The 9 Top MFT Programs NYC Offers for Aspiring Therapists
The MFT programs NYC institutions offer are becoming more competitive as the need for qualified therapists surges. Employment for marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 16% between 2023 and 2033, much faster than average for all occupations. This growth reflects rising awareness about mental health and the role family dynamics play in overall well-being. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance your credentials, choosing the right program matters. This guide explores nine top marriage and family therapy graduate programs available to students in New York and includes both campus-based and online options.
1. Iona University – Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program Overview and Accreditation
Iona University’s Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy earned recognition as the #1 program in New York by CounselingPsychology.com in 2025. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) has accredited the program, making it one of only four COAMFTE-accredited programs in New York State. This accreditation status will give a curriculum and supervised clinical hours that meet national standards accepted in all 50 states.
The program received its original COAMFTE accreditation on January 31, 2009 and maintains current accreditation through November 1, 2029. Alumni data reveals a 100% pass rate for the National Exam among students seeking state licensure. Graduates become eligible for therapist licensure upon completing additional post-master’s New York State requirements.
Iona’s MFT program operates on a hybrid learning model. Half of the courses are delivered online in up-to-the-minute synchronous sessions. The other half take place in person at the Bronxville Campus. This format helps students develop skills to practice systemic and relational therapy in both virtual and traditional settings.
Core Curriculum and Coursework
The 60-credit degree program has 42 credits in didactic courses (14 courses), combined with 16 credits in supervised clinical experience (8 courses) and 2 credits of capstone project. Students can complete the program in 3 years, with a maximum allowable timeframe of 5 years.
Core courses blend psychology, family studies, relational sciences and therapy fields. The curriculum has Introduction to MFT Practices, Self-in-Relation-to-Others: Relational Group Dynamics, Ethics Law and Professional Issues, and Theories and Systemic Approaches. Students also take Psychopathology and Systemic Diagnosis, Intimate Relationships, and Relational Assessment and Treatment.
Additional coursework covers Diversity and Contextual Factors in Clinical Practices, Social-Historical Contexts of Families Across Life Cycles, Family Therapy with Children and Adolescents, Human Sexuality, and Research and Evidence-Based Practices. The program meets New York State Education Department requirements for diagnostic privilege. Future licensed graduates can have diagnostic privileges as part of their practice.
Clinical Training Experience
Students complete 500 supervised face-to-face clinical hours with individuals, couples and families. The first year immerses students in classroom work. The second and third years add practicum experiences.
The Iona Family Therapy Center serves as the primary training venue. This non-profit center has operated for over 40 years and moved to Iona’s Bronxville Campus in August 2023. The clinic provides approximately 1,100 client appointments per year. Each graduate student averages six clients annually.
Graduate students work with clients on family conflict, bereavement, divorce and coping skills. Iona faculty who are Ph.D. and Master’s level Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Clinical Members and Approved Supervisors of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) supervise all therapists-in-training.
Faculty supervisors provide detailed clinical evaluations at the end of each semester during a student’s second and third year. All evaluations follow COAMFTE Accreditation Standards. Students also complete field placements at clinical sites throughout New York City and surrounding areas.
Admissions Requirements
Prospective students must submit a 1-2 page autobiographical statement explaining their interest in becoming a marriage and family therapist. The application also requires two letters of recommendation.
Candidates participate in a group interview with the Marriage and Family Therapy faculty once the program reviews their application. The program admits small cohorts, which enables faculty to provide individualized instruction. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program.
2. Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn – MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program Structure and Features
Long Island University Brooklyn houses its 60-credit M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy within the School of Health Professions. The program centers on a systems approach and trains students to understand human experience within relational contexts rather than focusing on individual pathology alone. Graduates work in a variety of settings including mental health agencies, clinics, hospitals and private practice environments.
The curriculum satisfies New York State educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure with diagnostic privilege. You’ll need 1,500 hours of supervised post-graduate experience and a passing score on the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards after you complete the program. The program’s philosophy emphasizes that all relationship contexts matter, including married couples, families, schools, workplaces and broader community systems.
LIU Brooklyn also offers a 39-credit Advanced Certificate for professionals who already hold master’s degrees in counseling or related fields and want to pursue marriage and family therapy licensure.
