The department's mission is to provide integrative educational programs and conduct research focused on reciprocal relationships among individuals, families, and their near environment toward the goal of improving the quality of life within a dynamic world community.

The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) Degree Program is to train persons with theological/spiritual commitments to become marriage and family therapists competent to practice in a diverse, multicultural and interfaith world. Marriage and Family Therapy is framed as a professional expression of the church's ministry of pastoral care and counseling. Individuals trained in the MAMFT program gain theoretical and practical tools to work as comprehensive mental health providers in a broad range of treatment contexts with careful attention to human, family and cultural diversity.  To this end, the MAMFT program is built on a foundation of the following five Professional Marriage and Family Therapy Principles:  the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Educational Guidelines, the AAMFT Core Competencies, the AAMFT Code of Ethics, the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board's (AMFTRB) Examination Domains, Task Statements and Knowledge Statements, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Statutes. 

The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) program at the University of Winnipeg is The MMFT program is one of the few programs in Canada that offers a master's degree to prepare students for careers as marriage and family therapists. The program is known for its academic and clinical rigor, training students to work within a systemic/relational framework.

The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy is a clinical degree. It is a non-thesis program with courses that provides students with a theoretical framework for their clinical work. The MMFT Program of study consists of 63 credit hours (59 required and four elective credits). Supervised Marriage and Family Therapy courses (i.e., practicum) make up 24 of the 63 credit hours in the Program. Students are required to provide 500 hours of therapy under supervision in order to graduate with a Master's degree. The usual ratio is around 2 hours of supervision for every 5 hours of therapy. Most of these hours are completed at Aurora Family Therapy Centre, located on the University of Winnipeg campus. During the last year of practicum, students are required to take Graduate Seminar. This course combines their learning across the degree and provides a capstone experience in the final paper. Students research and articulate their own integrated theory of therapy with examples from their client work.

The Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy in the College of Education and Human Services at Seton Hall University contains two Marriage and Family Therapy programs (M.S.and Ed.S.). The Master's of Science (M.S.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) programs in Marriage and Family Therapy are both part and full-time study opportunities for persons interested in pursuing a career in marriage and family therapy. The M.S. is a 60 credit hour specialization designed to prepare beginning level professionals by providing a firm theoretical foundation and intensive clinical training with a diversity of individuals, couples, and families. The M.S. also meets the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical alcohol and drug counselor in New Jersey. The Ed.S. program is a 39 credit hour specialization designed for professionals who possess a master's degree in a related field and who would like to specialize in MFT. Both programs are nationally accredited by AAMFTs Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).  The M.S.and Ed.S., are designed to meet the academic requirements for New Jersey Licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy. The faculty consists of AAMFT Approved Supervisors and licensed MFTs who are highly knowledgeable and passionate about their work with couples and families. 

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), in the School of Health and Human Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service regarding human development and close relationships across the lifespan. Our objectives are to educate the next generation of HDFS professionals and scholars, to generate new knowledge, and to foster the well-being of individuals and families in their everyday lives.

As a premier HDFS department, we focus on the following areas: early care and education; child, youth, and family development; aging. Undergraduates can prepare for birth through kindergarten teacher licensure (as can our MEd graduate students) or focus on children's and adolescents' development in their diverse cultural, school, and family contexts. M.S. and doctoral students examine the biological, relational, early educational, social, and cultural foundations of development and their implications for families. The emphasis on "culture" includes not only different societies, but also within-society cultural groups, such as racial/ethnic and social class groups. We are committed to interdisciplinary study, diversity, and internationalization. Department Mission: The Department of Human Development and Family Studies seeks to enhance the quality of life for individuals across the lifespan within their diverse and changing relationships, families, social networks, and communities in varying contexts through (1) exceptional research and scholarship, (2) outstanding teaching and mentoring to prepare the next generation of professionals, and (3) active community engagement and intervention.

The Department of Behavioral Sciences and Family Studies seeks to assist students in understanding human behavior and criminal behavior, child development, family relations and societal and cultural changes. In addition, the Department seeks to prepare students with intellectual and vocational skills to function in a variety of professional service occupations.

The family relations and human development graduate program is committed to the study, generation and application of research on human development, and the influences of family dynamics on development across the life course. Students are expected to undertake a program of study that develops a broad and sophisticated understanding of normal and dysfunctional development and/or family functioning. The aim is to prepare scholars and professionals with a perspective that is not only multidisciplinary but that also integrates theory, research, and the application of knowledge for the enhancement of individual or family development. The faculty represents a variety of academic backgrounds and professional expertise encompassing human development, sociology, psychology, early childhood education, family relations, gerontology, social work, and couple and family therapy.

An inter-disciplinary study of the family that integrates psychological, sociological, family science, legal, educational and theological perspectives which serve as the foundation for equipping church and other professionals to develop lifespan family education in various contexts. An emphasis is placed upon the development of competencies and applications of family science and related disciplines in one's ministry or work-world as well as identification of resources that will lead to the strengthening of families through educational resources, events and programs.

