Admissions

The online Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Family Institute at Northwestern University seeks students who are dedicated to helping others and capable of succeeding in a rigorous graduate program. As a student, you should be open to receiving feedback and analyzing your experiences, opinions, and personal traits to become a self-reflective therapist.

The Family Institute offers both online and on-campus branches of the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. Please note that once you are enrolled in one branch of the program, you cannot transfer to the other branch.

The MFT@Northwestern is a licensure-focused program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The curriculum is based on the Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) approach, developed by renowned Northwestern faculty to address client concerns from a relational and larger systemic perspective. 

Students also receive extensive, in-person clinical training at approved sites near their communities. Review our unique curriculum for a more in-depth look at the program’s coursework, clinical training foundation, immersion experiences, and faculty.

MFT@Northwestern offers rolling admissions, with four program start dates per year in January, April, June, and September. Each cohort has an early decision, priority, and final deadline. You are not required to submit a GRE score to gain admission to the program.

You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible so you can start planning your academic journey. View the upcoming application deadlines above or visit the application requirements page for a complete list of items you must include in your application submission.

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact the admissions team at 1-844-684-6221 or admissions@counseling.northwestern.edu.