Key Courses and Specializations
The program divides into three course categories. Introductory courses (9 credits) cover Professional Issues and Ethics in Counseling, Therapeutic Interventions with Diverse Children/Adolescents and Human Development Across the Lifespan.
Common core courses (21 credits) provide theoretical foundations through Marriage & Family Therapy courses spanning basic theories to advanced applications and clinical skills. You’ll also take Counseling in a Pluralistic Setting, Group Work, Assessment and Diagnosis in Counseling Diverse Populations and Family Law.
Practice and specialty courses (15 credits) build advanced competencies in Couples Counseling, Substance Abuse & High-Risk Behaviors, Foundations of Marriage and Family Counseling, Research and Evidence-based Practice and Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology. The integrated CASAC curriculum track enables students to pursue employment opportunities in substance abuse treatment settings.
Practicum and Internship Opportunities
Clinical training begins with a 100-hour practicum where you complete a minimum of 40 hours in direct client service. This foundational experience requires working under licensed professional supervision while you observe intake procedures, conduct marriage and family counseling sessions, maintain records and participate in treatment team meetings. Audiotaping, videotaping or live supervision is mandatory.
You’ll complete two consecutive internship courses totaling 1,200 hours after the practicum. Marriage & Family Therapy Internship I requires 300 hours each semester across two semesters. You’ll provide at least 120 hours per semester in direct client services. The remaining 180 hours are dedicated to indirect work including professional development activities and administrative responsibilities.
Marriage & Family Therapy Internship II follows the same structure with 300 hours per semester and maintains the minimum 120-hour direct service requirement each semester. These supervised experiences occur in university-approved settings that provide marriage and family counseling services.
Application Process
Your application requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. You’ll need at least 24 credits in psychology or other relevant social science disciplines. Submit a written statement that outlines your professional goals, an academic writing sample and two professional letters of reference from academic instructors or professional supervisors. A current resume and interview with the Program Director or designated faculty member complete the requirements.
The program maintains degree requirements including completion of all coursework with a 3.0 GPA or better, passing a comprehensive examination and demonstrating interpersonal competencies and emotional maturity associated with effective counseling outcomes.
3. Mercy University – MS in Marriage and Family Therapy Programs
Unique Program Philosophy
Mercy’s approach to marriage and family therapy graduate programs is different from traditional clinical models. The program recognizes families as meaning-making systems rather than collections of problems requiring fixes. This philosophy asks “What stories are we telling together, and how might we author new ones?” instead of focusing on individual pathology. Mental health emerges from connection quality, community justice and shared meaning-making practices.
The program teaches you to see families not as isolated problems but as systems with untapped potential. Most clinical programs emphasize pathology and treatment. Mercy trains you to help families discover resilient possibilities about themselves. You’ll become skilled at state-of-the-art approaches that recognize how families create their realities through everyday conversations, cultural influences and shared meanings.
Theoretical Foundation and Coursework
The 60-credit Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy follows this structure: Human Development (3 credits), Clinical Knowledge (18 credits), Theoretical Knowledge (18 credits), Family Law (3 credits), Research (3 credits), Professional Ethics (3 credits), Internship (9 credits), and Capstone Experience (3 credits).
Mercy’s program distinguishes itself through reliable theoretical foundations in systemic and social construction approaches. The socio-relational framework gets into how identities and realities form through stories and meanings negotiated in daily family and community interactions. You’ll learn how dominant cultural narratives shape possibilities in people’s lives and strategies to rescript socio-relational narratives.
The program meets New York State requirements for licensure with diagnostic privilege. Graduates complete 1,200 additional clinical hours post-master’s to satisfy full licensure requirements.
Clinical Internship and Mentorship
A dedicated faculty member serves as Director of Clinical Internships and provides complete mentorship throughout your training. This support has resume development, interview preparation, site selection and placement, professional socialization, and recognition of accomplishments.
You’ll complete a year-long clinical placement spanning three semesters from September through August, during your second year. Each term requires 200 hours of field work, with 100 hours dedicated to direct patient contact. Total direct client contact accumulates to 300 hours across the three semesters.
You must complete at least 21 credits before entering the internship phase. These credits should have Pre-Practicum, Family Systems Assessment, Group Experience, Psychopathology, Professional Issues and Ethics, and either Couples Therapy: Theory and Practice or Contemporary Family Therapy. Your capstone course lets you work with a clinical faculty mentor to blend theoretical and clinical skills in a tailored final training experience. Faculty remain involved through licensure preparation and limited permit applications.
