View Curriculum

Online Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy 

The online Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree program explores the unique relationship dynamics between families and society to create holistic patient treatment plans.

Back to Program Apply Now Request Information

TRACK 1: MFT CLINICAL TRACK REQUIRED COURSES & CURRICULUM

The MFT curriculum is composed of 18 courses and 6 practicum courses for a total of 72 semester credits and 300 direct contact hours. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Core Requirements (72 Semester Credits)

Course Description

Systems Approach to family therapy is designed to provide an overview of the fundamentals of family and marital therapy. The course will be taught within a therapeutic perspective so that the material will be tied to the actual practice of therapy. Wherever possible, examples, case studies and vignettes will be employed in order to amplify the family systems approach to therapy.

In addition, the course explores theories and skills required in contemporary community mental health settings, including recovery-oriented treatment for severe mental illness, disaster and trauma response, services for victims of abuse and the homeless, foster care, case management, client advocacy, in-home and in-school services, bilingual client services, collaborating with other professionals, medical family therapy, and local community service resources. The course also provides a practical overview of public and private systems of care and opportunities to meet with the severely mentally ill and their families.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course reviews the broad spectrum of psychological disorders and the proper method of diagnosing the disorders using the DSM-5 criteria. The focus of this review will include the etiology, prevalence & incidence, signs & symptoms, and criteria for differential diagnosis affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management are also covered.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will examine the theory, practice and utilization of effective therapeutic interventions with couple relationships. The course will involve videos, case studies, online discussions, and written assignments to further our learning on couples counseling.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will prepare students to work with the special counseling needs of children and adolescents. Behavioral characteristics of children and adolescents including their emotional, social, and cognitive behaviors will be covered and applied with practical cases. Counseling techniques and treatment options will be learned.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will highlight developmental psychology throughout the lifespan, from birth through death. Current psychological and medical knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult development will be explored along with the impact of the developmental process on the individual and the family.

Credits

3

Course Description

The goal of this course is to provide a brief comprehensive overview of clinical psychopharmacology for non-medical providers. This course will acquaint students with the fundamentals of psychotropic drugs. Basics of pharmacology, indications, drug interactions and adverse side effects of commonly used psychotropic medications.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic variables that influence the counseling relationship and process. Factors such as age, gender, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual values, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, and socioeconomic status, are examined. We will emphasize on therapy issues related to each group, and learn effective treatment approaches to use that will be most appropriate. The process of becoming an effective multicultural therapist in terms of becoming more aware of the values and customs of persons from other racial/ethnic groups will be included. Therapist cultural self-awareness and the role of counseling in eliminating biases, prejudice, oppression, and discrimination are emphasized.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course serves as an introduction to graduate level research in the social sciences with a specific emphasis on psychology. Research methods and statistics will be integrated to provide a general overview of the ways that social scientists collect information. The research process will be examined including concepts of design, conduct and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field will be fully explored. Examples of data sources and methods of statistical description and analysis will be covered with special emphasis on developing ethical, trustworthy and useful information. The course also will provide a foundation for locating and evaluating scientific, technical, business and government qualitative and quantitative information.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an overview of Large Therapy Systems. Emphasis will be on obtaining the conceptual knowledge and skills relative to conducting effective group treatment for a variety of client populations.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course focuses on the understanding and use of testing results for the marriage and family therapist.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the biological, sociological and psychological basis of human sexual functioning. Sexuality is a core element of human functioning and a key element in understanding intimate relationships. An evidenced-based approach will be used to explore topics including sexual development and function throughout the lifespan, normative and atypical sexual functioning, as well as other sexual factors relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Some specific topics will include sexual arousal and response, masturbation, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and sexual anatomy. Theories of sexual attraction from both sociological and evolutionary points of view will also be presented. A clinical model of intimacy will be presented, as well practical information for use in couple’s therapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

Students will learn about the different causes of addiction, understanding addiction as both a disease and a behavioral phenomenon. Topics include definitions of addiction, ethno-cultural influences in addiction, profiles in addiction, substances of addiction, models of treatment, family and group support, self-medication and theories of addiction. The emerging course of non-substance addictive behaviors (food compulsions, internet/gaming, shopping and pathological gambling) will also be discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

The processes of communication as these apply to both interpersonal and intrapersonal experience. Emphasis on the purposes of communication as well as the forms that are believed to enhance the conduct of counseling and psychotherapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will discuss family-focused treatment targeting high-risk youth. Issues such as drug use, youth criminal activity and drop-out prevention will be the main topics.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will primarily focus on issues that are salient to the aging population, including long-term care. Students will learn skills to help families in all stages of life deal with chronic or ongoing health concerns as well. There will be a strategic training to develop necessary understanding of the challenges of the later stages of life. Students will be required to conduct an in depth interview of one family situation where such issues discussed in the course material are present.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course has been designed to foster a grounded and well-informed understanding of ethical and legal issues as they relate to the mental health professionals in general and MFT professionals in particular. In the course students will become aware of familial relationships, and defining of legal consequences to those relationships and their dissolution, and the transition of individuals into new family formations. Marriage and its legal effects, divorce, the law of the parent-child relationship, including post-separation parenting and child support, and the recognition of non-marital relationships. Other legal matters such as family law include domestic violence, adoption, and child protection, child abuse reporting is included. Commonly experienced ethical and legal matters within the practice of MFT will be examined through discussion, assigned readings, written work and practical exercises.

