Free Online Marriage and Family Courses from Top Universities

About this article
Utah State University, Johns Hopkins University and Brigham Young University are just some of the universities that offer free online marriage and family courses covering a broad range of topics including dating advice, genealogical research and parenting techniques. These programs are available as audio and video lectures, in addition to outlines, text-based courses and take-home exams.
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Free Marriage and Family Courses

Free marriage and family courses are offered from a few universities with even more options for course topics. Areas covered include marriage, parenting, family planning, children's rights, and intellectual development.

Utah State University

Marriage and family relationships will be discussed via one of the free online courses offered at Utah State University. Topics will cover finances, sexual relationships, and communication. The course in positive parenting consists of audio and video clips on things like principles of behavior, proactive responding, and building self-esteem.

Johns Hopkins University

The family planning course at Johns Hopkins will discuss subjects like fertility, abortion, contraceptive services, health programs, and population policy. Lecture materials include PDF files.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT offers a course on the American family. Required books for the course include The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms with America's Changing Families and The Family Experience: A Reader in Cultural Diversity, 4th Edition. Lecture notes cover topics like the origin of the family, sexuality, parenting, marriage, and family violence. Final exam study questions are offered in PDF format.

Open University

Open University provides courses in sexuality, parenthood, and children's rights. Topics include fertility, social policy, and what role a child plays in modern society.

Tufts University

Tufts University hosts a courses in positive development intellectual development. These courses include take-home exams and required readings from texts like The scientist in the crib and Mind in society, by L. Vygotsky.

Brigham Young University

BYU offers courses on things like family history, family records, military records, and dating. Students can sign up for these classes with their email in order to begin the course.

Free Online Marriage and Family Courses At a Glance

Course & School Program Level Format Assignments Quizzes & Exams Downloadable
Marriage and Family Relationships course from Utah State University Unspecified Text No No Yes
Family Finance course from Utah State University Unspecified Texts/external reading resources Yes No Yes
Power of Positive Parenting course from Utah State University Unspecified Texts/audio and video lectures/external reading resources No No Yes
Family Planning Policies and Programs course from Johns Hopkins University Unspecified Lecture notes/slide presentations/external reading resources Yes No Yes
Adolescent Health and Development course from Johns Hopkins University Unspecified Texts/lecture materials Yes Yes Yes
The Contemporary American Family course from MIT Undergraduate Texts/lecture notes Yes Yes Yes
Working Together for Children: Stirling course from Open University Advanced Text Yes No Yes
Sexuality, Parenthood and Population course from Open University Advanced Text Yes No Yes
Children's Rights course from Open University Intermediate Text Yes No Yes
Promoting Positive Development Among Youth course from Tufts University Unspecified Lecture text/slides/class presentations Yes Yes Yes
Intellectual Development course from Tufts University Unspecified Texts/seminar notes/projects Yes Yes Yes
Introduction to Family History Research course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text Yes No Yes
Helping Children Love Your Family History course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text Yes No Yes
Family Records course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text/video Yes No Yes
Vital Records course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text/video Yes No Yes
Military Records course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text/outline Yes Yes Yes
Building a Functional Family course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text/outline Yes No Yes
Dating: Romance and Reason course from Brigham Young University Unspecified Text/external reading resources Yes No Yes

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Qualitative Research)
      • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Quantitative Research)
    Master's
      • M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Childhood and Adolescence Disorders
      • M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Christian Counseling
      • M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
    Bachelor's
      • B.S. in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Substance Use Disorders
      • Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Forensic Psychology
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
    Certificate
      • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Gainesville, FL

    University of Florida

  • Western Governors University

  • Online Programs Available
    6. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • PHD: Special Student (Non-Degree) - Counseling
      • PHD: Christian Leadership: Faith-Based Consulting
      • DMN: Pastoral Counseling
      • PHD: Christian Leadership: Ministry Leadership
    Master's
      • MA: Human Services Counseling: General
      • MA: Pastoral Counseling: Life Coaching
      • MA: Pastoral Counseling: Community Chaplaincy
      • MA: Pastoral Counseling: Pastoral Counseling
      • MA: Pastoral Counseling: Addictions & Recovery
      • MA: Pastoral Counseling: Crisis Response & Trauma
    Bachelor's
      • BS: Bible: Christian Counseling
      • BS: Biblical Counseling
      • BS: Religion: Christian Counseling
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Mental Health Studies
      • GRAD CERT: Addiction Studies
      • GRAD CERT: Pastoral Counseling
      • CERT: Health Sciences
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Associate of Sciences - Medical Assistant
  • Online Programs Available
    8. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • PhD - Child and Adolescent Therapy
      • PhD - Couple Therapy
      • PhD - General Family Therapy
      • PhD - Medical Family Therapy
      • PhD - Therapy with Military Families
      • DMFT - Couple Therapy
    Master's
      • MAMFT - Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
      • MAMFT - Couple Therapy
      • MAMFT - General Family Therapy
      • MAMFT - LGBTQ Couple and Family Therapy
      • MAMFT - Medical Family Therapy
      • MAMFT - Military Family Therapy
    Certificate
      • EdS - Trauma-Informed Educational Practices

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Grand Canyon University

  • Bridge (Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision - Qualitative Research)
  • M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Childhood and Adolescence Disorders
  • B.S. in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Substance Use Disorders

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • Doctor of Health Sciences
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)

Which subject are you interested in?

Liberty University

  • PHD: Special Student (Non-Degree) - Counseling
  • MA: Human Services Counseling: General
  • BS: Bible: Christian Counseling
  • GRAD CERT: Mental Health Studies

What is your highest level of education?

Keiser University

  • Associate of Sciences - Medical Assistant

What is your highest level of education?

National University

  • PhD - Child and Adolescent Therapy
  • MAMFT - Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
  • EdS - Trauma-Informed Educational Practices

What is your highest level of education?