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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Graduate Bulletin Table of Contents

Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Programs Education Building

Offered through the Department of Educational Leadership and Community Psychology
in the College of Education
A232 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.2160
Fax: 320.308.3216
Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/elcp

Department Chairperson: Dr. Niloufer Merchant
Department Secretary: Ms. Debra Buranen

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour
Graduate Certificate Coordinator: Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour
Graduate Faculty: Connor, Daneshpour, Jorgensen, Mason, M. Mayhew, Merchant, Mills-Novoa, Rudrud, Schulze, Vesely

The Program

The marriage and family therapy profession views and treats individuals seeking psychotherapeutic assistance as existing within a complex set of relationships. The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program provides academic and experiential training needed to prepare students for Marriage and Family Therapy licensure. To be admitted to the Marriage and Family Therapy program the applicant must successfully complete a personal interview process with faculty from the Marriage and Family Therapy training program. Careful attention will be given to previous work experience, academic background, scholarship, interpersonal skills and commitment to the field of marriage and family therapy.

Employers

Graduates find employment as marriage and family therapists and work for a variety of agencies. Crisis clinics, correctional settings, schools, and public and private mental health facilities also employ graduates.

Admission Deadlines Specific to the Program

Fall semester, spring semester and summer sessions: March 1

Admission Requirements Specific to the Program

Applicants who meet the following standards may be admitted to the M.S. program in Marriage and Family Therapy.

  1. Bachelor degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Complete the application materials required by the School of Graduate Studies.
  3. A cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher, on a 4.00 scale, in the most recent degree program completed.
  4. Successfull completion of an interview with the marriage and family therapy faculty.
  5. Complete a personal data form.
  6. Submit three recommendation forms.
  7. A current resume that lists educational background, professional experience and volunteer and community involvements.
  8. A personal statement that addresses the following:
    • A brief description of the applicant's backgrounds, training, and experience.
    • A statement of short- and longer-term professional goals.
    • A statement of purpose regarding the interest in the degree program.
    • Identify areas of strength and challenge in pursuing this program.

Graduate Assistantships

Two graduate assistantships are available for fall and spring semesters.

Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Plan A, 52 credits; Plan B, 52 credits

Research courses
Plan A, 12 credit minimum

  • CPSY 675. Research Methods, 3 credits
  • CEEP 678. Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 credits
  • CPSY 699. Thesis, 6 credits

Plan B, 6 credit minimum

  • CEEP 678. Introduction to Graduate Statistics, 3 credits
  • CSPY 675. Research Methods, 3 credits

Core courses
Plan A or B, 40 credit minimum

  • CPSY 619. Professional Orientation and Ethics, 3 credits
  • CPSY 620. Family Systems, 3 credits
  • CPSY 621. Family Conceptual Framework, 3 credits
  • CPSY 622. Gender Role in Families, 3 credits OR
  • CPSY 623. Family Stress and Coping, 3 credits
  • CPSY 624. Family Assessment, 3 credits
  • CPSY 625. Family and Human Sexuality, 3 credits
  • CSPY 651. Counseling Theories, 3 credits
  • CSPY 658. Multicultural Counseling, 3 credits
  • CPSY 659. Psychodiagnosis, 3 credits
  • CPSY 666. Group Process and Dynamics, 3 credits
  • CPSY 668. Counseling and Procedures, 3 credits
  • CPSY 669. Counseling and Practicum, 4 credits
  • CPSY 671. Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy, 3 credits
  • CPSY 696. Supervised Internship in Counseling, Min. 6 credits (600 hours)
  • CPSY 530. Seminar: Individual and Family Development, 3 credits

NOTE: Other courses may be substituted with consent of the adviser.

Marriage and Family Therapy Internship

The internship involves 300 supervised, clinical contact-hours with individuals, couples, and families - at least 150 hours should be with couples and families in a clinical setting in Central Minnesota or surrounding communities. Acceptance for the internship requires approval of the coordinator of marriage and family therapy program and after all course work is completed.

Post-Degree Requirements — Full Licensure

An additional 1000 post-degree supervised, clinical contact-hours in a clinical setting is required to complete the requirements for Marriage and Family Therapy licensure in the state of Minnesota.

Program Inquires

Dr. Manijeh Danesphour

Coordinator, Marriage and Family Therapy Program
Phone: 320.308.5212
E-mail: mdaneshpour@stcloudstate.edu

Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate Program

This certificate program provides academic and experiential training to prepare persons in the community counseling program or professionals with a master’s degree in a related field to mental health for marriage and family therapy licensure. This is an optional program that builds upon the existing community counseling program.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Certificate

To be admitted to the marriage and family therapy certificate program the applicant must:

  • Have a bachelor degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, human development, or social work from an accredited institution.
  • Have a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher, on a 4.0 scale, the most recent degree program completed
  • Successfully complete a personal interview process with program faculty.
  • Careful attention will be given to previous work experience, academic background, scholarship, interpersonal skills and commitment to the field of marriage and family therapy.

Marital and family studies courses
9 credits

  • CPSY 620. Family Systems, 3 credits
  • CPSY 621. Family Conceptual Framework, 3 credits
  • CPSY 622. Gender Role in Families, 3 credits OR
  • CPSY 623. Family Stress and Coping, 3 credits

Marital and family therapy courses
9 credits

  • CPSY 624. Family Assessment (co-requisite: CPSY 671)
  • CPSY 671. Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy, 3 credits
  • CPSY 658. Multicultural Counseling, 3 credits

Ethics courses
3 credits

  • CPSY 619. Professional Orientations and Ethics, 3 credits

Human development courses
9 credits

  • CPSY 530. Seminar: Individual and Family Development, 3 credits
  • CPSY 625. Family and Human Sexuality, 3 credits
  • CPSY 659. Psychodiagnosis, 3 credits

Research courses
3 credits

  • CPSY 675. Research Methods, 3 credits

Marriage and family internship course
3 credits

  • CPSY 696. Supervised Internship (Prerequisites: CPSY 620, 621, 624 and 671)

NOTE: The internship for the marriage and family therapy program may be combined with the internship for the community counseling master's program.

NOTE: CPSY 530, 619, 658, 659, 671, and 675 are part of the community counseling master's program.

Marriage and Family Therapy Internship

The internship involves 300 supervised clinical contact hours with individuals, couples, and families in a clinical setting in central Minnesota and surrounding communities. Acceptance for internship requires approval of the internship review committee following the completion of all course work.

Post-Degree Requirements — Full Licensure

An additional 1000 supervised clinical contact hours in a clinical setting is required to complete the requirements of the marriage and family therapy licensure.

Program Inquiries

Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour, Coordinator
Marriage and Family Therapy Program
Phone: 320.308.5212
E-mail: mdaneshpour@stcloudstate.edu