The Department of Counselor Education offers a 60 semester hour CACREP accredited Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling program. The program consists of core counseling courses, specialty area courses, and 700 hours of field experience. Students who successfully complete degree requirements for this program meet the educational requirements for state licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Counseling. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Certified Counselor (NCC) examination, a state licensure prerequisite.

The mission of the Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling degree program is to provide a high quality graduate education for individuals pursuing careers in professional counseling. This program is structured around several core tenets:

• Development of personal awareness of self as a counselor
• Knowledge of counseling and psychological concepts
• Skills in counseling and mental health service delivery across the life span
• Theoretical and practical training in therapeutic work with individuals, couples, and families

Included in the programs are an emphasis on developing assessment and research skills and using research findings in marriage, couple and family counseling. Given the focus of this program, graduates enter the profession prepared to work in a variety of settings such as community mental health agencies, the Veterans Administration, hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment settings, and colleges/universities.