Certificate of Graduate Studies in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

Locations: On Campus, Online

Total Credit Hours: 12

Session Start: August 23, 2021

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

The Certificate of Graduate Studies in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling, offered online and on campus in Virginia Beach, is a professional certificate that will serve as an endorsement to licensure and for counselor continuing education for additional state credentialing requirements. It is not for initial licensure. This family and marriage counseling certificate may help advance your career as a mental health professional.

Explore successful passage through the developmental stages of marriage and family over the life span.
Gain invaluable knowledge in areas including couples therapy, treating sexual dysfunction and therapies for various addictions.
Prepare to play a crucial role as a high-demand professional, working to heal and strengthen marriage, couple and family relationships.

To learn more about this program, please complete the Request Information form on this page.

Regent University ranked #26 of the top 50 Accredited Certificate programs | Intelligent.com

Career Opportunities

Public Agencies
Private Practices
Mental Health Facilities
Church Counseling Centers

Featured Courses

COUN 593A Internship in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (3), plus three courses from the following:

Code

Name

Credits

COUN 546

Marital & Couple Therapy

Provides an understanding, demonstration and application of various models and techniques for working with married and non-married couples. Prerequisite: COUN 545 or concurrent. Cross-listed with CES 746.

COUN 547

Models of Family Therapy

Examines models of family systems therapy and techniques. Helps beginning family therapists develop a model of practice and apply models to clinical cases. Cross-listed with CES 747.

COUN 548

Theories of Human Sexuality

Introduces students to historical, environmental, biological, psychological, sociocultural, and biblical perspectives on human sexuality. Emphasis will be placed on issues in human sexuality across the life span, theories of sexual dysfunction, as well as sexuality and Scripture. Prerequisite: COUN 540.

COUN 553

Developmental Marriage and Family Counseling

The successful passage through the developmental stages of marriage and family over the lifespan contributes in positive ways to the health and well-being of marriage and family. This advanced course will integrate the student’s Christian worldview, with cultural and ethical issues as they affect the variable stages of life within a family. Included for study and discussion are current social topics of marriage and family developmental stages and historical perspectives that are of concern to the clinical process. Prerequisites: COUN 526, COUN 540, COUN 545.

COUN 555

Expressive Approaches in Trauma Treatment

Expressive arts interventions play an integral role in how the mind and body heal from posttraumatic stress. This course examines treatments such as play, art, music, equine, drama therapy, yoga, and sandtray which can be used as stand-alone models or an enhancements to more traditional, evidence-based therapy methods. Cross-listed with CES 655. Prerequisites: COUN 521, COUN 526, and COUN 538.

COUN 563

Theories of Attachment & Affect Regulation

Examines principles of affect regulation – how humans regulate their emotions, by drawing on theories of attachment and interpersonal neurobiology. Characteristics of attachment security are explored, including how complex trauma and disrupted attachment may lead to difficulty in personality organization, compulsive behaviors, and relationship issues. Experientially-based therapeutic interventions are identified. Cross-listed with CES 751.

COUN 593 A&B

Internship in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

Be assigned to work at a professional setting in which marital, couple & family counseling is the modality of treatment, closely supervised on site by a trained marriage, couple & family professional. Culminating experience to apply the knowledge and experience gained during counselor training program as a member of a professional team. In addition to supervision on site, participate in a weekly internship seminar led by a professor on the counseling faculty. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. Pass/No Pass.

Other Concentrations

Admissions Requirements

2020-21 Semester Check-In Deadlines:

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 14	Monday, August 24
Session M	Friday, September 11	Monday, September 21
Session B	Friday, October 16	Monday, October 26
Session C	Tuesday, January 5	Monday, January 11
Session T	Friday, January 29	Monday, February 8
Session D	Friday, March 5	Monday, March 15
Session E	Friday, April 30	Monday, May 10
Session F	Friday, June 11	Monday, June 21

CGS allows students who have earned or who are in the process of earning a 60 credit master’s level degree in counseling to complete additional coursework to pursue career opportunities, state licensure or specialty certification. Courses taken at Regent University while completing an M.A. in Counseling can be counted toward the CGS, but students are not eligible for federal financial aid for course work beyond the 60 credit hours required for the degree.

A student who is not currently enrolled in the School of Psychology & Counseling (SPC) who wishes to complete the CGS must apply as a nondegree student. All courses must be taken at Regent. Courses cannot be transferred in to the CGS programs. All requirements for the CGS must be completed within five years. Students who earn an M.A. in Counseling through the SPC cannot earn a CGS in the same subject as their major.

Application Process:

Complete Your Online Application
Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.
Pay Your $50 Application Fee
Pay the nonrefundable $50 application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.
Provide Your Unofficial College Transcripts
We require an official transcript indicating successful completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Regent has partnered with DocuSign to offer a secure, electronic way for your previous college transcripts to be delivered on your behalf once you have registered for your first semester.
If you have an unofficial copy of your college transcripts, please email those to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SPC Certificate Application Pieces.

If you are an international student, or you earned college credit at non-US institutions, please submit your transcripts for a third-party course-by-course evaluation. Learn more and find recommended agencies.
Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire
Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests, and provide thoughtful and thorough responses. This will give us a better opportunity to get to know you and see how your objectives align with our programs. Once completed, the questionnaire will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you to help complete the rest of your application. Access the Admissions Questionnaire.

Note: Current Regent M.A. students applying for admission to a CGS program must have completed at least one semester of the M.A. program before applying.

A maximum of 12 Regent credits may be allowed toward a degree if a nondegree student later applies for regular degree-seeking status. The applicant must submit the additional material required for degree status. The admissions committee will consider the application in the same way it would a new applicant.

Tuition & Fees

2021-22 Tuition Rates

Certificate of Graduate Studies	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Total Credits	Tuition Cost for Certificate
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	$710	9	$6,390
Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling	$710	12	$8,520
School Counseling	$710	12	$8,520
Trauma Counseling	$710	12	$8,520

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$800
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$650

2020-21 Tuition Rates

Certificate of Graduate Studies	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Total Credits	Tuition Cost for Certificate
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	$710	9	$6,390
Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling	$710	12	$8,520
School Counseling	$710	12	$8,520
Trauma Counseling	$710	12	$8,520

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$750
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$600

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

CGS Requirements

Complete 12 credit hours.

Certificate must be completed within 5 years.

Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

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“I would recommend Regent's counseling programs to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of others and of themselves.”

Karen Palmer, M.A., 2011 Human Services

“Regent was a pivotal point in my professional career. I have been forever changed by my experience!”

Richard Mason, Ph.D. , 2007 Counselor Education & Supervision

“Regent opened up so many opportunities for further training and further education.”

Melanie Mosbarger, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2016

“I realized this is a place where I could grow and really be empowered in my future.”

Bethany Eisenhart, Psy.D., 2018 Clinical Psychology

“At Regent, I loved the integration of Christian values that were wrapped tightly in a strong academic degree. I felt completely academically prepared to go out and help people, but I also had that very foundational core belief system that was strengthened unbelievably.”

Jada Jackson, B.A. in Communication 2009; MA in Human Services Counseling 2010 President & TV Host, Total Life Counseling; Advisor, Listeners On Call; Author; Licensed Mental Health Counselor