Program Overview
Help individuals, couples and families from diverse backgrounds overcome life challenges and improve their mental wellbeing. Lipscomb University’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) program in Nashville, TN (accredited) provide the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this career path.
Whether you just finished undergraduate studies, are looking for a meaningful career change or would like to expand your existing skill set, a Marriage and Family Therapy master’s degree can position you to serve and heal in impactful ways.
Through rigorous coursework and a minimum of 300 hours of clinical training, you will be well prepared for the MFT licensing exams. Our programs can be completed in two years through a cohort format, following a specific course sequence (see course tab).
Lipscomb’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program in Nashville is COAMFTE accredited. The academic curriculum and clinical experience components in the program align with state regulations.
The Lipscomb MMFT programs are supported by an advisory board composed of strategic stakeholders inside and outside of Lipscomb University.
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Why Earn Your Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb?
The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program offers unique opportunities for your training, growth and career development as a marriage and family therapist. Our Nashville program is COAMFTE accredited, which allows you to gain specialized experiences and outcomes. Through the program, you will gain the expertise necessary to pursue your license with confidence and get hired quickly after graduation.
Lipscomb produces practitioners who:
- Are prepared for licensure and a sustainable career as a marriage and family therapist.
- Have a strong, founded identity as a marriage and family therapist trained in systems theory.
- Work with clientele from diverse cultural, ideological, and demographic backgrounds.
- Are capable of treating mental and emotional disorders, health and behavioral problems, and relationship issues.
- Are capable of scientific evaluation and evidence based practice and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, health and behavioral problems, and other relationship issues.
Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Program Outcomes
The mission of our Master of Marriage and Family Therapy programs is to prepare you with academic and clinical training that is founded in science for work with individuals, couples, families and social systems from diverse ideological, spiritual, demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. This marriage and family therapy training is informed by Christian values, such as love, empathy, forgiveness, grace and tolerance. This encourages students to provide greater service in the home, congregation, community, nation and world.
Through our robust MMFT programs, you can provide effective marriage and family therapy services in a variety of settings, such as mental health centers, private practices and churches as a highly trained, caring and compassionate therapist. You will be equipped with the key therapy techniques and skills to serve individuals overcoming their mental health challenges, help couples restore a thriving relationship and lead families to create healthy and effective family processes.
Review detailed Program Goals and Outcomes.
Explore program outcome information specific to the Nashville program:
Admissions Requirements
Ready to apply to Lipscomb University’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree program? The following items are required to apply for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program:
- Lipscomb University's graduate application
- Official transcripts from all schools in which a degree was conferred
- A bachelor's degree (any major) with a 3.0 GPA. If your GPA was below a 3.0, please submit one of the following:
- GRE Scores
- Transcripts of a completed master's degree
- Short explanation of your GPA (why it is low and how you have grown)
- An essay addressing the following:
- Please describe a challenge or time of adversity you have faced and how you overcame it (200 words)
- Marriage and Family Therapy is a unique field within the realm of mental health providers and helping professions. Why are you interested in the field of marriage and family therapy? (200 words)
- Please make the paper double-spaced using a 12-point font style similar to Arial, GT Times, or Times New Roman.
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one must be an academic or professional reference)
- Resume
- A 45-60 second video that answers the following question: What do you do for fun?
- Interview
The deadline for Fall 2025 will be March 1.
Courses
With a robust 60-credit-hour curriculum, the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program offers comprehensive courses to cultivate your therapy techniques, diagnostic skills and systemic therapeutic approaches, as well as a holistic understanding of theoretical frameworks of marriage and family therapy. In addition to the courses, you’ll participate in a minimum of 300 hours of clinical work through our clinical practice courses while pursuing the Marriage and Family Therapy license during your program of study.
Tuition & Aid
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Our Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) degree program in Nashville, Tennessee is a quality education in a welcoming and engaging learning environment at a tuition rate of $962* per credit hour.
Committed to providing affordable education to our students, Lipscomb University offers various scholarships and financial aid programs to help you pay your tuition. Explore your graduate financial aid options.
*Note: Graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective at the start of the summer term.