Couple and Family Therapy (MS)

Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy
Unit: Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (GK)
Department: Social Work
Program Website 
Academic Plan Code(s): CFT_MS; CFT_MS_ADC

Program Information

The purpose of the Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy (MSCFT) program within the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (Kent School) is to develop professionals in couple/marriage and family therapy to work with couples, families, and other systems within their community contexts and through the lens of social justice. 

Marriage/couple and family therapy is a distinct discipline from social work with its own state licensure board, national professional organization, and national accrediting body. The MSCFT degree program is the first COAMFTE‐accredited master’s degree program in the nation housed in a school of social work.

The MSCFT program offers a rigorous educational program that takes a social justice approach to working with individuals, couples, families, and other systems. Students take 60 credit hours and meet coursework requirements for Kentucky state licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). MSCFT coursework focuses on family systems theoretical foundations, systemic assessment, social justice and diversity, family systems interventions, research‐informed practice, and ethics. 

Students also have the option of completing a concentration in Alcohol & Drug Counseling.

The CFT Program has established the following six Program Goals, in accordance with our purpose of training a social‐justice minded workforce of couple and family therapy professionals and our accreditation standards:

• Educate students with regard to the major models of marriage and family therapy
• Train students to effectively assess and conceptualize individual and family problems
• Train students to effectively implement marital and family therapy techniques and interventions
• Prepare students to practice professionally as ethical marriage/couple and family therapists
• Prepare students to become social‐justice oriented marriage/couple and family therapists
• Train students to become research‐informed clinicians

Degree Requirements

MSCFT-MSSW Dual Degree

Students may also choose to complete a dual master's degree program in CFT (MS) and Social Work (MSSW), allowing completion of a master's degree in two distinct professions in 2-3 years. The dual-degree program exposes students to philosophical and legal distinctions of both degrees, creating a unique opportunity for MSSW students to deepen their clinical training with couples and families and introduce CFT students to a broader range of social work and social welfare course offerings and clinical diagnoses. Students in the dual-degree program take 84 credit hours.

For additional information, please contact kentcft@louisville.edu or go to the CFT webpage here.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Master of Science in CFT program must include the following:

• Completed Graduate School application and application fee
• Earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Two recommendations from former instructors or supervisors
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Family of Origin paper (a description of formative experiences in one’s family)
• Professional Statement (a description of career goals and reasons for seeking this degree)
• Overall GPA of 3.0 recommended; applicants with incoming GPAs under 3.0 must submit an addendum discussing gaps or deficiencies in applicant’s academic record. Include planned strategies for maintaining the required 3.0 in Graduate School.

For additional information, please contact kentcft@louisville.edu or go to the CFT webpage here.

Program Requirements

Standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

To graduate with the MS in CFT, students must complete all required coursework and meet the following standards:

• Complete the program within 4 years of beginning coursework
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 at program completion
• Minimum of 500 client contact hours
• Minimum of 200 relational hours
• Minimum 50 raw (audio, video, or live) supervision hours
• No more than two (six credit hours) C grades in the MSCFT program

Typically, credit from a maximum of four courses may be transferred in from other master's degree programs upon approval by Director.

Program Coursework

For additional information, please contact kentcft@louisville.edu or go to the CFT webpage here. 

Concentration Coursework

Students interested in pursuing an optional concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling complete nine (9) credit hours of coursework in addition to the 60 credit hours of core program coursework.

Alcohol and Drug Counseling Concentration Coursework

MSCFT students completing a concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling will complete their advanced-year CFT practicum in a specialized setting working with populations affected by substance abuse.

For additional information, please contact kentcft@louisville.edu or go to the CFT webpage here.

The Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy program and the concentration in Alcohol and Drug Counseling prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures (please scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on the licensing disclosures tab).