Credits

3

Course Description

Studies in the treatment of trauma as it impact the family. Beginning and advanced techniques in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child and elder abuse, domestic violence, rape, disaster, crime and other trauma will be explored.

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

The Capstone course is the culmination of your MFT degree program for both MFT and LPCC tracks and is taken last. In this course, the student will work on threaded discussions and complete a case assignment and signature assignment focused on MFT proficiency in licensure preparation and clinical work. They will have to work on practice licensure exam questions, discuss their theoretical orientation when approaching work with individuals, couples, and families. The Capstone will be reviewed by the primary faculty advisor at the conclusion of your coursework and may serve as a tool for your further research and/or practice. The Capstone course is used to assess the student achievement of all MFT Program Learning Outcomes.

Credits

3

Elective Courses (Taken only if the student’s state requires these specific courses)

Course Description

The course is an elective course for students who are interested to take it in addition to the MFT set program. The course provides overview of major counseling/psychology theories, in addition counseling techniques and practices are reviewed associated with these theories.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course serves as an overview of the contemporary theories and techniques of psychotherapy. The course will explore psychotherapy processes, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce professional and ethical issues in psychotherapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course serves as an overview of the theories of career development counseling. The course will explore the approaches to career development, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce ethics into career development counseling.

Credits

3

Course Description

Providing for client safety is an essential aspect of Marriage and Family Therapy. This course focuses on the detection, assessment and management of domestic violence. Students will learn about the underlying factors that contribute to family violence and be able to identify and assess abuse with women, men, children, and couples. Students will become familiar with therapeutic interventions and techniques, legal and ethical implications, and community resources available to clients.

Credits

1

Notes:

*The program requires 300 hours of direct client contact (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state), 100 of which must be relational or with couples or families. Students receive 100 hours of individual and group supervision, at least 50 hours of which are based on direct observation, videotape, or audiotape, and at least 25 of the 50 based only on live observation or videotape. This supervision mainly comes from your placement site but may be supplemented by the supervision that students receive in their practicum course. Students must be enrolled in practicum until all hourly requirements are complete and the practicum course must be taken a minimum of 6 times (12 consecutive months) for a minimum total of 18 credits. This applies to COAMFTE requirements.

Please note: The TUW MFT program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for our students to seek licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and/or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California. The MFT Clinical and LPCC tracks are also approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Students applying for a clinical license in MFT, LPCC, (or any other mental health related field) outside of California must confirm that the coursework and practicum experiences at TUW will full requirements for that respective state. The MFT team is here to support students with this process and help guide students, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the student. In some cases, there may be additional courses or practicum requirements that may be needed either before or after graduation (see section in MFT handbook about portability and see section in TUW Catalog about Legal Notification).

**Material Fee:

  • Students on the Clinical track are required to pay $145 Material Fee during the Capstone course (MFT690), which will provide access to exam kit that prepares students for the CA Exam, National Exam and LPCC Exam. The exam kit is part of the capstone course only.

TRACK 2: LPCC TRACK REQUIRED COURSES & CURRICULUM

The MFT LPCC curriculum is composed of 18 courses, plus an additional 4 courses, in addition to the 6 practicum courses, for a total of 82 semester credits and 300 direct contact hours. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Core Requirements (82 Semester Credits)

Course Description

Systems Approach to family therapy is designed to provide an overview of the fundamentals of family and marital therapy. The course will be taught within a therapeutic perspective so that the material will be tied to the actual practice of therapy. Wherever possible, examples, case studies and vignettes will be employed in order to amplify the family systems approach to therapy.

In addition, the course explores theories and skills required in contemporary community mental health settings, including recovery-oriented treatment for severe mental illness, disaster and trauma response, services for victims of abuse and the homeless, foster care, case management, client advocacy, in-home and in-school services, bilingual client services, collaborating with other professionals, medical family therapy, and local community service resources. The course also provides a practical overview of public and private systems of care and opportunities to meet with the severely mentally ill and their families.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course reviews the broad spectrum of psychological disorders and the proper method of diagnosing the disorders using the DSM-5 criteria. The focus of this review will include the etiology, prevalence & incidence, signs & symptoms, and criteria for differential diagnosis affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management are also covered.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will examine the theory, practice and utilization of effective therapeutic interventions with couple relationships. The course will involve videos, case studies, online discussions, and written assignments to further our learning on couples counseling.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will prepare students to work with the special counseling needs of children and adolescents. Behavioral characteristics of children and adolescents including their emotional, social, and cognitive behaviors will be covered and applied with practical cases. Counseling techniques and treatment options will be learned.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will highlight developmental psychology throughout the lifespan, from birth through death. Current psychological and medical knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult development will be explored along with the impact of the developmental process on the individual and the family.

