Master of Science, Marriage and Family Therapy (MAFTS.MS)

Program Objectives

At the end of the master’s program, the graduates should have acquired the necessary advanced skills, knowledge, and experience to:

1. Knowledge:  Successfully pass licensure exams for practice as marriage and family therapists.   

2. Skills:  Successfully obtain employment working as marriage and family therapists.

3. Diversity: Demonstrate clinical competency in their work with diverse clients and show attitudes of openness and respect.

4. Identity: Obtain licensure as marriage and family therapist and become clinical fellows of AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy).  

5. Stance: Work using an approach to conceptualization, diagnosis, and treatment that is relational, systemic, and contextual.                                                     

Program of Study

The program is composed of a minimum of five semesters of approved graduate study. The typical student will complete the program by following either a 2 year track (full-time, 5 to 6 semesters) or 3 year track (part-time, 8 semesters). A minimum of 60 semester hours is required. The program core provides educational preparation in ethical and legal issues, human growth and development, human sexuality, systems theory, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, family therapy, couple therapy, assessment, and research. The clinical portion of the program provides supervised counseling experience working in the community with culturally diverse clients.

Many faculty members are practitioners who bring real world experience into the classroom. Faculty members are selected to teach courses according to their expertise and emphasis is placed on practical application of concepts and theory.

Clinical Experiences 

Clinical experiences are an integral part of a degree in counseling at Lee University. The counseling practicum and internship placements provide an opportunity to practice skills and to utilize acquired knowledge in real life situations. Fieldwork activity follows a developmental model consisting of a sequence of training experiences of increasing complexity and responsibility. Each level of training is designed to accommodate the student’s particular level of professional development.  

Practicum/Internship 

The practicum and internships refer to the experience of working with clients within the setting of a formal course, under direct supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours direct client services, 250 of which must be with couples and families. In addition, each student is required to receive 100 hours of supervision from an AAMFT Approved Supervisor or an AAMFT Supervisor Candidate.  

Liability Insurance 

Students are required to obtain liability insurance through the graduate office prior to beginning field experiences.  

Background Check

All students are required to obtain a background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation prior to beginning classes. Applications must be obtained through the graduate office. Prior background checks may not be valid due to the age of the previous report and the level completed.