Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
A Concentration In
Marriage and Family
An emphasis within the B.A. in Family Studies — focused preparation in marriage, family counseling, and a practicum.
Family Counseling
Principles of family counseling
Marriage Focus
Psychology or theology of marriage
Practicum Included
A marriage and family practicum
Marriages and families are where life’s deepest joys and hardest struggles play out — and they need people prepared to help. The Marriage and Family concentration builds on the Family Studies core with focused preparation in family counseling, marriage, and human development.
On top of the Family Studies major, you’ll add twenty-one credits centered on couples and families: Principles of Family Counseling, Human Sexuality, Gender Studies, Human Development, General Psychology, and a choice of Psychology of Marriage or Transformational Marriage — plus a marriage and family practicum that puts you in real settings. It’s strong, focused preparation for family-helping careers and an excellent foundation for graduate study in marriage and family therapy, including ACU’s own MFT program.
Learn Family Counseling Principles
Build a foundation in the principles of counseling couples and families.
Understand Marriage
Study marriage through psychology or a transformational, faith-informed lens.
Engage Human Sexuality
Study human sexuality as it relates to marriage, family, and counseling.
Study Gender and Development
Explore gender studies and human development across the lifespan.
Ground It in Psychology
Build a foundation in general psychology for understanding people and relationships.
Practice in Real Settings
Apply your learning in a marriage and family practicum.
Marriage and family carry deep significance — and a Biblical Worldview shapes how you understand and serve them.
A High View of Marriage
Scripture treats marriage as a profound, covenantal relationship. That view gives weight and hope to the work of strengthening and counseling marriages.
Grounds your work with couples in a high, hopeful view of marriage.
Families as Formative
Families shape people more than almost anything else. Taking that seriously frames family work as deeply consequential — worth doing with care and skill.
Forms a conviction that strengthening families changes lives.
Hope for the Hurting
Couples and families come for help in pain — conflict, betrayal, brokenness. Scripture is honest about that while holding out genuine hope of healing and restoration.
Prepares you to bring realism and hope to families in crisis.
This concentration is built as preparation for family-helping careers — and especially as a foundation for graduate study in family therapy.
Graduate Study in Marriage & Family Therapy
Enter a master's in MFT or counseling well prepared — including ACU's own MFT program.
Family Life Education & Services
Strengthen families through family life education and family-service roles.
Marriage & Family Ministry
Lead marriage, couples, and family ministries in churches and nonprofits.
Case Management & Advocacy
Support couples and families in case management and advocacy settings (licensed therapy requires a graduate degree).
The Marriage and Family concentration gives future family-helpers focused, hands-on preparation.
Counseling Foundation
Principles of family counseling prepare you for the helping side of family work.
A Real Practicum
A marriage and family practicum gives you hands-on experience before graduate school.
MFT-Ready
Excellent preparation for graduate study in marriage and family therapy, including ACU's MFT program.
A High View of Marriage and Family
Study couples and families framed by a Biblical Worldview that honors both.
Already drawn to the Family Studies degree? Adding the Marriage and Family concentration is simple.
Apply to ACU
Submit your application for admission to Arizona Christian University.
Start Your ApplicationChoose Marriage & Family as Your Concentration
Tell your advisor you want this track, and they'll map the FAM and counseling courses into your plan.
Plan Your Practicum
Work toward the marriage and family practicum, which requires prior FAM coursework and a site approval.
The Marriage and Family concentration gives you focused preparation in family counseling and marriage — and a strong foundation for family therapy graduate study. Apply or reach out today.