One of the benefits of living in Colorado is easy access to higher education. The state is dotted with colleges and universities that offer on-campus and online programs that enable you to get the education you need for the job you want. This includes the ability to complete a master’s degree program in marriage and family therapy.
Colorado’s graduate programs in this field are as diverse as they are many. Some programs are Master of Arts oriented while others are Master of Science. Most programs have onsite training facilities where you can develop your counseling skills prior to internship training, too.
Below are some of the popular options you might consider for completing your marriage and family graduate degree in Colorado. In each case, you’ll find that these programs offer a top-notch education and clinical opportunities that prepare you well for your career.
Marriage and Family Therapy Programs in Colorado
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering marriage and family therapy programs in Colorado:
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado at Denver
- Regis University
- Colorado Christian University
- Northwestern University
- Grand Canyon University
- Walden University
Colorado State University
Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies
Colorado State’s Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies offers a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy that’s accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The program began in the mid-1970s, and ever since, it has been a leader in training for therapists in this field.
This full-time residential program requires two years to complete. On the one hand, you’ll take graduate-level courses in marriage and family topics like counseling theories and techniques, family theories, and statistics. On the other hand, you’re required to complete a research-based thesis as well as clinical training. In other words, this program provides many different learning opportunities that help you become a well-rounded marriage and family therapist.
The bulk of the curriculum is required coursework that focuses on essential counseling theories and techniques. For example, you’ll take Family Systems and Psychopathology, which discusses assessment and diagnostic procedures for people with mental illnesses. But, given the family systems focus, you’ll learn how to assess and diagnose clients within the context of their primary family system.
A related course is Family Therapy Practice: Treatment Planning. This class is important because it informs you of the procedures to follow when developing treatment plans for couples and families. In addition to learning how to plan treatments, you’ll also have opportunities to integrate couples and family therapy theories with internal family systems therapy.
Various other classes focus on the special considerations of practicing family therapy. For example, you’ll take each of the following courses:
- Issues in Development and Family Studies
- Family Therapy Practice: Common Factors
- Family Studies
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Family Therapy Practice: Addictions
Furthermore, you’re required to complete courses in specialized areas like Topics in Sexuality. This course explores various topics ranging from sexual dysfunction to issues related to sexual assault. You’ll learn how to address these and other sensitive issues in a family therapy setting while also having opportunities to develop your personal theory of counseling.
There are two research courses–Research Methods I and II–required for this degree as well. These classes introduce you to the procedures of conducting empirical psychological research. You’ll learn how to develop and implement research studies, collect and analyze data, and provide reports on interpreted data in journal-ready articles. These classes prepare you for the thesis component, which occurs toward the end of the program.
The thesis usually takes two semesters to complete. You’ll devise a research project and work with an advisor to ensure it’s on-topic and appropriate for this degree. You’ll then carry out the research project, write your thesis, and defend it to a committee. A successful thesis defense is required to graduate.
Of course, you must also successfully complete field-based training to finish this program. You’re required to accumulate at least 400 hours of direct client contact time during the internship. You must also complete at least 100 hours of supervision during the internship. By completing these and other requirements, you’ll graduate with your degree and be eligible for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in Colorado.
You are required to meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:
- Have a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in human development, family studies, or a related area.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from references who can attest to your potential as a graduate student.
University of Colorado at Denver
Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy from CU-Denver is another popular program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. This program is unique because it adds a social justice focus to go along with an emphasis on family systems and relational perspectives. As a result, you’ll graduate from this program with a multicultural point of view that meets people where they are and allows you to take unique approaches to working with clients of all kinds.
This 54-credit program requires 2.5-3.5 years to complete. By and large, your classes–which are on-campus in Denver–are in the late afternoons or evenings, Monday through Thursday each week. This schedule allows you to maintain daytime employment and have weekends off (though some classes do meet on Friday evenings or Saturdays).
Unlike some marriage and family therapy programs, the one at CU-Denver does not have any electives; all classes are required. Many of these classes are foundational in scope–they offer a broad-based look at critical aspects of this field. A good example of this is Foundational Family Therapy Theories, a class that offers insights into family therapy theories, interventions, and best practices.
Likewise, the course on Individual and Foundational Family Therapy provides training in family therapy theories and helps you build a framework for therapeutic interventions. Not only that, but this course has an experiential component, so you’ll have opportunities to role-play the techniques you learn as a means of furthering your skills as a pre-service marriage and family therapist.
Not all the classes you’re required to take focus on theory, though. For example, The Multicultural Intersectional Systems Through the Lifespan class takes a look at the multicultural and social justice issues that might affect the mental health of your clients. Moreover, this class encourages you to take a deeper look at your own experiences so you can recognize the influences that multiculturalism and social justice have had on your life experience.