Admission Criteria and Prerequisites
Your bachelor’s degree must be in psychology, sociology, behavioral science health care, or education. The program requires completion of an upper-level undergraduate statistics course with a grade of B or higher. Other majors receive consideration in special cases.
Submit a four to five-page essay detailing why you want to study marriage and family therapy, your personal and professional attributes for this field, and career goals. You’ll need two written recommendations, with at least one from someone other than a professor. An interview with the program director, current resume and demonstrated knowledge of the MFT field and Program Handbook complete your application.
The program operates at the Dobbs Ferry Campus in Westchester County. Courses meet once weekly at either 4:15 pm or 7:15 pm. Some courses are available online and at the Manhattan campus, but you’ll need availability during these time slots and must attend most courses at Dobbs Ferry.
4. Manhattan University – Marriage and Family Therapy MS
Program Format and Flexibility
Manhattan University structures its marriage and family therapy graduate programs around a blended learning model that offers practical flexibility to working professionals. Up to half of the courses are delivered online synchronously. You can participate in instruction while you maintain in-person engagement for the remaining coursework. This 60-credit program is registered with the New York State Office of Professions and fulfills educational requirements for independent Marriage and Family Therapy licensure in New York State.
The curriculum combines core courses with elective options. You’ll work with your academic advisor to identify electives most suitable for your clinical interests. The program requires one semester of practicum followed by a two-semester internship. All of this is completed as part of core course credits. You can expect to finish the degree between two and five years. Most students complete requirements within 2.5 to 3 years.
Performance reviews occur throughout your training at regular intervals. You must demonstrate acquired competencies and meet established standards. A B or better average in all coursework is required. After graduation, you’ll need to pass the national MFT exam and acquire required post-graduate clinical experience and supervision to practice as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Essential Skills Development
The program trains you to provide therapy based on an integration of contextual, cultural and relational viewpoints. This approach looks at multiple factors. These include lifespan development, family-of-origin dynamics, family configuration, culture and gender. Living and schooling environments along with ethnicity are also examined.
You’ll gain experience with a variety of populations through internships in New York metropolitan and regional agencies, hospitals and community organizations. These placements enable you to provide services to families, individuals and couples from varied backgrounds. The program also incorporates innovative technology in blended classes and teaches therapy models appropriate for diverse clientele.
Assessment and treatment practice occurs within your internship settings. You’ll apply theoretical knowledge to real clinical situations there. As with other aspects of the program, evidence-based interventions tailored to different client needs and cultural contexts receive emphasis.
Faculty and Learning Environment
Small class sizes define the Manhattan University experience. The program maintains tailored instruction with close relationships between students and faculty. You’ll learn from experienced practitioners working throughout the New York metropolitan area.
The program operates within Manhattan University’s Lasallian mission framework. This framework prioritizes serving those in need and working toward social justice. This vision shapes how you’ll study, understand and develop therapeutic skills. The emphasis remains on looking at various ways people grow, live and function within their relational contexts.
You must consult with your academic advisor at regular intervals. This assures proper sequence and progress in developing competencies as a therapist. Faculty maintain regular communication to support your professional development throughout the program.
Requirements for Admission
You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or institution to apply. The program requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Other factors can be taken into account in admission decisions.
Applications are submitted through a centralized application service (CAS) platform. You’ll create a user account there to track your submission. Required documents include the online application and undergraduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for admissions decisions, but official transcripts are required before enrollment. You’ll also need a personal statement reflecting program interest along with personal and professional goals. At least one letter of recommendation from a professional reference is required. A current resume and a $75.00 application fee complete the requirements.
Current psychology undergraduates at Manhattan University have access to an accelerated BA/MS pathway. This allows completion of both degrees in 5.5 years. Interested students apply during their junior year and can take 12 credits of graduate counseling classes in their senior year.
5. Hofstra University – MA in Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Programs
Complete Training Approach
Hofstra’s 54-credit MA qualifies you for licensure in New York state through an in-person degree program featuring practice-based courses at the Saltzman Community Services Center. The program philosophy blends multiple therapeutic models including Structural, Strategic, Experiential, Object Relations, Solution Focused, and Narrative approaches. This broad exposure familiarizes you with traditional family therapy models and advanced theory and practice.
