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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire an online doctorate in family counseling, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best online doctorate in family counseling programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. Amridge University, Montgomery, AL

Ambridge has an online doctorate in family counseling that trains learners to carry out original research while applying knowledge of counseling methods. The coursework covers areas such as theories of human development, problems with abuse and addiction, cultural diversity, and research methods. The 60-credit degree program can be finished on a part-time basis or in four years of full-time study. Along with teaching basic family therapy methods for utilizing in a clinical setting, the degree program trains learners to identify symptoms of mental health disorders and determine appropriate treatment plans.

Classes are carried out in a blended format, allowing learners to finish some of their work online while still having the benefit of a traditional classroom setting. Program outcomes are assessed via holistic exams and the completion of a dissertation. The PhD degree program is not meant to prepare learners for professional licensure. Learners must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

2. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Liberty’s family counseling degree program trains learners in best practices for assessing marital and family issues. The 57-credit doctoral degree program is entirely online, with free intensive classes at the school’s Lynchburg, Virginia campus. The degree prepares learners for careers as church counselors, marriage and family counselors, and outpatient care therapists. Learners should be advised that a Christian worldview has a substantial impact on Liberty’s instruction.

The degree program consists of 27 credit hours of foundational classes in theory and research, 15 credit hours of classes in marriage and family counseling, plus an internship and dissertation totaling 15 credit hours. All learners must have earned a sanctioned master’s degree in a relevant field (such as counseling, psychology, or human services) with at least a 3.0 GPA. The school enables 15 credits to be transferred into the degree program.

3. University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA

Students who are interested in theory over practice should investigate ULM’s marriage and family counseling degree program. Awarding a PhD with a concentration in systemic studies, the degree program teaches learners to assess the underlying ideas of systemic family therapy. Coursework in the degree program looks at issues from several disciplinary perspectives, including family systems, ethnography, and social ecology. Because of the theoretical nature of these subjects, the degree program is scholarly and nonclinical, and learners should not expect to earn a marriage and family therapist license upon graduation.

The degree program requires the completion of 60 credit hours. Full-time learners finish the classwork portion of the degree program in two years, and the dissertation takes an additional one to three years. The degree program uses synchronous, seminar-style learning, and each member of the cohort is expected to be an active participant in discussions. Learners never have to visit campus except to defend their dissertations.