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online msc degree

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

Master of Science in Counseling/
Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

Start your online counseling degree

Learn how to work with diverse clients in various clinical environments, such as private practice, hospitals, schools, non-profit organizations, and public or private mental health agencies. Help clients achieve their goals through the application of skills to support individuals, children, families, couples, and groups. Courses in this program are aligned to California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) educational requirements.

Ignite Your Passion

Start when you're ready

Courses

Browse courses for your online counseling degree

Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.

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Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.

Requirements: 60 credits

You’ll need 60 credits to complete this Master of Science in Counseling degree.

22 Core Courses

The Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy features 22 core courses to develop the confidence and skills needed in a clinical mental health environment.

22 Core Courses

Admissions Course

To be admitted into the program, students must successfully complete MFCC/502, Graduate Portfolio I.

Admissions Course

Schedule

Your academic counselor will help schedule your courses for the Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy.

Program Purpose Statement

The Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy program prepares you for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in jurisdictions where it is offered. In order to practice as a counselor in most states, you must be licensed as a MFT (marriage and family therapist), LPC (licensed professional counselor), or other comparable state professional license designation. License requirements vary by state. Stay updated on the licensure requirements in any state in which you desire to practice. Review state licensure requirements.

California

The Master of Science in Counseling/ Marriage, Family and Child Therapy degree program meets the California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) educational requirements for registration with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC). Upon successful completion of all educational requirements and required postgraduate supervised clinical hours, graduates are eligible to sit for the LMFT and LPCC licensure exams in California. Review state licensure requirements.

Skills-aligned program icon

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.

We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Tuition

Paying for school

Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.

Tuition Guarantee

Master's cost per course

$2,289 / course

Cost per credit 

Credits per course

Resource fee

$698

x3

+ $195

Estimated cost per course

$2,289

An illustration showing a couple pushing a stroller with a dollar sign and clock in the background

What affects the overall cost of my program?

Your full program cost can vary by: 

  • Savings opportunities. Get your degree faster and for less with eligible transfer credits, scholarships and work experience credits. Students with eligible credits and relevant experience can save up to $6,800 and 9 credits off their master’s degree.
  • Admission requirement cost. You must take and pass Graduate Portfolio I before being admitted into the program. This six-week, noncredit assessment costs $150.
  • Subsequent graduate portfolio costs. You must take and pass Graduate Portfolio II and Graduate Portfolio III to progress in the program and into clinical courses. Graduate Portfolio II and Graduate Portfolio III cost $150 each.
  • California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). If you’re a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for STRF which is currently $0 per $1,000 of institutional charges. The STRF assessment is nonrefundable.
  • Liability insurance. The Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy requires liability insurance through the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for the practicum and internship. The estimated third-party cost is $95.

With our Tuition Guarantee, you pay one flat, affordable rate from the moment you enroll to the day you graduate from your program.

Earn your master’s degree faster and for less with eligible savings opportunities:

Transfer credits

Your prior eligible college credits can save you time and money, helping you graduate faster. That’s why we’ve accepted credits from 5,000+ institutions. Check to see if you can apply eligible transfer credits from an institutionally accredited university or college toward a degree of your choice.

Scholarships to earn your master’s degree, more affordably.

Everyone deserves an affordable education. That’s why we offer an unlimited number of scholarships, so if you qualify, you can get one. We believe everyone deserves an affordable education they shouldn’t have to compete for. Starting with your first course, every qualifying new student will be awarded one of our scholarships - regardless of your financial situation or GPA, or you’ll get the best savings you qualify for. Whether you’re a new or transfer student, you can apply for a scholarship. Explore scholarship options at University of Phoenix.

Financial aid

You may have options when it comes to paying for college tuition and expenses, such as federal grants and loans. Our finance advisors can answer your questions about financial aid and can help guide you through the process.

Federal Student Loan Basics

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do with a Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy?

Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.

An MSC/MFCT can prepare you for:

  • Counselor 
  • Clinical Therapist
  • Family Therapist
  • Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Top skills learned in this program:

  • Professionalism

  • Diversity

  • Human Development

  • Career Counseling

  • Psychotherapy

  • Group Dynamics

  • Clinical Assessments

  • Research

  • Marriage and Family Therapy

Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information.

What you’ll learn

When you earn your online Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy degree, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:

  • Develop a professional identity as an advocate and steward for the counseling profession. 
  • Integrate social and cultural diversity competencies into their practice as a mental health professional.
  • Integrate human growth and development theories and principles into their clinical practice.  
  • Integrate career development theories and principles into their clinical practices. 
  • Integrate counseling theories, models, and techniques into their clinical practices. 
  • Integrate group counseling theories and practices into their clinical practices. 
  • Execute assessment and testing processes and procedures to guide their clinical practice.
  • Evaluate research and programs to inform professional practice Integrate theories, principles, and methods of marital and family systems approaches into their clinical practice.
  • Integrate theories, principles, and methods of marital and family systems approaches in clinical practice.

16% Growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for marriage and family therapists (MFTs) is projected to be much faster than average between 2023 and 2033.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2023-2033 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Admissions

Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

  • No cost to request prior transcripts
  • No GMAT
  • No essay required

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1] Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

Gabriel G., Enrollment Representative

Call or chat with us 7 days a week.

G. Galindo - Enrollment Representative

Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)

Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week. 

Computer requirements for courses

Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment. 

Student completing homework at night while child plays on floor.

Faculty Spotlight

Professionals dedicated to you

Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average of 28+ years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.

Accreditation

Accredited for 45+ years

Since 1978, University of Phoenix has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org. Learn more about the value of University of Phoenix accreditation and how it benefits our students.

While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.