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Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MA-MFT)

24
Months to complete
60 credit hours
On-Campus
evening courses
With on-site clinic
$610
per credit hour
10% partner discount

Dynamic training and quality practicum

Dynamic training meets a quality practicum.

Mount Mercy University’s Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy (MA-MFT) is the only program in Iowa accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

Our marriage and family therapy master’s degree is designed to provide both research-based classes and practicum experiences through our on-site Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic.

Earn your master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Mount Mercy, and help individuals and families live more productive lives.

What can you do with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy?

Through our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, you’ll gain the necessary skills to be an effective therapist or consultant in a variety of settings. After completing your post-graduate supervised hours, you’ll be eligible for state licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

Why a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy from Mount Mercy?

We're proud to offer the only COAMFTE-accredited MA-MFT program in Iowa.

And of more than 100 accredited marriage and family therapy master’s degree programs nationwide, ours is one of only a few with an underpinning in neuroscience, bringing a greater awareness of how environment and culture shape an individual.

Our marriage and family therapy program is grounded in the idea that individuals who seek psychotherapeutic assistance are influenced by a complex set of factors. Therapists need to be trained to understand these dynamic systems to help individuals, couples, and families.

  • Experience a curriculum that keeps pace with the times
  • Learn from practicing professionals
  • Join a supportive cohort that reinforces and celebrates belonging and diversity
  • Gain critical professional experience in our on-site Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic

As you work toward your master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, you’ll grow your professional network and prepare to lead in the field.

Earn your marriage and family therapy master’s degree on your schedule

Enjoy the flexibility to earn your master’s degree in marriage and family therapy with a format that helps you balance work, school, and all your other responsibilities.

  • No GRE required
  • Enjoy manageable 5- and 10-week blocks
  • Evening classes each week
  • Complete your marriage and family therapy master’s degree in just 24 months

What can you do in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?

Our marriage and family therapy master’s degree combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Work alongside professors who are practicing professionals. Gain beyond-the-classroom learning in our Olson Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic.

Our MA-MFT provides individualized and student-driven learning, allowing you to work alongside faculty within a highly personalized environment.

Avary Brinker MFT

A lot of people I work with have gone through this program. I see the way they work with others and just appreciate the energy and thoughtfulness they bring when working with people.

What will you learn in our Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy program?

The marriage and family therapy master’s program merges two years of research-informed classes with a one-year clinical in your second year. Required classes include Family Systems, Ethics, Microcounseling, and Models of Marriage and Family Therapy, among others. 

Take distinctive elective classes—including Neuroscience, Spirituality, and Trauma, Addiction & Violence.

Graduate with your master’s in marriage and family therapy prepared to help individuals, couples, families, and children.

Meet our faculty

How can I afford a master’s in marriage and family therapy?

You may be eligible for scholarships and loan programs. The first step is to complete your FAFSA, which helps determine state and federal aid available to you. Our federal school code is 001880. Contact our Financial Aid Office with any questions.

Get started on your marriage and family therapy master’s degree

Applications are accepted and reviewed by the first week of February for our August start. Our graduate admissions team is here to help you reach your educational goals and answer your questions.

If you have any questions about applying or if you want to schedule a tour of the Olson MFT Clinic, please contact Makenzie Lueth

  • Complete your application
    • Applications for the 2025 MA-MFT cohort are now open.

    • Applications will remain open until at least January 31, the program’s priority deadline. So long as you have applied by January 31, the program faculty will review your application and you will be considered for an interview.
    • We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible. Interviews will begin in November and will continue through March or April—until the cohort is full.

  • Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Email to gradprograms@022aode.com or mail to:
Graduate Programs
Mount Mercy University
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4797
  • Students are required to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its equivalent before beginning the program. Documentation of degree equivalencies must be submitted by an agency authorized to do so. Undergraduate students who will earn their bachelor’s degree prior to starting the program are encouraged to apply.

  • Applicants of all majors and professions are welcome to apply.

  • Students are required to submit the following materials in order for their application to be complete:

    • Application
    • Official Transcript
    • Personal Statement
    • Resume or CV
    • Two letters of recommendation

  • Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Program faculty invite qualified applicants to interview, beginning in November and lasting through March. The priority deadline for applications is Friday, January 31.