Additional coursework is required in the following areas:
- Professional Identity and Relational Ethics
- Advanced Assessment and Treatment in Family Systems
- Family Issues: Addiction and Trauma
- Introduction to Sex Therapy
- Counseling and Therapy With Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents
This program offers training in diagnosis, too. The required course in Mental Health Diagnosis looks at numerous theories and their similarities and differences for diagnostic purposes. This includes deep examinations of biological, medical, cultural, and interpersonal theories, to name a few. Additionally, you’ll examine the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and learn how to use it as a diagnostic aid.
You must complete a practicum and an internship as part of this degree. The practicum comes first and offers opportunities to further develop your counseling skills while also observing experienced marriage and family therapists on the job. You must complete 150 clock hours of practicum experiences in individual, couples, and family counseling before moving on to the internship phase.
The internship requires 600 hours of clock time and is a much more hands-on learning experience. In fact, you’ll be in charge of all aspects of working with couples and families, from intake and assessment to diagnosis and treatment.
You can apply to CU-Denver’s graduate school online. These requirements must be met to apply:
- Have a bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a written statement.
- Submit three letters of recommendation.
Regis University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
At Regis University, you can complete a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy that focuses on two primary areas: building essential foundational knowledge and acquiring high-level therapeutic skills. The program requires you to complete 60 credits, which most students can do in 2.5-3 years of full-time studies.
Broadly speaking, the coursework and field learning in this program help prepare you to work with clients of all kinds who have mental health issues of all kinds, too. This includes, but is not limited to, clients with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship Challenges
- Substance Abuse Issues
- Anger Issues
Furthermore, you’ll learn how to apply your skills in a variety of applications, from community mental health to school settings to private practice and more. Your learning takes place in very small classes, too–lecture courses have 18 students, while skills classes are limited to 12 students. Clinical classes are smaller still, with just eight students enrolled. These small class sizes help ensure you get the individual attention you need from your professors while also allowing you to build professional relationships with your classmates.
This degree consists of several components: required coursework, elective coursework, and clinical practice. The required coursework starts with basic classes like Human and Relational Development, which explores how humans develop from infancy through death. You’ll examine each life stage in detail and analyze relevant research to gain insights into the human experience at every age.
Theories of Family Therapy is another foundational course you’ll take early on in the program. This class looks at the historical development of family therapy theories to provide context for modern practice in this field. You’ll also examine the differences in working with individuals and families and consider the influences of society and other large systems on family dynamics.
Other essential coursework you’re required to complete includes the following:
- Systemic Power and Oppression
- Integrated Healthcare
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Process-Oriented Practice in MFT
- Common Factor Skills
Other courses discuss specific types of issues that might bring couples or families in for counseling. For example, the Addiction Treatment class provides context for addressing substance use and abuse issues in individuals and family systems. Likewise, the Gender and Sexuality class takes a look at psychological, physical, cultural, and social aspects of human sexuality and gender development. You’ll learn about male and female gender roles and how they affect everything from sexual expression to the development of sex-based issues in committed relationships.
You are required to take one elective course to supplement your required classes. Regis offers a broad range of options, including the following:
- Play in Family Therapy
- Advanced Couples Therapy
- Groups: Process and Counseling
- Crisis, Trauma, and Loss
- Counseling Pre-Adolescents and Adolescents
The final aspect of this program is the field-based learning. First, you’ll complete a one-semester practicum on campus. During that time, you’ll have opportunities to work with couples, families, and individuals under the supervision of an approved supervisor. Your work will occur at the Regis Center for Counseling and Family Therapy in Thornton. You’ll also participate in supervision at this location.
Second, you’ll complete the internship at an approved off-campus location. You’re required to work 20-25 hours per week, of which 10-15 hours must be in direct contact with clients. The internship requires individual, triadic, and group supervision as well.
You can apply online to Regis University for free. The following are necessary to apply:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit two admissions essays–one that addresses your autobiography and another that explores your commitment to social justice. A third essay on your undergraduate academic performance is further required if your GPA is 2.90 or below.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references.
- Provide a current resume.
- Participate in an on-campus interview.
Colorado Christian University
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University offers an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy that prepares you for a career as a clinical counselor in Colorado. Unlike the other three options described above, this program is available online. You can also complete the program in person in Lakewood and Colorado Springs.
You must complete 69 credits to graduate. You proceed through the curriculum two courses at a time. Generally speaking, classes are seven weeks long, so they move at a rapid pace. However, with just two classes at once, you can focus more thoroughly on your studies despite the quicker pace of learning.