Credits

3

Course Description

The goal of this course is to provide a brief comprehensive overview of clinical psychopharmacology for non-medical providers. This course will acquaint students with the fundamentals of psychotropic drugs. Basics of pharmacology, indications, drug interactions and adverse side effects of commonly used psychotropic medications.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic variables that influence the counseling relationship and process. Factors such as age, gender, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual values, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, and socioeconomic status, are examined. We will emphasize on therapy issues related to each group, and learn effective treatment approaches to use that will be most appropriate. The process of becoming an effective multicultural therapist in terms of becoming more aware of the values and customs of persons from other racial/ethnic groups will be included. Therapist cultural self-awareness and the role of counseling in eliminating biases, prejudice, oppression, and discrimination are emphasized.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course serves as an introduction to graduate level research in the social sciences with a specific emphasis on psychology. Research methods and statistics will be integrated to provide a general overview of the ways that social scientists collect information. The research process will be examined including concepts of design, conduct and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field will be fully explored. Examples of data sources and methods of statistical description and analysis will be covered with special emphasis on developing ethical, trustworthy and useful information. The course also will provide a foundation for locating and evaluating scientific, technical, business and government qualitative and quantitative information.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an overview of Large Therapy Systems. Emphasis will be on obtaining the conceptual knowledge and skills relative to conducting effective group treatment for a variety of client populations.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course focuses on the understanding and use of testing results for the marriage and family therapist.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the biological, sociological and psychological basis of human sexual functioning. Sexuality is a core element of human functioning and a key element in understanding intimate relationships. An evidenced-based approach will be used to explore topics including sexual development and function throughout the lifespan, normative and atypical sexual functioning, as well as other sexual factors relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Some specific topics will include sexual arousal and response, masturbation, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and sexual anatomy. Theories of sexual attraction from both sociological and evolutionary points of view will also be presented. A clinical model of intimacy will be presented, as well practical information for use in couple’s therapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

Students will learn about the different causes of addiction, understanding addiction as both a disease and a behavioral phenomenon. Topics include definitions of addiction, ethno-cultural influences in addiction, profiles in addiction, substances of addiction, models of treatment, family and group support, self-medication and theories of addiction. The emerging course of non-substance addictive behaviors (food compulsions, internet/gaming, shopping and pathological gambling) will also be discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

The processes of communication as these apply to both interpersonal and intrapersonal experience. Emphasis on the purposes of communication as well as the forms that are believed to enhance the conduct of counseling and psychotherapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will discuss family-focused treatment targeting high-risk youth. Issues such as drug use, youth criminal activity and drop-out prevention will be the main topics.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will primarily focus on issues that are salient to the aging population, including long-term care. Students will learn skills to help families in all stages of life deal with chronic or ongoing health concerns as well. There will be a strategic training to develop necessary understanding of the challenges of the later stages of life. Students will be required to conduct an in depth interview of one family situation where such issues discussed in the course material are present.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course has been designed to foster a grounded and well-informed understanding of ethical and legal issues as they relate to the mental health professionals in general and MFT professionals in particular. In the course students will become aware of familial relationships, and defining of legal consequences to those relationships and their dissolution, and the transition of individuals into new family formations. Marriage and its legal effects, divorce, the law of the parent-child relationship, including post-separation parenting and child support, and the recognition of non-marital relationships. Other legal matters such as family law include domestic violence, adoption, and child protection, child abuse reporting is included. Commonly experienced ethical and legal matters within the practice of MFT will be examined through discussion, assigned readings, written work and practical exercises.

Credits

3

Course Description

Studies in the treatment of trauma as it impact the family. Beginning and advanced techniques in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child and elder abuse, domestic violence, rape, disaster, crime and other trauma will be explored.

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

This set of courses provides therapists in training with the opportunity to practice systemically informed family therapy in a supervised environment, to observe other therapists in training, and to give/receive feedback about their practice. This practicum is designed to help students gain experience regarding clients in shared learning with colleagues, on site supervisors, and TUW Supervisors. As part of practicum experience, students will gain clinical and supervision hours at a placement site, while simultaneously obtaining supervision hours from TUW faculty in a live classroom. Students will complete the six (6) courses in a 1 year period to achieve the required 300 hours to complete the program. (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state).

