SUU’s New Marriage & Family Therapy Master’s Program Responds to Urgent Need for Counselors
Published: November 12, 2025 | Author: Southern Utah University | Read Time: 2 minutes
In response to workforce needs and student demand, Southern Utah University is set to launch a new Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program beginning fall semester of 2026.
“Through this on-campus program, graduates are prepared to lead with compassion, cultural and faith sensitivity, and a deep commitment to strengthen relationships wherever they serve,” said SUU’s MFT Program Director Trenton Call, PhD, LMFT. “What sets this program apart is its community-centered, interprofessional approach to training. It’s designed to meet the unique mental health needs of those in southern Utah. Our students will receive rigorous clinical education, hands-on supervision, and real-world experience in an on-campus collaborative training clinic, so they are competent for licensure and practice.”
The new graduate program is designed to meet requirements of the Utah Department of Professional Licensing and the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), which SUU will work towards obtaining. Courses include topics such as assessment and diagnosis, family systems, child and family therapy, addiction therapy, trauma and crisis therapy, and clinical sex therapy.
“This new program has small classes and close faculty mentorship, which are hallmarks of an education at SUU,” said Tad Brinkerhoff, SUU’s associate vice president of Graduate and Online Enrollment. “There is such a great need for therapists in Utah, especially in rural areas as well as across the nation. Our graduates stand to find high-paying jobs, but more importantly, they will have the skills to help families and individuals lead fulfilled lives.”
The MMFT program will only be offered on-campus with a starting cohort of nine students. Applications for the first cohort are due Dec. 15, 2025. Admission requirements are consistent with those at other Utah universities and do not include a GRE score for entrance.
In its 128-year history as Utah’s first experiment in distance education, Southern Utah University’s Graduate and Online Department continues its pioneering legacy by offering to students across the globe affordable and flexible college degrees: 15 master’s, 16 bachelor’s, and two associates. This includes several master’s degrees that can be finished in 12 months, and one of the most affordable bachelor’s degrees in the nation: Speedway | Bachelor of General Studies. SUU Online’s combination of affordability, flexibility, and vast student success programs provide an extraordinary education, anytime, anywhere.
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Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu