This course explores the reciprocal links between family functioning and public and private policies at the local, state, and federal levels.  Students examine the history of marriage and families, including the changing forms and demographics of modern couples and families in Western societies, especially the United States.  They look at ways that families contribute to social problems, how they are affected by these problems, and consider the role of families in current research is presented on both their intended and unintended consequences since implementation.  The course includes theoretical frameworks for conceptualizing family policy, roles professionals can play in building family policy, and approaches can use in implementing these roles.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Analyze the relationship between historical family norm sand present-day trends in defining couple and family systems.
2. Evaluate the impact of family policy issues on the health and well-being of diverse individuals, couples, and families - using theory to connect research and policy making.
3. Evaluate the impact of family policy issues on the work of marriage and family therapists.
4. Identify and appraise the values and belief systems underlying family policy.
5. Apply analysis to identify ways in which family therapists can become involved in policymaking including both educational and advocacy approaches.
6. Understand and describe the political, financial, regulatory, historical and organizational pressures that affect current reform efforts and influence future directions in mental health service systems.
7. Analyze alternative policies and strategies to change mental health service systems and create articulate arguments for policymakers, professionals, and the public.

This course focuses on the study of culturally diverse couples and families with special emphasis on understanding the significance of cultural contexts in working with people of different cultures. Issues of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, and other isms are explored. Dynamics of power and privilege are explored. Strategies to prevent ones  biases from interfering with therapeutic relationships with  populations different from themselves are developed. Included is an exploration of various types of couples and families.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Define family ethnicity and articulate its connection to related concepts such as culture, class, gender, and racism.
2. Apply examples of diversity in families within ethnic groups to the practice of Marriagte and Family Therapy, evaluating how such diversity might lead to differential outcomes.
3. Analyze and evaluate the dynamics and effectos of racism, privilege, discrimination, and ignorance in our understanding of multiculturalism.
4. Creative effective approaches for working with ethnic families in marriage and family therapy settings.
5. Identify and describe a variety of alternative patterns to the traditional nuclear family.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the ways gender roles and functions relate to various styles of family organization.
7. Identify values and beliefs systems related to various family forms, and demonstrate the ability to respectfully and professionally plan for how to serve family units that exceed personal experience or conflict with various of beliefs.

This course introduces historical, contextual, and clinical applications to relationships including couples and couple systems. Relationships between spouses/partners are explored and analyzed in order to create an understanding of the dynamics that enhance relationships from a therapeutic context. Issues regarding communication, conflict resolution, and interactions are included.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Analyze and evaluate couple dynamics from a systemic perspective.
2. Evaluate strengths and problem areas of relationships between partners/spouses.
3. Apply systems theory to working with couples.
4. Apply knowledge of the impact of the following on couple dynamics and couples therapy: gender, life/relationships stage, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, money, sexuality, psychiatric disorders.
5. Apply understanding of the role of the brain's neural operation system and its importance in relationship dynamics and treating troubled relationships.

This course provides an opportunity for students to apply and develop skills conducting therapy with couples and families.  Students increase awareness and apply understanding of the influence of race, culture and gender in couple and family therapy. Experiential and didactic approaches are used.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate ability to conceptualize using major theories and treatment models in couple and family therapy.
2. Evaluate and apply appropriate techniques specific to family therapy situations.
3. Evaluate and apply ethical and legal principles to case presentations and simulations.
4. Apply understanding of race, culture, and gender influence couple and family therapy.
5. Create, articulate and apply one's own treatment model.

This course examines the strengths and limitations of different assessment strategies with couples and families, including assessment based on observation, therapist/rater, family report, and interactional methods. It includes an overview of various measures and instruments used, including parent-child, family, and couple inventories.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Understand the connection between ways of observing and assessing couples and families, and the underlying values and theoretical assumptions of the assessment instruments.
2. Evaluate family assessment tools appropriate for families.
3. Understand the legal, ethical, and clinical issues in couple and family assessment.
4. Administer various instruments and feedback to participants based on results.
5. Analyze the role that gender, ethnicity, race, SES, and sexual orientation play in the assessment of couples and families.
6. Create interview questions based out of the MFT models to use in assessments.

These courses examine issues in therapy with families presenting with special members and/or special problems. These courses rotate each semester.

This course provides an orientation to the profession of marriage and family therapy.  The history of the profession is covered as well as the roles and settings of marriage and family therapists.  Additionally, the developmental process involved with acquiring an identify as a marriage and family therapist is addressed.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Identify and evaluate the function and role of marriage and family therapists from a historical perspective.
2. Describe a process, including the stages, by which marriage and family therapists develop professional identity, then apply this understanding to analyze and assess their own current level of development.
3. Apply knowledge of the field to creating personal business and professional development plans.

