Marriage and Family Therapy Curriculum

Plan of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy is a fixed 29-credit certificate program with a structured plan of study.

Students may transfer up to 6 credits through approved equivalent graduate-level coursework for FX510 Introduction to Family Therapy and MFT600 Clinical Skills. Transfer coursework is reviewed by program faculty to determine equivalency and applicability to certificate requirements.

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate-level coursework. Students seeking transfer credit may also be required to submit course syllabi or other documentation for review.

Final determinations regarding transfer credit, course equivalency, and certificate requirements are made by program faculty. Completion of the certificate does not guarantee eligibility for LMFT licensure.

Educational Requirements for LMFT Licensure in Massachusetts

Massachusetts establishes specific educational and clinical training requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Under 262 CMR 3.03, the standard licensure pathway includes a minimum of 60 graduate semester credits, required graduate-level coursework in designated content areas, and completion of a qualifying supervised clinical internship or practicum.

For applicants whose master's or doctoral degree program included fewer than 60 semester credits, Massachusetts regulations permit graduate-level coursework completed outside the original degree program to be submitted to the Board for review, provided the applicant's overall education satisfies the required credit total, content areas, and internship or practicum requirements.

The 29-credit Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy provides focused graduate-level coursework in the following areas:

  • Marital and Family Studies: 3 graduate-level courses
  • Marital and Family Therapy: 3 graduate-level courses
  • Clinical Skills: 1 graduate-level course
  • Supervised Clinical Internship I and II: 2 graduate-level courses

Additional Massachusetts LMFT educational requirements are not included in the certificate and must be met through the student's prior or other graduate-level coursework.

Certificate Courses That Fulfill These Requirements

The following William James College courses in the Counseling and Behavioral Health Department fulfill the required LMFT educational content areas:

Marital and Family Studies

Marital and Family Therapy

Clinical Skills

Internship

*Eligible for transfer credit

Additional Massachusetts LMFT Educational Requirements (Not Included in the Certificate)

Human Development

Professional Studies

Research

These requirements may have been completed through a previous master's degree or may be completed separately as non-matriculated coursework.

Clinical Internship

The clinical internship includes a minimum of 300 hours of direct, face-to-face client contact under the direction of an approved supervisor. Supervision consists of 100 face-to-face hours, including:

  • At least 50 hours of individual supervision
  • At least 25 hours of supervision involving direct observation or audio/video review

Clinical and Professional Focus

While in the Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy program, you will engage in:

  • In-depth training in systemic and relational theory
  • Evidence-based couple and family therapy models
  • Culturally responsive and justice-oriented clinical practice
  • On-campus learning alongside students in the CFT concentration
  • Supervised clinical internship experiences aligned with LMFT requirements