The CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counseling - Couples, Marriage and Family Concentration provides a broad foundation in mental health counseling with special attention to working with families encountering multiple and diverse challenges. Particular consideration is given to frameworks of family counseling that are comparative, multidimensional, and culturally inclusive. The course sequence is designed to satisfy the academic requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Virginia as well as a Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor. Completion of the Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling Concentration requires a total of 63 semester hours of classroom and clinical course work that can be completed in two academic years. Clinical experiences are an integral part of students preparation, and practice in a clinical setting is integrated throughout the program. In the first year, students have their first client contact through a closely supervised 150-hour practicum. In the second year, two 300-hour internships provide for intensive counseling experience with couples and families. Student interns provide counseling services to community members through the on-campus New Horizons Family Counseling Center. The center has offered free counseling services for more than three decades and serves approximately 300 families per year. Through the center, counseling students have invaluable opportunities for leadership, clinical training and research experiences all while providing an extraordinary service to the community.