Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online

What you'll study

Core topics and example coursework are focused on systemic and clinical practice with families and individuals. Areas explicitly noted in program materials include:

• Family Theory — systemic perspectives on family functioning and development.
• Systemic Diagnosis & Assessment — assessment approaches and diagnostic processes relevant to MFT practice.
• Addictive Disorders — understanding substance use and addiction in relational context.
• Cultural Diversity in Family Therapy — inclusion of diversity as foundational to curriculum and practice.
• Couples Therapy — interventions and models specific to couple relationships.

The program requires 60 credit hours with a minimum timeline of 33 months, including at least 12 months of internship work that provides 100-plus hours of supervision. Students may choose one of four concentrations: Child and Adolescent Therapy, General (elective-based), Therapy with Military Families, Treatment of Trauma, and Medical Family Therapy. The Child and Adolescent concentration emphasizes play therapy and age-appropriate assessment; the Military Families track focuses on service-related lifecycle events and violence in family relationships; the Treatment of Trauma concentration centers on trauma-informed interventions; and Medical Family Therapy prepares students to work in clinical and healthcare settings.

Entry requirements

The course page does not list specific admission prerequisites. Applicants should consult the university for formal entry requirements and application procedures.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for clinical practice settings where marriage and family therapy skills are applied. Common employment settings identified by the program include private and group practice, non-profit agencies, community mental health clinics, churches, hospitals, adoption agencies, residential treatment centers, and recovery centers. The curriculum and internship are structured to support licensure pathways via the AMFTRB exam.

Scholarships & funding angle

The program page provides tuition details that can inform budgeting: the effective August 2023 rates list $799 per credit hour for typical courses, $470 per credit hour for internship courses, and a resource fee of $200 per non-internship course. The university also offers a Locked-In Tuition program referenced for undergraduate degrees; prospective students should contact the program office about graduate tuition guarantees, scholarships, and any cohort-specific financial aid.