Course Descriptions
Marriage and Family Studies
MFT610
Families and Couples in Society (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: Completion of core courses of acceptance into Graduate Certificate program
This course examines the structure and function of families and relationships in today's culture. Major theories of family development, functioning, and the role of the family in society are studied. Systems theory and models of marriage and family therapy are reviewed.
MFT615
Multicultural Studies of the Family (3 cr.)
Pre- or co-requisite: MFT610
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. Students are expected to recognize and develop strategies to prevent their biases from interfering with the therapeutic relationships with populations differing from themselves. Included is an examination of various types of couples and families.
MFT616
Study of Couple and Family Relationships (3 cr.)
Pre- or co-requisite: MFT610
This course introduces historical, contextual, and applications of relationships to couples, families, and systems. Relatioships between parent and child and couples 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.
Marriage and Family Therapy
MFT622
Advanced Family Therapy (3 cr.)
Prerequisites: MFT610 and PY641 (or other approved graduate level courses to fulfill prerequisite)
This experiential course provides an opportuity for students to develop expertise in conducting therapy with couples and families. Students will examine how the therapist's family-of-origin influences approaches to family therapy.
MFT650
Assessment of Couples and Families (3 cr.)
Pre- or co-requisite: MFT 610
This course examines the strengths and limitations of different assessment strategies with couples and families. It includes assessment based on observation, therapist/rater, family report, and interactional methods. Includes an overview of various measures and instruments used including parent-child, family, and couple inventories.
MFT660
Special Topics (1 cr.)
Pre- or co-requisite: MFT610
This course examines issues in therapy with families presenting with special members and/or special problems. The course rotates topics to include: challenged children, the terminally ill, the physically disabled, and others.
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
This course is an introduction to Play Therapy theories and techniques, their historical and cultural contexts and their application to the marriage and family therapy process.
MFT660B
Family Therapy with Violence and Abuse Issues
This experiential course examines the occurrence and causes of violence and physical and sexual abuse in family relationships. Emphasis is on the therapeutic and corrective strategies for treating victims and perpetrators of violence and abuse in intimate relationships.
MFT660C
The Challenge of Parenthood
This course investigates the characteristics and skills needed for successful parenting; impediments to competent parenting; and strategies and techniques which Marriage and Family Therapists can use to help parents in their attempts to raise competent and responsible children.
MFT660D
Addictions and Family Therapy
This course introduces and explores systemic issues related to counseling the child of addiction. It seeks to offer a preliminary overview of some of the current effects experienced by many adults who have been raised in such a setting. It also considers system strategies for fostering a path of recovery for those who find themselves suffering the lingering effects of an addiction-based childhood.
MFT660E
Spirituality and Family Therapy
This course provides instruction in the use of Spiritual Resources in the theory and practice of family therapy.
MFT660F
Assessment and Diagnosis of Children and Adolescents in Family Therapy
This course examines the diagnostic criteria and categories for children and adolescents. It also explores and examines diagnostic methods, tools, and approaches applicable to this age and population.
MFT660G
Marriage and Family Therapy with Immigrant Families
This course examines the unique stressors and relationship issues experienced by immigrant individuals and families. Historical and cultural contexts, highlighting the need to understand pre-immigration as well as post-immigration factors in assessing and treating immigrants are emphasized.
MFT660H
In-Home Family Therapy
A comprehensive overview of in-home family therapy. Through lecture, case presentations, role plays and experiential learning students will be introduced to theory, techniques and practice of culturally competent in-home family therapy.
MFT660I
Advanced Play Therapy
This course provides advanced instruction in the theory and practice of play therapy, the psychotherapeutic modality of choice for many children.
MFT660J
Art Therapy with Families
This course is designed to introduce students to the principals and practices of art therapy as it may be used in a marriage and family therapy perspective with individuals, couples and families. Students are introduced to various theoretical approaches and hands-on techniques. The emphasis in this course is placed on experiential techniques and processes of art therapy.
MFT660K
Crossing Over: Building Professional Relationships Between Law Enforcement and Marriage and Family Therapists
This course examines the common goals/process as well as differentiated goals/process in marriage/family therapy and law enforcement. It is designed to facilitate greater understanding of the alternate discipline and to develop a basis for teamwork between law enforcement officers/departments and marriage and family therapists. This team work will help both communities work toward the good of the greater community.
