| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| 90 | $56,350 | $61,300 | $78,490 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
Curriculum
The Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program provides students with generalized training to work with individuals, couples, and families, and includes specialized courses for practitioners working in relational contexts.
Training includes both regular coursework and clinical practice, with greater emphasis on clinical work as students progress through the program.
The first year includes foundational courses on developmental foundations, theories and interventions, legal and ethical issues in counseling, and diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as a group counseling experience. In the second year, students engage in specialized coursework and begin their clinical work, providing low cost services to community members through a practicum in our Community Counseling Clinic. In their final year, students complete advanced coursework in their specialization and serve as interns 20–30 hours per week with our partner organizations throughout the metropolitan area.
Course descriptions
For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program Format
Modality
In Person: This program is held in person with classes held on-campus.
Full-time
Time to completion: Three years
Scheduling
Primarily evenings with some daytime requirements: Classes are generally held in the later afternoons and evenings. Clinical training in the second and third years requires daytime hours.
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Students in this program generally take 9 credits per term and should expect to spend at least 18 hours per week outside of classroom time on homework and related activities.
Beyond the academic requirements, training as a counselor is a transformative experience that involves significant intrapersonal reflection and growth which can require additional time and energy.
As the program progresses, students engage in experiential learning through internships, which take additional time to complete. Internships generally require 30 hours per week.
Program of Study
Cohort: This program operates as a cohort model, meaning that students follow a set program of study with a group of peers, learning together and providing a peer-support network. The program of study below outlines these classes term by term.
*Courses with an asterisk can be taken at multiple points during the program.
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Fall |
| COUN 551: Theories and Interventions I | 3 |
| COUN 570: Legal and Ethical Issues | 3 |
| COUN 573: Contemporary Couples, Marriage, & Family Systems | 3 |
| *COUN 509: Practicum: Group Experience | 1 |
| Winter |
| COUN 552: Theories and Interventions II | 3 |
| COUN 569: Developmental Foundations | 3 |
| COUN 575: Foundations of Couples, Marriage, and Family | 3 |
| *COUN 509: Practicum: Group Experience | 1 |
| Spring |
| COUN 585: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I | 3 |
| COUN 543: Counseling skills | 3 |
| COUN 574: Family Life Cycle and Transitions | 3 |
| Summer |
| COUN 544: Consultation | 1 |
| *COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| Year 2 | CR |
| Fall |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 555: Counseling Children & Youth | 3 |
| COUN 578: Couples Therapy | 3 |
| Winter |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 581: Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 588: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning II | 3 |
| COUN 566 (taken with 567): Appraisal Instruments | 3 |
| COUN 567 (taken with 566): Using Tests in Counseling | 1 |
| Spring |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Mentorship | 1 |
| COUN 568: Career and Lifestyle Planning | 3 |
| COUN 571: Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 580: Supervision | 1 |
| Summer |
| COUN 509: Practicum: Peer Mentorship | 1 |
| *COUN 582: Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| Year 3 | CR |
| Fall |
| COUN 504: Internship | 4 |
| COUN 531: Foundation of Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| Winter |
| COUN 504: Internship | 4 |
| COUN 572: Systemic Perspectives on Human Sexuality | 3 |
| COUN 577: Family Therapy | 3 |
| Spring |
| COUN 504: Internship | 4 |
| COUN 546: Grief and Loss | 2 |
| COUN 579: Advanced Systemic Interventions: Couples & Families | 3 |
| Total Program Credits | 90 |