The programs in Child and Family Studies are designed to prepare individuals for professional roles working with young children, parents, and families in a variety of settings. CFS students may obtain licensure in Early Childhood Education -Birth-Grade 3 at the undergraduate level, Early Childhood Special Education, and Parent Education at the graduate level. The department believes that children should be studied within the context of their family and community. The department combines the study of early childhood and early childhood special education, parent education and family studies in an integrated manner. This allows networking of professionals in different practice areas and a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding children and families. This integration of students from different areas is unique and is a widely recognized strength of the department.

Working with families and children offers both challenges and opportunities to truly make a difference in the world. The obstacles of everyday life are so formidable that many people require assistance from qualified professionals. Family life education seeks to build strong, healthy families and strengthen family life from an informed educational perspective.  The foundation of family life education is found in a broad array of topics including human development across the lifespan, human sexuality, resource management (e.g. time, money), parent education, ethical considerations and public policy. Those who possess expertise in family life education possess the ability to bring out the best in others and to help persons in need to attain a higher degree of life fulfillment.

The mission of Central’s Child and Family Development program is to prepare highly qualified graduates to work effectively with individuals and families in our diverse and multi-faceted society, which in turn, improves the quality of life for individuals and families. This mission will be accomplished through comprehensive curriculum rooted in sound theoretical framework and contemporary research, hands-on professional learning experiences with children and families in varied settings, strong support and valuable guidance, and leadership opportunities.

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program provides a solid foundation for practice as a marriage and family therapist. This program meets the educational requirements for licensure in California and is one of the only seven programs in the sstate that is accredited by the Commission on Accredidation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE). The program includes a substantial practicum component in which the students spend on full year working under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals in a state-of-the-art onsite therapy training clinic. Students in this program complete a minimum of 60 credits.

The University of Montevallo Family & Consumer Sciences program was not only the first program of its kind in the State of Alabama, but was also one of the first programs in the entire Southeast to achieve accreditation through the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Our curriculum has pioneered fields including vocational and retail home economics, institutional management, as well as child development throughout the state and region. Further, our program empowers individuals and families across the lifespan to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse global society. If you are interested in pursuing a degree in this strongly interdisciplinary and highly practical, field, the University of Montevallo is the right place!

The mission of the Counseling Programs at Barry University is to provide education and training in clinical assessment, leadership, and counseling practice. Consistent with this mission is the goal of graduating ethical professionals with expert knowledge and skills in counseling practice. The Counseling Programs espouse the four core values set forth in the mission of the Adrian Dominican School of Education and Barry University: knowledge and truth, inclusive community, social justice, and collaborative service. Our Programs are communities of learners in which the study, development, and improvement of effective practice is promoted through scholarly and critical analysis. The Programs foster an inclusive academic atmosphere that encourages collaboration, respect, and sharing of ideas. In keeping with the importance of diversity and multiculturalism, the Programs expect students to accept social responsibility and place value on the function of social justice in the curriculum and society. The Programs are also committed to offering services to communities for various human, social, economic, and environmental problems.

The 60-unit graduate program in counseling offers two professional training options: Option I prepares students for Community Counseling (Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure) and Option II prepares students for School Counseling (Pupil Personnel Services Credential). The program relies heavily on interpersonal skills training and field experience, beginning during the first semester and culminating with an intensive supervised internship/field experience.

The School of Health Promotion and Human Development will help you understand your discipline and apply what you learn to the challenges you'll face when you graduate. You will have the opportunity to become a professional in a challenging and dynamic field creating healthier living patterns for the citizens of Wisconsin, our nation, and the world. We offer undergraduate programs in Dietetics, Health Promotion/Wellness and Family and Consumer Science (FCS). The FCS program offers two career options, the Child, Youth & Family Studies option and the Teacher Education option. Both programs lead students toward professions that help youth and adults build strong families, address family challenges and responsibilities, and prepare for family and consumer-related careers. Along with our master's degree in Community & Organizational Leadership, we offer a graduate level teaching licensure in Family & Consumer Sciences designed to prepare students to teach FCS in grades 6-12. Unique strengths of the program is an emphasis on professional development as well as global competence. For example, many students participate in diverse service learning opportunities such as the special needs orphanages of Romania, Mexico, or China. Engaging in community development in Cameroon, Africa, serving in the Community Learning Centers of Rural Nicaragua, or providing summer camps to children of the Lakota Reservation.

The Master of Family Therapy Graduate Program at Mercer University School of Medicine is offered in two locations, Macon and Atlanta, Georgia. It is designed to prepare family therapists to work with families, couples, and individuals in a wide variety of work settings including, but not limited to, hospitals, community mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, and private practice. The program is structured to meet the academic and experiential requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in the state of Georgia, and to prepare students for the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (AMFTRB). Since the mid 1980's, the Macon campus has been training family therapists to work as members of integrated healthcare teams. Initial accreditation was awarded to the Macon campus of the program in 1997, and in 2009 an additional campus was opened and accredited in the Atlanta area. Mercer University's MFT Program is one of only three program in Georgia accredited by COAMFTE.