MFT660L
Introduction to Grief and Loss Issues in Family Therapy
This course provides an introduction to understanding the complexities of grief and loss as clinical issues in family therapy. It examines what we know about grief and loss as well as exploring the beliefs and myths we hold around the topic of loss and change. It is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of a grief, unresolved mourning, the impact of loss and unexpressed grief and the implications for the therapeutic process.
MFT660M
Family Therapy with Families with Disabilities
This course presents an overview of disabilities, defines how a disability can impact the overall family system, typical family functioning, and the family life cycle. Students will be introduced to how the family and professional partnership can become more effective, strength-focused, and empowering to the families, and be able to identify some services that are available to assist these families.
MFT660N
Medical Family Therapy
This course introduces the student to the interface between family therapy and the health care delivery system. A wide variety of settings in which family therapists and health care providers interact are explored. The benefits and challenges of such collaborations are discussed in terms of patient care. Specific tools for successful collaboration are presented.
MFT660O
Narrative Therapy
This course provides an introduction to the clinical application of the growing body of ideas that have come to be known as narrative therapy. An overview of the narrative/social constructionist perspective sets the ground for the specific narrative therapy clinical practices. Therapy videotapes of the work of David Epston, Michael White and the instructor illustrate the practices.
MFT660P
Use of Self in Marriage and Family Therapy
This course explores how and where the interface of the self of the therapist impacts therapeutic work with individuals, couples and families. The personal and professional development of the therapist is the focus. Issues that are addressed include self awareness, self-care, transference/counter transference, and integration of self into the theory and practice of marriage and family therapy.
MFT660Q
Assessing and Treating Substance Abuse/Dependency rom a Systemic Perspective
Families often identify one member only who requires assessment, treatment and therapy for substance abuse/dependency. This course will address the recovery process as a family system collaborative.
MFT660R
Couple and Family Therapy with gay and Lesbian Families
This course provides an opportunity to develop expertise in conducting couple and family therapy with Gay, Bi-sexual, Lesbian, and Transgender couples and families. It examines how couple and family therapy can address issues of sexual orientation and gender preference and the special needs of these populations.
MFT660S
Family Therapy with African American Families
This course focuses on the current issues, values, and family dynamics in African American families. redefining the genesis of the African America family as well as providing a context in which African Americans thrive today is addressed.
MFT660T
Working with Returning Military Personnel and Their Families from a Systemic Perspective
This course examines the therapeutic issues and skills that are needed to work with returning military personnel from the Middle East. The unique aspects of the reentry process for military personnel and their families are addressed. Emphasis is placed on the relationship issues that soldiers and their families face when re-integrating into their communities. Best educational and therapeutic practice models and current literature and research are reviewed and discussed.
Professional Issues
MFT600 Marriage and Family Therapy Orientation (0 cr.)
This course is required for all first semester Marriage and Family Therapy students. This non-credit course provides an overview of the MFT program and to the profession of marriage and family therapy. Program requirements, state licensure requirements, practicum procedures, integration paper, oral examination expectations as well as developing a professional identity, affiliating with professional associations and career development are covered.
MFT690
Ethical and Professional Issues in Marital and Family Therapy (3 cr.)
Prerequisites: MFT610 and 6 additional MFT credits completed
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, selected Minnesota laws pertaining to children and families, and ethical and professional problems of confidentiality, dual relationship, and other potentially problematic areas are studied.
Practicum
MFT 670/671/672/673
Practicum in Marital and Family Therapy (2 cr.)
Prerequisites: All program course requirements except MFT 632 and MFT 635. MFT 632 is a prerequisite for MFT 635. Both courses may be taken, sequentially, during practicum.
The Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy provides students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy the opportunity to complete the licensing board requirement for a practicum experience. The Board of Marriage and Family Therapy require students to complete 300 direct service hours (client contact hours). A practicum supervision seminar must be taken concurrently as a part of the practicum requirements. The supervision seminar provides an environment for presentation of case material, as well as a venue for discussing problems and concerns that arise in the practicum setting. Personal and professional issues relevant to the practicum experience are examined.
