M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy
16%
JOB GROWTH
COMING FALL 2026
ENTRY TERM
Tucson
campus Location
Launch a successful career as a licensed marriage and family therapist! This new master’s program will give you the training, skills and real-world experience to thrive in a mental health profession.
About the M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy
Located in beautiful southern Arizona, the marriage and family therapy (MFT) master’s program offers a unique, hands-on pathway to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist - one of the five core mental health professions recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Designed to meet the demands of today's complex mental health landscape, our 61-credit hour program provides students with rigorous academic training and direct clinical experiences working with individuals, couples and families from diverse cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds - including opportunities to serve Spanish-speaking clients. In addition to our board-approved curriculum*, we offer unique elective opportunities for students in topics like financial therapy and suicide prevention and postvention.
MFT Program Objectives
The Marriage and Family Therapy Master's Program at the University of Arizona strives to:
Provide rigorous academic training and practical experience that cultivates therapists who are skilled in a variety of therapeutic techniques.
Develop therapists who are culturally responsive, compassionate, and attuned to the complex needs of the diverse communities they serve.
Educate clinicians regarding the MFT code of ethics, preparing them to use ethically sound judgement and behaviors in their clinical work.
Train therapists to find, understand, and utilize research findings for professional practice.
* The MFT program is currently seeking curriculum approval from Arizona’s licensing board, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. We plan to have this approval by the time the program begins in fall 2026.
How to Apply
The application process isn’t currently open. Applications will open August, 2025. Please submit a contact form to receive an update when the application process opens.
What to expect from the program
Students in the marriage and family therapy (MFT) master’s program can expect a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience, combining real-world class topics (e.g. couples therapy, addiction, family systems) with supervised clinical training.
Graduates of our program enter the workforce as highly skilled clinicians ready to support the mental health needs of individuals, couples and families. Our graduates will go on to work in private practice, community agencies, healthcare settings or schools. We anticipate full approval from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners by fall 2025, and our curriculum and practicum experiences are designed to meet board standards.
Course List
Graduate Handbook (Coming soon)
Please refer to the Program Requirements on this page for the most updated coursework.
Students will be eligible to apply for general University scholarships, college scholarships and MFT scholarships. Scholarship requirements and amounts will vary. All students will apply for scholarships through Scholarship Universe.
Students will need to complete application materials with the U of A Graduate College and the MFT program. All information can be found online at the Graduate College Admissions website and through the MFT Admissions Guide. Applications will require a resume/CV, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation.
Important dates:
- Applications will open August 1, 2025, and close December 1, 2025, for the cohort beginning in fall 2026. Applications will only be reviewed after the deadline.
- Faculty and staff will determine which students to select for an in-person interview. Invitations will be sent by email to the selected applicants in late January, and interviews will take place in February.
- After interviews, applicants can expect admission decisions by March 15, 2026, and students will be expected to provide a decision by the end of April.
The University of Arizona MFT program is currently seeking curriculum approval from Arizona’s licensing board, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. We plan to have this approval by the time the program begins in fall 2026.
In Arizona, there are two levels of licensure: Associate and Independent. After graduating, you can apply to take the exam, and upon passing, you receive an Associate License. You must then work for at least 24 months in an approved setting, gaining additional supervision and client contact hours. Upon completion, you can apply for full licensure to practice independently. For more information, visit the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners website.
Note: For students interested in practicing outside of Arizona, the AAFMT’s state resources website has state-by-state licensure requirements.
The UA MFT program also plans to seek National Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). It is important to note that National Accreditation takes 5 years to acquire once a program has started, so students admitted to the MFT program at this time will not have national accreditation associated with their degree. Read more about the benefits of COAMFTE Accreditation.
As the UA MFT program begins, the approval from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners will ensure that our courses and practicum requirements will prepare graduates to successfully pass the state licensing exam and become licensed in Arizona as MFT’s. We are committed to providing a high standard of quality across our MFT program.
To complete the practicum requirement, students will complete a total of 300 supervised direct client contact hours. This is required for the MFT program and for AZ state licensure.
Students will typically begin their practicum halfway through their first fall semester or in the first spring semester. The MFT program will identify and place students at practicum sites within the Tucson area. While hours of operation vary from site to site, students can expect to work a combination of daytime hours, evening hours, and, in some cases, on Saturdays. These hours are reflective of employed therapists’ typical work schedule. Children and families are often most available for therapy in the evenings.
Students are encouraged to be flexible with their schedule in order to complete the required client contact and supervision hours needed for associate licensure.
Does this program require a thesis?
The MFT program does not require a thesis, but students will complete a final capstone presentation based on clinical casework, which will be evaluated by MFT faculty.
What are the admissions requirements?
- The GRE is not required for admission.
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Earned bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Recommended, but not required: Completion of academic coursework in areas such as family science, human development, psychology, sociology, counseling/therapy skills, and multicultural groups.
- Recommended, but not required: Completion of internship/work/volunteer experience in human services, mental health, family support or another related realm.
- Refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions for more information.
Can I attend this program part time?
This program admits students based on a cohort model, meaning all students complete the same classes each semester over the course of two years. Therefore, the MFT program does not allow students to enroll part time.
Can I attend this program online?
No, the MFT program is only available in person at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson. Students will need to be local in Tucson every semester, including the summer.
Can I work while completing this program?
This is a full-time program that requires 300 clinical hours in addition to coursework. Courses will meet on weekdays and during daytime hours. Practicum sites often see clients during the evenings and weekends to accommodate children and families’ schedules. It is recommended that MFT students work no more than 10 hours per week through graduate assistantships or outside employment.
When will classes be offered?
Courses will meet on weekdays and during daytime hours.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The MFT program requires students to be full time and will take students 2 years to complete, including one summer session. During the summer session, students will be expected to be in Tucson, taking in-person courses and completing hours at their practicum site.
How many students will be admitted per cohort?
The program plans to admit up to 25 students into a new cohort every fall semester.
How much does the program cost?
Please use the tuition calculator through the U of A Bursar’s Office to see the current cost of tuition.
Do you accept students for the spring semester?
No, students will only be admitted for the fall semester.