This course examines professional, legal, and ethical issues in the practice of couples and family therapy. The code of ethics of the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy and AAMFT, selected Minnesota laws pertaining to children and families, and ethical and professional problems of confidentiality, dual relationship, and other potential problematic areas are studied.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Apply their knowledge of the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy ethical rules.
2. Apply the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family ethical rules to case situations.
3. Apply methods of ethical analysis and decision making to resolve ethical dilemmas.
4. Understand and evaluate distinctions between ethical and legal responsibilities in providing professional services
5. Understand the special issues, which arise from the interface of MFT practice with medical, legal, business, religious, and educational institutions.
6. Practice the concept of professionalism in marriage and family therapy and be able to describe the activities and responsibilities necessary for professional practice.
7. Apply knowledge of the AAMFT Code of Ethics.

This course examines the assessment and diagnostic process for working with children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting utilizing a developmental-systems approach and the criteria from the DSM IV. This course focuses on assessment and diagnostic methods and tools and the development of appropriate treatment plans for clients based on diagnostic and problem formulation.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Apply an understanding and of the Developmental Systems Approach to issues of working with children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting.
2. Apply the primary diagnostic criteria and categories relevant to children and adolescents as identified in the DSM IV.
3. Evaluate information from various assessment tools and methods to make accurate diagnosis of children and adolescents based on presenting problems and associated clinical, family and historical information.
4. Create applicable, appropriate treatment plans based on DSM IV diagnoses and problem formulation for children and adolescents and their families.

This course is for students to complete the 300 hours of clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) practicum required for licensure by the Minnesota Board of MFT.  The practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy is for students enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy or in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program.  Students work under the on-campus supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor for a minimum of 30 hours per semester, as well as the off-campus supervision of a licensed mental health professional with documented clinical experience with families.  All practicum hours must be completed at an approved practicum site.  The on-campus practicum seminar provides an environment for observation of taped clinical work, discussion of case material, and discussion of problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting, under the supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor.  Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experiences are also explored.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Apply the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy guidelines.
2. Analyze and evaluate client systems and create appropriate interventions, applying methods of family treatment in clinical practice.
3. Evaluate special issues which arise in the practice of therapy and the interface with clients and other professionals.

This course is for students to complete the 300 hours of clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) practicum required for licensure by the Minnesota Board of MFT. The practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy is for students enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy or in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Students work under the on-campus supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor for a minimum of 30 hours per semester, as well as the off-campus supervision of a licensed mental health professional with documented clinical experience with families. All practicum hours must be completed at an approved practicum site. The on-campus practicum seminar provides an environment for observation of taped clinical work, discussion of case material, and discussion of problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting, under the supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experiences are also explored.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Apply the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy guidelines.
2. Analyze and evaluate client systems and create appropriate interventions, applying methods of family treatment in clinical practice.
3. Evaluate special issues which arise in the practice of therapy and the interface with clients and other professionals.
    

This course is for students to complete the 300 hours of clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) practicum required for licensure by the Minnesota Board of MFT. The practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy is for students enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy or in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Students work under the on-campus supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor for a minimum of 30 hours per semester, as well as the off-campus supervision of a licensed mental health professional with documented clinical experience with families. All practicum hours must be completed at an approved practicum site. The on-campus practicum seminar provides an environment for observation of taped clinical work, discussion of case material, and discussion of problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting, under the supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experiences are also explored.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

Apply the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy guidelines.
Analyze and evaluate client systems and create appropriate interventions, applying methods of family treatment in clinical practice.
Evaluate special issues which arise in the practice of therapy and the interface with clients and other professionals.
 

This course is for students to complete the 300 hours of clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) practicum required for licensure by the Minnesota Board of MFT. The practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy is for students enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy or in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Students work under the on-campus supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor for a minimum of 30 hours per semester, as well as the off-campus supervision of a licensed mental health professional with documented clinical experience with families. All practicum hours must be completed at an approved practicum site. The on-campus practicum seminar provides an environment for observation of taped clinical work, discussion of case material, and discussion of problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting, under the supervision of a Minnesota Board of MFT Approved Supervisor. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experiences are also explored.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Apply the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy guidelines.
2. Analyze and evaluate client systems and create appropriate interventions, applying methods of family treatment in clinical practice.
3. Evaluate special issues which arise in the practice of therapy and the interface with clients and other professionals.