The MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program at Walden University is designed to provide students with all the educational competencies and skill development as entry-level professional counselors who specialize in preventing and remediating conflicts or crises in and fostering the development of individuals, marriages, couples, and families and to provide students with the advantage of quality distance education and training. With an emphasis on systems theory and evidence-based practice, the program trains individuals to work in a culturally and contextually appropriate way in a variety of settings, including community agencies, county and state agencies, hospitals, and private practice, and to provide consultation to businesses and agencies.
Accreditation
Walden University’s MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CACREP accreditation is a requirement for licensure in many states.
Note on Licensure
The Walden University Master of Science in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in many states. However, each state board responsible for the regulation of mental health counseling has its own requirements for licensure including appropriate accreditation of academic programs.
Walden MCFC graduates may apply for licensure as a professional counselor, such as the LPC or LMHC, in many states. However, each state issues its own credential for an individual to be permitted to practice as a licensed professional counselor or mental health counselor in that state. While Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for mental health or professional counseling licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.
Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.
Learning Outcomes
The following Learning Outcomes are common to all MS in counseling programs. The competent and confident counseling professional will:
- Analyze the different roles and settings of a counselor.
- Apply sound ethical and legal practices in the work of a counselor.
- Analyze cultural development theories and models.
- Examine empirically based theories of human development.
- Evaluate approaches of career development appropriate to diverse needs and life experiences.
- Examine appropriate evidence-based counseling practices for prevention and intervention.
- Apply essential counseling skills across multiple settings.
- Select group facilitation strategies that are culturally and ethically relevant.
- Analyze assessment procedures to support planning for appropriate counseling interventions.
- Evaluate research methods commonly used in the counseling profession.
Graduates of the MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program will also be able to:
- Evaluate therapeutic models appropriate to marriage, couple, and family counseling.
- Develop systems-based treatment strategies for addressing the needs of couples and families.
- Evaluate the impact of complex life-based factors (e.g., crisis and trauma, addiction, interpersonal violence, employment) on marriages, couples, and families.
- Identify prevention-based strategies that foster family wellness.
Degree Requirements
- 90 total credits for General Program
- Foundation Course (1 credits)
- Core courses (80 credits)
- Field experience (9 credits: 100-hour practicum; 600-hour internship)
- Optional specialization courses (10 credits)
- Optional State Education Specialization (only for students with specific state requirements)
- Professional Development Plan, licensure plan
- 2 Pre-Practicum Labs (6 weeks online with 4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions)
Curriculum
The MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling consists of core coursework; two pre-practica, which include a 4-day face-to-face or virtual synchronous experience; a practicum; and an internship. Core courses must be taken in the order presented. Additional courses may be taken at the end of the program of study to provide breadth and depth of learning.
Foundation Course (1 credits)
Core Courses (80 credits)
Specialization Courses (10 credits)
These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.
Field Experience (9 credits)
Pre-Practicum Labs
Each pre-practicum includes online course content integrated with a 4-day, face-to-face or virtual synchronous residential requirement.
- 3 weeks online
- 4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions (see the Pre-Practicum Calendar)
- 2 weeks online
Course Sequence
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 |
COUN 6101 - Foundations of MS Counseling in Graduate Studies |
1 credits |
|
COUN 6201 - Introduction to Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 2 |
COUN 6722 - Theories of Counseling |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6316 - Techniques in Counseling |
5 credits | |
| Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 1 - FPLB 631L (must be completed before COUN 6336) | ||
| Quarter 3 |
COUN 6306 - Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6356 - Advanced Theory and Application in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 |
COUN 6215 - Lifespan Development |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling |
5 credits | |
| Must complete Pre-Practicum 1 before moving forward | ||
| Quarter 5 |
COUN 6336 - Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Response |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics |
5 credits | |
| Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 2 - FPLB 632L (must be completed before COUN 6785) | ||
| Quarter 6 |
COUN 6346 - Child and Adolescent Counseling |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6626 - Research Methodology and Program Evaluation |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 7 |
COUN 6753 - Career Counseling |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6730 - Counseling Addictive Disorders |
5 credits | |
| Quarter 8 |
COUN 6360 - Assessment in Counseling and Education |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6361 - Human Sexuality |
5 credits | |
| Must complete Pre-Practicum 2 before moving forward | ||
| Quarter 9 |
COUN 6785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy |
5 credits |
|
COUN 6671 - Counseling Practicum |
3–5 credits | |
| Quarter 10 |
COUN 6682A - Counseling Internship I |
3–5 credits |
| Specialization Course 1 | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 11 |
COUN 6682B - Counseling Internship II |
3–5 credits |
| Specialization Course 2 | 5 credits | |