Department of

Marriage
and Family Studies

College of Biblical Studies

Students in the Department of Marriage and Family Studies are trained to strengthen the lives of children, adults and families by promoting healthy development and relationships. Faculty are dedicated to helping students grow both as people of faith and in new knowledge about how families, groups, communities and societies interact. A degree in Marriage and Family Studies empowers you to harness knowledge about the complexity of human relationships and gain the practical skills to support children and families in professions such as counseling, healthcare and social services.
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Students in the Department of Marriage and Family Studies are trained to strengthen the lives of children, adults and families by promoting healthy development and relationships. Faculty are dedicated to helping students grow both as people of faith and in new knowledge about how families, groups, communities and societies interact. A degree in Marriage and Family Studies empowers you to harness knowledge about the complexity of human relationships and gain the practical skills to support children and families in professions such as counseling, healthcare and social services.

Main Content

On-campus Undergraduate Degree Programs

A student playing toys with a young girl

A major or minor in Child and Family Services empowers you to design, implement and evaluate family life programs and participate in diverse practicum experiences, graduating from ACU with the contextual, scientific, practical and hands-on experiences and knowledge to strengthen and nurture children and families.

On-campus Graduate Degree Programs

A group of students holding hands and praying

The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) program prepares students for Christian service and leadership, serving families and couples in a variety of secular and faith-based settings. Our program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and includes a 500-hour internship, typically completed at ACU’s on-site Marriage and Family Institute.
MORE ABOUT MMFT

Related Online Degree Programs

College of Graduate and Professional Studies

The following related courses are offered through ACU Online and are managed by the faculty in our School of Health and Human Services.

Click on each program above to learn more.

Overview

The Department of Marriage and Family Studies prepares students for careers in child services, politics, healthcare, law, nonprofit organizations, and other areas of service and ministry. The coursework combines excellent teaching with service-learning, community-based research, internships, and other practical learning experiences.

The mission of the Department of Marriage and Family Studies is to equip students to strengthen family relationships and solve personal and relational problems through child and family services or therapeutic intervention while cultivating Christian leadership and character in each student.

The undergraduate program in Child and Family Services accomplishes this mission through:

  • Emphasizing the formation of healthy relationships and the promotion of optimal human development;
  • Examining current research and theory regarding the normal issues with which individuals and families must contend as they grow and evolve;
  • Creating opportunities for students to design, implement, and evaluate family life education programs; and
  • Providing diverse practicum experiences that prepare students for future employment.

 

The graduate program in Marriage and Family Therapy accomplishes this mission through:

  • Emphasizing a Christocentric view of human nature and personal/relational problems within a context of diversity;
  • Providing a diverse clinical training experience;
  • Encouraging development of a professional identity by fostering involvement in the profession of marriage and family therapy; and
  • Creating a culture of research.