Master of Science (M.S.)
A Concentration In
Research/Thesis
A research-focused alternative to the standard M.S. in MFT's optional concentration — for students preparing for doctoral study or research-oriented practice.
Research-Track Variant
For doctoral preparation or research practice
MFT 575 Master's Thesis
Single 3-credit course, taken twice (6 cr minimum)
Same Core Program
Standard 42-cr MFT core + 15-cr practicum sequence
The Master’s Thesis option is a research-focused variant of ACU’s standard M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Students who select this option complete the same 42-credit Marriage and Family Therapy core and 15-credit Practicum and Internship sequence as the standard M.S. MFT — but in place of the optional 9-credit concentration block, they complete a structured Master’s Thesis (MFT 575, 6 credits minimum) under faculty guidance.
The option is built for students preparing for doctoral study in MFT, counseling psychology, or related fields, and for those whose clinical interests will eventually move them into research-oriented practice. The thesis project gives you sustained experience with research design, IRB processes, data collection or analysis, and academic writing — preparation graduate doctoral admissions consistently look for.
MFT 575 has substantial prerequisites: MFT 540 Advanced MFT Theory and MFT 570 Research in Marriage and Family Therapy must both be complete before students enroll. Plan to begin the thesis sequence after the bulk of MFT coursework is underway.
Design a Research Project
Frame a research question, develop a methodology, and plan a coherent study under faculty guidance.
Navigate IRB and Research Ethics
Work through Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes — preparation graduate doctoral programs assume.
Conduct Original Research or Synthesis
Complete a thesis project that contributes original research, secondary analysis, or substantive scholarly synthesis to the field.
Write at the Graduate Research Level
Produce a thesis manuscript that meets graduate research standards — typical writing samples for doctoral applications.
Connect Research to MFT Practice
Translate research training into clinical practice — both informing your own work and building evidence for the broader field.
A Biblical Worldview takes research seriously as careful, honest investigation — meaning the discipline of doing research well is itself worth pursuing.
Honest Investigation
Good research rewards intellectual honesty — being clear about what you've actually shown, what remains uncertain, and where your methods have limits. A Biblical Worldview takes that honesty as a moral matter, not just a methodological one.
Cultivates research integrity that serves long-term scholarship.
Service to the Field and to Clients
Research in MFT exists to serve the field's understanding and ultimately the clients and families MFTs work with. The thesis option treats research not as ego pursuit but as contribution to a discipline whose purpose is helping people.
Anchors your research work in service rather than in self-promotion.
Patient Work Over Time
Real research takes time — design, IRB, data collection, analysis, revision, writing. A Biblical Worldview values that patient work as formative for the researcher, not just as means to a publication or credential."
Equips you to value the discipline of sustained scholarly work.
The Master's Thesis option positions graduates for doctoral study, academic and research-oriented careers, and research-informed clinical practice.
Doctoral Programs in MFT
Build the research preparation Ph.D. and Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) programs assume in admissions.
Counseling Psychology or Related Doctoral Programs
Apply to Counseling Psychology Ph.D./Psy.D., social work doctoral programs, or related research-track programs with thesis experience in place.
Academic and Higher Education Careers
Build foundation for adjunct teaching at the graduate or undergraduate level, particularly when paired with continued research or doctoral work.
Research-Oriented Clinical Practice
Practice as a licensed MFT while contributing to the field through scholarship, conference presentation, or applied research.
Specialized Roles Requiring Research Skill
Step into roles at research-oriented agencies, evaluation consultancies, or program-development organizations where research training is required.
The Master's Thesis option positions graduates uniquely among MFT-trained therapists — adding research preparation that most master's-level MFTs don't have.
Doctoral Application Strength
Completed master's thesis is a meaningful credential in MFT, counseling, and related doctoral applications.
Research Writing Sample
Doctoral applications often require a substantial research writing sample — the thesis serves directly.
Faculty-Supervised Research Experience
MFT 575 is taken under faculty guidance — meaning you graduate with research mentorship and likely a faculty reference for doctoral applications.
Same Clinical Preparation
The thesis option doesn't reduce the standard MFT clinical preparation — you complete the full 42-credit MFT core and 15-credit practicum/internship sequence.
Mutually Exclusive With Concentration
Students choose either the Master's Thesis option OR the Families with Disabilities concentration — not both. The choice depends on whether your post-MFT direction is research/doctoral or specialized clinical.
Already drawn to ACU’s M.S. in MFT and considering doctoral work or research practice? Here’s how the thesis option fits.
Apply to the M.S. in MFT
Begin with the standard M.S. in MFT application to ACU's School of Graduate Studies.
Start Your ApplicationDiscuss Research Interests With Your Advisor
In your first year, talk with your faculty advisor about your research interests, doctoral aspirations, and the thesis option timeline.
Complete MFT 540 and MFT 570
MFT 575 Master's Thesis requires both MFT 540 Advanced MFT Theory and MFT 570 Research in Marriage and Family Therapy as prerequisites. Plan these for year one or early year two.
Begin the Thesis in Year Two
MFT 575 is typically taken across two semesters in year two, with thesis defense in the final semester before graduation.
The Master's Thesis option pairs full MFT clinical preparation with substantive research training — positioning graduates uniquely for doctoral programs and research-oriented practice. Apply or reach out today.