& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

238 Graduate Certificate Programs
Graduate Certificate in
Marriage and Family Therapy
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are mental health
professionals trained 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 childparent
problems. Marriage and family therapists take a holistic
perspective to health care; they are concerned with the overall long-term
well-being of individuals and their families. 1.
Saint Mary’s University offers two marriage and family therapy programs:
the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, and the Graduate
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Students in both programs
take certain marriage and family therapy courses together. The Graduate
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy program is for professionals
working in the human services. Courses are designed to enhance the
professional’s understanding of and use of systemic and relational
interventions with individuals, couples, and families. This program is
offered to professionals with master’s degrees in mental health related
programs who desire further academic specialization from a systemic
perspective. The curriculum meets the educational requirements for
licensure with the Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Professional Accreditation
1. From FAQs on MFTs, www.aamft.org, June 2006
The Marriage and Family Therapy Post Degree Program at Saint Mary’s
University of Minnesota is accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of
the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT),
112 S. Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 838-9808.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
program are expected to be able to do the following:
1. Create and sustain professional relationships and communication
with diverse clients, peers, and organizations.
2. Integrate and apply basic knowledge of marriage and family theory to
clinical practice.
3. Integrate and apply knowledge of marriage and family therapy
models to clinical practice.
4. Develop a systemic perspective to diagnose and treat mental health
issues of individuals, couples, and families.
5. Evaluate professional practice issues and act in an ethical manner
based on the marriage and family therapy codes of ethics, legal
requirements, sound judgment and professional compassion.
6. Analyze and apply to practice the fundamentals of research in couple
and family therapy.
7. Demonstrate and apply written, verbal and nonverbal communication
skills with clients and professionals.
8. Create and implement effective interventions that promote, restore,
sustain, or enhance positive functioning and a sense of well being in
clients through preventative, developmental, systemic and/or
remedial services.
9. Advocate with professional, work, and political communities and
systems for respectful human relationships and policies directed
toward the common good.
10. Articulate plans for future professional development.
Degree Requirements
Marriage and Family Studies...............................................................9 cr.
Marriage and Family Therapy..............................................................7 cr.
Professional Issues .............................................................................4 cr.
Treatment Planning .............................................................................3 cr.
Practicum ............................................................................................4 cr.
Total..................................................................................................27 cr.
Marriage and Family Studies: 9 cr.
MFT613 Couples and Families in Society...........................................3 cr.
MFT615 Multicultural Studies of Family .................................................3 cr.
MFT616 Couple Relationships............................................................3 cr.
Marriage and Family Therapy: 7 cr.
MFT622 Advanced Family Therapy.....................................................3 cr.
MFT650 Assessment of Couples and Families...................................3 cr.
MFT660 Special Topics .......................................................................1 cr.
The following titles are representative of one credit special topics courses
available. See the semester course schedule for current offerings.
MFT660B Family Therapy with Violence and
Abuse Issues ..................................................................................1 cr.
MFT660D Addictions and Family Therapy ..........................................1 cr.
MFT660E Spirituality and Family Therapy...........................................1 cr.
MFT660F Assessment and Diagnosis of
Children and Adolescents in Family Therapy..................................1 cr.
MFT660G Marriage and Family Therapy with
Immigrant Families..........................................................................1 cr.
MFT660H In-Home Family Therapy ....................................................1 cr.
MFT660J Art Therapy with Families ....................................................1 cr.