The program combines classroom instruction with intensive field experience. All supervised client contact hours you gain count toward licensure requirements. You’ll complete courses during fall and spring semesters, plus three summer sessions and a January session. Full-time students finish in three years, though part-time study is available. No GRE is required. Scholarships are available to qualified candidates.
New York State Education Department registers this program as licensure-qualifying. After you graduate, you’ll need additional supervised experience to reach the 1,500 total client contact hours required for full licensure.
Research Opportunities
Students interested in developing research skills or pursuing publication can work together with faculty in areas of mutual interest. Students have published papers in professional journals and submitted chapters for faculty books. The program encourages presentations to community groups and at national conferences, especially for those intending doctoral work. Sometimes, stipends become available to help students attend national and regional conferences.
Two-Year Internship Model
You’ll begin a four-semester internship after you complete the first set of core classes. You’ll spend 900 hours working in clinical settings by graduation. The first two semesters take place at Hofstra’s on-campus Counseling and Mental Health Professions Clinic in the Saltzman Center. This provides close supervision and support during the earliest clinical stage.
Placement occurs in off-campus clinical settings approved by the program as students approach the end of on-campus training. The final two semesters occur at these external sites, which represent typical employment venues for marriage and family therapists. Placement sites include child welfare agencies, community mental health agencies, hospitals, private practices, and substance abuse clinics. You must complete a minimum of 300 face-to-face client contact hours for graduation. The 300 client-contact hours accrued during internships count toward the 1,500 total required for licensure.
Eligibility and Application
You must complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Bachelor’s degrees in psychology, sociology, human development, family studies, behavioral sciences, or human services are preferred but not required. Prerequisite undergraduate courses are required in Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Sociology or Anthropology. Submit three letters of recommendation and a personal statement describing your professional intent and knowing how to succeed in the field. A personal interview with the program director or faculty member completes the process.
6. University of Rochester – MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
Medical Family Therapy Focus
The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Psychiatry Department houses this program, which positions Medical Family Therapy as its defining characteristic. Students experience the clinical milieu of a hospital setting where mental health and physical health systems intersect, contrasting sharply with campus-based training. The biopsychosocial-spiritual framework guides all clinical work and prepares you to address how illness, trauma and end-of-life issues affect family relationships.
You’ll work as an embedded member of interdisciplinary teams at Highland Hospital that have physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, patient care techs, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and chaplains. This immersive environment teaches systemic care while promoting health equity and addressing social determinants of health based on age, race, class, gender and sexual identity.
Curriculum Highlights
The 60-credit curriculum combines didactic courses with supervised practice. Core courses cover major family therapy theories, clinical approaches, human development throughout the family life cycle and research methods. You must complete all core didactic coursework before beginning clinical practicum.
A week-long intensive introduces Medical Family Therapy foundations through didactic presentations, small group learning on family-of-origin experiences with illness and healthcare, and skills workshops employing simulated family role plays. This intensive prepares you to collaborate with physicians and healthcare professionals in detail.
Hospital-Based Clinical Experience
Clinical practicum spans a minimum of 12 months with two concurrent site placements. You’ll accumulate 500 clinical contact hours and more than 100 hours of supervision. All students practice at Strong Family Therapy Services, an onsite Office of Mental Health regulated community mental health clinic, and a community placement.
Weekly supervision has interdisciplinary groups with psychiatry residents and psychology fellows, enhancing learning through professional perspectives. Recording capability and live supervision options support skill development at each site.
Admission Standards
The program accepts applications throughout the calendar year for Fall semester enrollment only. You must demonstrate commitment to relational and systemic approaches, biopsychosocial integrative care models and multicultural clinical practice. The program holds COAMFTE accreditation through May 2031 and meets New York State licensure requirements.
7. Syracuse University – PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy
Advanced Research Focus
Syracuse University’s 72-credit doctoral program prepares scholars who will advance research, theory, and teaching in marriage and family therapy. Students train for research, teaching, and supervisory positions in graduate degree-granting institutions, training institutes, and health care settings. The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education through COAMFTE accredits the program.
The curriculum builds upon a clinical master’s degree in MFT and provides understanding of advanced theory with expertise in process and outcome research methodology. The program operates within a social justice framework to participate in cultural humility, awareness of self in relation to others, and understanding of psychosocial and cultural contexts.