Program Mission: The Mercer University School of Medicine Masters of Family Therapy (MFT) program mission is to transform MFT and medical students into competent, compassionate and ethical professionals who work collaboratively to meet the needs of individuals, couples, families and communities, including the rural and underserved. Emphasizing interactive and case-based teaching strategies, our student-centered faculty provides a conceptual and practical foundation that equips graduates to be discerning consumers and innovative producers of knowledge across a variety of medical and other clinical settings, as well as academic institutions. This foundation prepares clinicians to articulate and utilize a wide variety of philosophical perspectives, theoretical orientations, and clinical modalities, all with sensitivity and responsiveness to diverse contextual factors that impact therapist and client systems, as well as institutions and communities in which they participate. Through scholarship and clinical outreach, students and faculty work closely to have local, regional, national, and global impact.

Our Social Sciences undergraduate and Marriage and Family Therapy graduate programs offer an opportunity to explore several interesting fields of study, such as political science, psychology, criminal justice, sociology, human services, international relations, social sciences, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or guidance and counseling. All of these exciting disciplines are designed to help students attain their primary career goals.

Human Ecology department has 15 full-time faculty and approximately 600 undergraduate students. The mission of the Human Ecology Department describes the interdisciplinary programs concerned with family well-being, human development and welfare, the human environment, and their interrelationships. The department takes an ecological perspective focusing on relationships between people and their environments, the development of human potential, and the formation of social goals. Graduates of the Department's academic programs are prepared for careers in the apparel and textiles, child and family studies, dietetics and nutrition, food service and restaurant administration, and positions that utilize the knowledge and skills of a the Human Ecology discipline, including Family Consumer Science Education.

The Couple & Family Therapy (CFT) doctoral and masters programs at Alliant International University provide students with the essential training needed to pursue a career as a professional marriage and family therapist and prepare them to be licensed as a marital and family therapist. Students who complete the CFT masters at Alliant International University can apply all of their master's degree coursework and practicum hours toward the doctoral program. The CFT graduate programs at Alliant International University have a dedicated, caring, highly skilled, and diverse faculty. The program provides intensive theoretical and practical skill based training. The CFT program at Alliant International University attracts students from around the world and is dedicated to train students to work with diverse populations.

The Human Development and Family Studies program at Penn State was among the first of its kind in the nation, and continues to be one of the most respected. Our multidisciplinary program helps students explore the development of individuals and families across the life span, in order to prepare for professional, managerial, or scientific roles in health and human services professions, in public and nonprofit agencies, and in business and industry, as well as for advanced professional or graduate study. Courses emphasize biological, psychological, social/cultural, and economic aspects of development, as well as applied skills in intervention and evaluation, prevention, and the formulation of social policy. An internship in a setting that serves children, youth, adults, or the aged is required for this degree program. Through course work, undergraduate internships or research projects, students develop skills relevant to career objectives, such as counseling, assessment, program planning and evaluation, and research.

The Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology (CECP) at WMU is part of the College of Education and Human Development. CECP offers two doctoral programs, one in Counseling Psychology (APA Accredited) and one in Counselor Education (CACREP Accredited. The Counselor Education doctoral program emphasizes preparation for academic leaders and supervisors/trainers. The CECP department also offers four other options at the master's level: Counseling Psychology, Counselor Education options in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, or College Counseling, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (MCFC) and Rehabilitation Counseling. The department has a longstanding tradition of training mental health services professionals. The department recognizes the importance of addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse society, and strives to increase the educational opportunities of diverse student populations and to create an atmosphere where the values and concerns of diverse populations receive attention and respect. Issues of diversity are integrated into courses throughout the curriculum, as well as developed more fully through special topics courses.

The MSSW-MFT Specialization offers the opportunity for those pursuing their Masters Degree in Social Work to specialize in clinical practice with families in the context of their communities. The Specialization fulfills its mission by combining the systemic foundational principles of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) with the goals and values of social work. This Specialization deliberately prepares students to utilize family therapy with those families who are disadvantaged and/or typically underserved. The curriculum meets course requirements for Kentucky licensure in MFT and for Clinical Membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Coursework focuses on theoretical foundations, practical applications, ethical responsibilities, integration of research, and supervised clinical practice.

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) area includes 24 faculty positions, 18 of which are tenured and tenure-track, serving over 2,000 majors and minors.  We offer academic programs in Child Development, Early Childhood Development and Learning (including teacher certification), Family Studies, and  Gerontology.  Our Family Studies and Child Development majors complete field work early on in their academic training with a semester internship that completes their professional sequence. The Gerontology program is offered as a minor that pairs well with most majors or as a master's level certification.