Program Overview

With the increasing recognition that relational and systemic interventions are effective in addressing a wide variety of individual, couple and family problems; the need for licensed marriage and family therapists continues to expand. If you'd like to help families and individuals overcome some hurdles in their lives, consider pursuing a career in Marriage & Family Therapy.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trainied in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems. Marriage and Family Therapists treat a wide range of serious clinical problems including: depression, marital problems, anxiety, individual psychological problems and child- parent problems. MFTs take a holistic perspective to health care; they are concerned with the overall long-term well-being of individuals and their families. 1

The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary’s University is designed based on state licensing laws enacted by the Minnesota State Legislature. In response to these requirements, Saint Mary’s prepares master’s-level students for licensure as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).  In addition to the Master of Arts in MFT, Saint Mary's University offers a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy.  This certificate program is for students who already have earned a Masters degree in a related field, and who wish to obtain specialized advanced training in MFT which will qualify them for the LMFT license.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program are expected to be able to:

1. Continue learning throughout their lives.     
2. Use appropriate written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills with therapy clients and professionals.
3. Apply ethics to marriage and family therapy incorporating the rules and regulations of the profession, critical thinking, and compassion.
4. Conduct marriage and family therapy with clients of diverse backgrounds based upon an awareness and appreciation of diversity.
5. Apply knowledge of Systems Theory to practice.
6.  Apply knowledge of marriage and family therapy models to practice.
7. Provide reasoning in support of diagnosis and treatment interventions.

Degree Requirements

Core Courses                                                                      19 cr.
Marriage and Family Therapy Program Orientation       0 cr.
Marriage and Family Therapy Studies                              9 cr.
Marriage and Family Therapy                                           11 cr.
Research                                                                                3 cr.
Professional Issues                                                             3 cr.
Practicum                                                                            4-8 cr.
Integration Paper and Oral Examination                          0 cr.   
Electives                                                                                 3 cr.
Total                                                                                      52 cr.

Core Courses: 19 cr.
PY575    Orientation to the Profession of Counseling      1 cr.
PY605    Developmental Psychology                                   3 cr.
PY607    Theories of Personality                                          3 cr.
PY608    Psychopathology                                                     3 cr.
PY613    Counseling Theory and Technique                     3 cr.
PY620    Statistical Techniques and Research
                Methods                                                                     3 cr.
PY641    Marriage and Family Counseling                         3 cr.

Marriage and Family Studies:  9 cr.
MFT610     Families and Couples in Society                      3 cr.
MFT615     Multicultural Studies of Family                           3 cr.
MFT616     Couples and Family Relationships                  3 cr.

Marriage and Family Therapy:  11 cr.

MFT622     Advanced Family Therapy                                   3 cr.
MFT632     Advanced Couples Therapy                               3 cr.
MFT635     Assessment and Treatment of Sexual
                    Concerns                                                               3 cr.
MFT660     Special Topics (1 cr./2 courses)                        2 cr.

Research:  3 cr.
MFT650     Assessment of Families and Children             3 cr.

Professional Issues:  3 cr.
MFT600    Marriage and Family Therapy Program  Orientation    0 cr.
MFT661    Special Topics: Business of Practice                             1 cr.
MFT690     Ethical and Professional Issues in
                    Marriage and Family Therapy                                          3 cr.

Practicum:                                               4-8 cr.
The student will complete a supervised practicum experience in a counseling or mental health setting under direct supervision. This experience will consist of a minimum of 300 clinical contact hours over two semesters. This experience must include at least 150 hours of direct clinical service with couples and families. A practicum seminar class must be taken concurrently:
MFT670    Practicum I      2 cr.
MFT671    Practicum II     2 cr.
MFT672    Practicum III    2 cr.
MFT673    Practicum IV    2 cr.

Integration Paper and Oral Examination: 0 cr.
MFT791 Integration Paper and Oral Examination    0 cr.

The final requirements of the program include:

A paper in which the student integrates his or her course, practicum, and other professional experiences with a review of current professional research literature.
A final one-hour oral examination based upon the integration paper.

MFT 660 Special Topics: minimum 2 cr.
The following titles are representative of one credit special topics courses available.  See the semester course schedule for current offerings.

MFT660A     Play Therapy with Families   
MFT660B    Family Therapy with Violence and Abuse   
MFT660C    Challenges of Parenthood   
MFT660D    Addictions and Family Therapy   
MFT660E    Spirituality and Family Therapy   
MFT660F    Assessment and Diagnosis of Children and

                      Adolescents in Family Therapy   
MFT660G    Marriage and Family Therapy with Immigrant Families   
MFT660H    In-Home Family Therapy   
MFT660I      Advanced Play Therapy   
MFT660J     Art Therapy with Families   
MFT660K    Crossing Over: Building Professional Relationships

                     Between Law Enforcement and Marriage and Family Therapy   
MFT660L    Grief and Loss in Family Therapy   
MFT660M    Family Therapy with Families with Disabilities    
MFT660N    Medical Family Therapy   
MFT660O    Narrative Therapy

Electives: minimum 3 cr.
Students may take MFT 660 Special  Topics courses to satisfy this requirement.  Other electives listed below.

MFT681    Expressive Arts and Narrative Therapy    2 cr.
PY621       Psychological Assessment                       3 cr.

1. From FAQs on MFTs, www.aamft.org, June 2006