6 | Advanced Internship in Marriage & Family Therapy |
| MS_FT 495-0 | Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy Capstone Project |
| MS_FT 495-6 | Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy Capstone Project |
Other MSMFT Degree Requirements
Clinical practicum involving over 400 hours of therapy and approximately 250 hours of group and individual supervision.
For Online branch students: Participation in an on-campus immersion event during their time in the program.