Four-year assistantships cover the credits required for degree completion. Transfer 33 credits from an accredited MA/MS in MFT, and this equals 39 scholarship credits. Faculty determine satisfactory standing through annual reviews of academic performance and scholarship, which affects funding.
Doctoral Coursework
Advanced theory and practice require 12 credits. Select four courses such as Family Violence: Theory and Therapy, Advanced Couple Therapy, Supervision in Marriage and Family Therapy, or Cultural Diversity: Family Theory and Therapy. Advanced research methodology requires 12 credits covering Statistical Concepts II, Research Methods, Assessment and Research Methods in MFT, and Qualitative Research Methods. Some research courses have prerequisite knowledge requirements that may need a statistics course as your 3-credit elective.
Dissertation and Clinical Components
Advanced Family Therapy Practicum provides 6 credits of advanced practicum. A 9-month clinical internship requiring 1,000 hours of client contact is mandatory. Dissertation work accounts for 6 credits. Students must pass a doctoral qualifying examination and complete a doctoral dissertation with related oral examination.
Application Requirements
A completed master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or equivalent is required. All applicants must submit GRE scores. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for program work and 2.8 cumulative GPA per university regulations.
8. Yeshiva University – Marriage and Family Therapy MFT Programs in New York
Program Emphasis and Approach
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology launched this Master of Science program in Fall 2021 to address limited MFT program availability in the metro area. The 60-credit curriculum emphasizes a systemic approach and peruses family relationship dynamics and their effect on individual mental health. This point of view treats therapy as greater than individual treatment. It trains you to help people from a variety of backgrounds contend with life stresses that affect both adults and children.
The program prepares you for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in New York State and will give portability to other states. Graduates work in private practice and mental health centers with specialized MFT expertise rare among master’s-level therapists.
Course Structure
Full-time students complete the degree in five semesters. Required core courses span 51 credits. They cover Theoretical Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy, Couples and Family Counseling, Family Law, Counseling with Children and Adolescents, and Multicultural and Diversity Issues. Additional required courses total 9 credits and include Counseling Skills Development and Advanced Issues in Psychopathology and Diagnosis.
Field Placement Options
You must complete 300 client contact hours of supervised fieldwork before graduation. Placements span the New York metropolitan area at community mental health centers, hospitals and agency affiliates. Faculty connections aid appropriate internship placements with licensed clinicians who provide training and mentorship.
Entry Requirements
Submit a completed application with official transcripts, personal statement and letters of recommendation. The admissions process may require interviews. Rolling admission operates with deadlines of February 15 and May 15.
9. The Chicago School – Online MFT Program Available to NYC Students
Online Learning Model
The Chicago School delivers its MA in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy through a flexible online format with two mandatory in-person residencies. Students gather in Southern California during first and second years to receive hands-on training under direct professional supervision. These residencies orient students, encourage community and improve learning through interpersonal connection.
The online platform Canvas hosts all coursework, assignments and virtual student interactions. The program holds Quality Matters Teaching Support Certification, Online Learner Success Certification and Online Learner Support Certification. Online programs begin every eight weeks across six annual start dates: Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II, Fall I and Fall II.
Curriculum Overview
The program maintains COAMFTE accreditation. All students must successfully complete a Written Comprehensive Exam, administered twice yearly during the final enrollment year typically. You must maintain good academic standing to qualify for the exam.
Virtual Clinical Supervision
Practicum spans four semesters and requires 300 face-to-face contact hours minimum, with at least 100 hours with couples and families. You’ll attend scheduled seminars that feature clinical case consultation and presentations during practicum, and complete clinical case reports.
Admission Process
Rolling admissions allow application throughout the year. The all-encompassing approach considers GPA, essays, life experiences, community service and interest in serving marginalized populations. Schedule a consultation with an admissions representative before submitting your application.
Choose Your MFT Program
Choosing the right MFT program depends on your circumstances and career goals in the end. Some students thrive in COAMFTE-accredited programs like Iona or Rochester. Others prefer the flexibility that hybrid or online formats offer. You should assess factors such as program philosophy, clinical training models, location priorities, and scheduling flexibility before you make your decision.
Focus on programs that line up with your therapeutic interests. This could be medical family therapy, systemic approaches, or working with specific populations. Visit campuses and speak with current students and alumni. Review clinical training opportunities. The right program will shape your entire career trajectory as a marriage and family therapist.