2009-10 Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling
Reich College of Education

Leroy G. Baruth, Chair and Professor
BaruthLG@appstate.edu

Jon L. Winek, Program Director and Professor
WinekJL@appstate.edu

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http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/hpc/

The Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling is responsible for organizing and providing instructional programs in counseling and other human development functions for public schools, colleges/universities, and various agencies.

The Department offers the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (Major Code: 468A/51.1505).

In addition, the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling offers the Master of Arts in College Student Development, the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling, and Graduate Certificates in Addiction Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy. These programs are detailed under separate headings in this bulletin. A student proposing to major in any of the degree programs or to seek licensure through the department must be fully admitted as degree seeking.

The department also provides group methods, human relations, and other human development courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels for the Reich College of Education and the University. These courses are valuable for majors in other departments. A course in life and career planning and courses in leadership development are offered for undergraduate students. The department offers a variety of summer institutes to enhance the learning of both graduate students and practitioners seeking continuing education opportunities in human service fields.

All courses are taught from a multicultural perspective, which emphasizes the differing experiences, cultures, histories, and perspectives of people from a variety of ethnic, gender, racial, and social class backgrounds.

The Marriage & Family Therapy program is designed to prepare counselors to work specifically with families in a wide variety of work settings. The program meets the educational requirements for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and North Carolina licensure.

Students who meet the general graduate school requirements are considered for admission into the Marriage and Family Therapy Program by the Admissions Committee. The committee is comprised of the MFT faculty. In reaching admissions decisions, the committee considers GPA, GPA in major, GPA in related courses, GRE scores, response to the departmental questionnaire, letters of reference and performance in an interview conducted by faculty and current students. There are circumstances in which exceptions may be made.

Accreditation: The Marriage and Family Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 1133 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005-2710, (202) 452-0109.

Master Of Arts Program Requirements/Options: The basic requirements for the program are listed below. In addition to the curriculum listed under each program, the following items apply:

  • A first master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy requires completion of a minimum of 48 semester hours of approved courses. The thesis option for Marriage and Family Therapy requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of approved course work plus thesis hours (4 s.h.) = 52 total hours.
  • A second master’s degree requires meeting all program course requirements with a minimum of 36 semester hours.
  • Students in CACREP approved programs in the department must meet for a minimum of 10 clock hours in a planned group activity intended to provide direct experiences as a participant in a small group. This requirement is met during HPC 5790 and/or HPC 6720.
  • On an individual basis, students may be required to receive professional counseling to aid them in their personal growth.
  • The Handbook of Policies and Procedures available in the HPC office provides information on liability insurance, academic appeals, retention policy, personal endorsement policy, admissions policies, and placement services.
  • Permission forms to take practica and internships are available in the HPC office and must be completed prior to registration.
  • Applicants for Marriage and Family Therapy are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and have an interview.

Academic Common Market: The Marriage and Family Therapy MA program qualifies for Academic Common Market status, and students from the southeastern states outside of North Carolina may qualify for a reduction to in-state tuition. Currently, the Marriage and Family Therapy program is open in the following states: Georgia and Kentucky. Students should contact their home state’s ACM coordinator to request consideration. The complete list of coordinators is available on the Southern Regional Education Board website: http://www.sreb.org.

 

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY (Major Code: 468A/51.1505)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the graduate school; official GRE general exam scores; a completed Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling questionnaire; an interview.

Minimum Criteria for Unconditional Admission: GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and official GRE scores from ETS. OR
Cumulative GPA or last 60 hours GPA below 3.0 but above 2.70, and official GRE Verbal plus Quantitative (or Analytical if available) score of 800. The GRE Writing test will be considered, but no minimum score has been established.

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (468A)

Required Courses

Theoretical Foundations of Marital and Family Therapy:

  • HPC 5270: Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy I (3)

Assessment and Treatment in Marital and Family Therapy:

  • HPC 5271: Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy II (3)
  • HPC 6270: Marriage and Family Counseling: Clinical Issues (3)
  • HPC 6271: Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy III (3)
  • HPC 6280: Assessment and Diagnosis in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)
  • Choose one of the following 8 courses:   
    • HPC 5273: Mediation & Divorce Therapy (3)
    • HPC 5274: Substance Abuse in Family Systems (3)
    • HPC 5275: Systemic Family Therapy Institute (3)
    • HPC 6162: Systemic Gestalt Therapy (3)
    • HPC 6272: Marital and Couples Therapy (3)
    • HPC 6340: Ecotherapy (3)
    • HPC 6350: Body/Mind (3)
    • HPC 6730: Sexual Abuse Counseling (3)

Human Development and Family Studies:

  • HPC 5272: Individual and Family Development (3)
    HPC 6710: Human Sexuality  (3)
    Choose one of the following 9 courses:
    • FCS 5100: Application and Theories of Child Development (3)
    • HPC 5110: Multicultural Counseling (3)
    • HPC 5130: Women’s Issues in Counseling (3)
    • HPC 5210: Life and Career Planning (3)
    • HPC 5680: Counseling the Aging (3)
    • HPC 6290: Child and Adolescent Therapy (3)
    • SOC 5400: Sociology of Adult Development and Aging (3)
    • SOC 5560: Race and Minority Relations (3)
    • SOC 5800: Sociology of the Family (3)

Ethics and Professional Studies:

  • HPC 5753: Legal and Ethical Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy (3)

Research:

  • RES 5000: Research Methods (3)

Supervised Clinical Practice:

  • HPC 6900: Internship in Marriage and Family Therapy (3+3+6=12) (Instructors for HPC 6900 are AAMFT approved Supervisors or approved Supervisors in Training. The three internship semesters will cover the whole calendar year, including summer.)

45

Electives
  • Choose one of the following courses, or another course may be selected upon approval by the student’s advisor:
    • HPC 5210: Life and Career Planning (3)
    • HPC 5220: Counseling Theory and Techniques (3)
    • HPC 5850: Theory and Practice of Reality Therapy (3)
    • HPC 6160: Gestalt Therapy (3)
    • HPC 6570: The Appalachian Addictions Institute (3)
    • HPC 6720: Group Counseling/Therapy (3)
    • HPC 6730: Sexual Abuse Counseling (3)
    • PSY 5552: Diagnosis and Psychopathology (3)

3

Thesis Option (CHOOSE ONE)

With Thesis

  • HPC 5999: Thesis (4)

OR
Without Thesis

  • No additional coursework is required

0 or 4

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (468A)

52
(thesis)
OR
48

Other Requirements for the MA in Marriage and Family Therapy:

  • Thesis: Optional
  • Proficiency: None required
  • Comprehensive: Required - Students should take the required courses (excluding the Internship) prior to taking the comprehensive exam
  • Product of Learning: None required

Note on Prerequisites: Students should pay particular attention to the prerequisites listed in each course description; the curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that students have the necessary prerequisite knowledge before enrolling in courses

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