The classes for this degree are divided into several segments:
- Bible and Theology Core
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling Core
- Marriage and Family Emphasis Core
- Residency
- Practicum and Internship
The Bible and Theology core coursework requires just two classes. You’ll take Theological Foundations of Counseling to get a better understanding of how Christian faith and beliefs can be integrated into your identity as a counselor. The other course is your choice of either Spiritual Formation in Counseling or Spiritual Formation Retreat. Both options seek to strengthen your faith and your Biblical worldview. However, the retreat option takes place in person in Estes Park, Colorado.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling core coursework explores foundational studies in a wide range of topics. On the one hand, you’ll take classes like Lifestyle and Career Counseling, Crisis and Trauma Counseling, and Human Growth and Development. On the other hand, you’ll take Counseling and Helping Relationships, Psychopharmacology, and Theories of Personality and Clinical Practice.
Meanwhile, the Marriage and Family Therapy core coursework examines the complex issues common to this type of therapy. For example, you’re required to take Contemporary Couple Relationships, in which you explore the modern definitions of couplehood. You’ll also learn how to analyze the elements that shape intimacy between two people–and the issues that can disrupt that intimacy, too.
Another example of a marriage and family therapy class is Systemic and Relational Assessment. You’ll learn how to assess the functioning of couples and families using relational and systemic perspectives. Furthermore, you’ll examine many different factors that can cause strain in systemic relationships, like violence, addiction, and abuse.
Additional coursework in the Marriage and Family Therapy core includes the following:
- Couples and Sex Therapy
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Social and Cultural Foundations for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Research and Evaluation in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Marriage and Family Therapy Theory I & II
The Residency component of this program includes three distinct classes. First, you’ll complete a counseling residency on Clinical Skills Development that focuses on everything from appropriate professional behavior to foundational counseling skills to developing your professional clinical identity. Second, you’ll take Orientation to Clinical Practice and Skills, which focuses more on intermediate counseling skills development and clinical interview skills.
The third residency–Advanced Clinical Practice and Skills–is a capstone course that integrates all your prior learning and facilitates the development of high-level counseling skills. Each of these three classes requires on-campus participation in an intensive residency.
The final portion of this program is the practicum and internship phase. The practicum is an initial field experience that requires you to complete 100 hours of direct client contact time. You’ll also observe experienced therapists as they work with clients and shadow them to explore the daily duties you can expect as a marriage and family therapist.
The internship, meanwhile, is a two-semester experience during which you must accumulate at least 600 hours of clock time. During the internship, you’ll work directly with clients to assess and diagnose them, develop and carry out treatment plans, and handle other duties, such as intake and discharge from services. You’ll complete these activities under the supervision of a marriage and family therapist who provides guidance and feedback to assist in your development.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit program-specific essays.
- Provide a resume or curriculum vitae.
- Provide a writing sample.
- Complete a criminal background check.
- Participate in an admissions interview if required.
National University
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
National University provides an online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program. This program holds accreditation from COAMFTE, allowing you to complete your coursework online while participating in fieldwork and supervised activities that prepare you for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. It is also accredited by the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE).
This program offers flexibility to meet licensing requirements in Tennessee and many other states. For example, while the standard program consists of 45 credits, you can take additional courses to meet a 60-credit requirement if needed for your state.
You’ll start with foundational coursework delivered in an online format. These initial classes introduce key concepts and include Foundations for Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy, Treatment Planning and Traditional Family Therapy, and Recovery-Oriented Care and Postmodern Family Therapy. These courses equip you with essential knowledge to begin your studies.
After completing the foundational courses, you’ll advance to topics such as:
- Cultural Diversity, Gender, and Family Development
- Couple and Sex Therapy
- Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice
- Human Development and Family Dynamics Across the Lifespan
- Legal, Ethical, and Professional Development in Marriage and Family Therapy
Your studies will also cover Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Systemic Treatment. Additionally, you are required to complete at least two specialized courses focusing on specific family groups. These options include:
- Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Couple Therapy
- General Family Therapy
- Medical Family Therapy
- Military Family Therapy
- Systemic Sex Therapy
- Systemic Treatment of Addictions
- Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapy
Once you complete your coursework, you’ll move on to the fieldwork phase. This includes a practicum, a two-part internship, and a final internship accompanied by a capstone course. You’ll complete all required fieldwork hours at an approved location near you.
During the practicum, you’ll build foundational skills for working in clinical therapy environments. You’ll focus on ethics, telehealth, and applying systemic methods to a variety of cases. This phase also includes earning direct client contact hours, with 300 hours required in total, including at least 150 hours spent with couples or families.
The internship focuses on developing your personal therapeutic approach through work with families, couples, and individual clients. You may continue at the same site as your practicum or select a different location. The program concludes with a capstone presentation, during which you’ll reflect on your experiences and incorporate feedback from your supervisors.
Applications are accepted year-round, with classes beginning monthly. This allows you to start the program shortly after your application is approved. To apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Resume.
- One-on-one interview with a marriage and family therapy faculty member.
- Background check before starting your first course.
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