Credits

3

Course Description

The course is an elective course for students who are interested to take it in addition to the MFT set program. The course provides overview of major counseling/psychology theories, in addition counseling techniques and practices are reviewed associated with these theories.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course serves as an overview of the contemporary theories and techniques of psychotherapy. The course will explore psychotherapy processes, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce professional and ethical issues in psychotherapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course serves as an overview of the theories of career development counseling. The course will explore the approaches to career development, compare various theoretical approaches, and introduce ethics into career development counseling.

Credits

3

Course Description

Providing for client safety is an essential aspect of Marriage and Family Therapy. This course focuses on the detection, assessment and management of domestic violence. Students will learn about the underlying factors that contribute to family violence and be able to identify and assess abuse with women, men, children, and couples. Students will become familiar with therapeutic interventions and techniques, legal and ethical implications, and community resources available to clients.

Credits

1

Course Description

The Capstone course is the culmination of your MFT degree program for both MFT and LPCC tracks and is taken last. In this course, the student will work on threaded discussions and complete a case assignment and signature assignment focused on MFT proficiency in licensure preparation and clinical work. They will have to work on practice licensure exam questions, discuss their theoretical orientation when approaching work with individuals, couples, and families. The Capstone will be reviewed by the primary faculty advisor at the conclusion of your coursework and may serve as a tool for your further research and/or practice. The Capstone course is used to assess the student achievement of all MFT Program Learning Outcomes.

Credits

3

Notes:

* The program requires 300 hours of direct client contact (Please note that some states minimum requirements for licensure application may be more than 300 direct client contact hours. Therefore, students are required to check the licensure requirements for their respective state), 100 of which must be relational or with couples or families. Students receive 100 hours of individual and group supervision, at least 50 hours of which are based on direct observation, videotape, or audiotape, and at least 25 of the 50 based only on live observation or videotape. This supervision mainly comes from your placement site but may be supplemented by the supervision that students receive in their practicum course. Students must be enrolled in practicum until all hourly requirements are complete and the practicum course must be taken a minimum of 6 times (12 consecutive months) for a minimum total of 18 credits. This applies to COAMFTE requirements.

Please note: The TUW MFT program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for our students to seek licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and/or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California. The MFT Clinical and LPCC tracks are also approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Students applying for a clinical license in MFT, LPCC, (or any other mental health related field) outside of California must confirm that the coursework and practicum experiences at TUW will full requirements for that respective state. The MFT team is here to support students with this process and help guide students, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the student. In some cases, there may be additional courses or practicum requirements that may be needed either before or after graduation (see section in MFT handbook about portability and see section in TUW Catalog about Legal Notification).

**Material Fee:

  • Students on the Clinical track are required to pay $145 Material Fee during the Capstone course (MFT690), which will provide access to exam kit that prepares students for the CA Exam, National Exam and LPCC Exam. The exam kit is part of the capstone course only.

TRACK 3: MFT NON-CLINICAL TRACK REQUIRED COURSES & CURRICULUM

The MFT curriculum is composed of 18 courses without any practicum courses for a total of 54 semester credits. Please note: The non-clinical track is for students not interested in pursuing licensure as a MFT or LPCC. Students who complete the non-clinical track, may decide to pursue a career where they work with and/or on behalf of individuals, couples, and families in a way that does not require a clinical license. Graduates may decide to work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to the broader human services field, social services industry, among others. The non-clinical degree does not lead to a clinical license or credential. Further, the non-clinical track is not a part of the COAMFTE track, as this track does not include the clinical component required for COAMFTE.

Core Requirements (54 Semester Credits)

Course Description

Systems Approach to family therapy is designed to provide an overview of the fundamentals of family and marital therapy. The course will be taught within a therapeutic perspective so that the material will be tied to the actual practice of therapy. Wherever possible, examples, case studies and vignettes will be employed in order to amplify the family systems approach to therapy.

In addition, the course explores theories and skills required in contemporary community mental health settings, including recovery-oriented treatment for severe mental illness, disaster and trauma response, services for victims of abuse and the homeless, foster care, case management, client advocacy, in-home and in-school services, bilingual client services, collaborating with other professionals, medical family therapy, and local community service resources. The course also provides a practical overview of public and private systems of care and opportunities to meet with the severely mentally ill and their families.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course reviews the broad spectrum of psychological disorders and the proper method of diagnosing the disorders using the DSM-5 criteria. The focus of this review will include the etiology, prevalence & incidence, signs & symptoms, and criteria for differential diagnosis affecting children, adolescents, and adults. Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management are also covered.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will examine the theory, practice and utilization of effective therapeutic interventions with couple relationships. The course will involve videos, case studies, online discussions, and written assignments to further our learning on couples counseling.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will prepare students to work with the special counseling needs of children and adolescents. Behavioral characteristics of children and adolescents including their emotional, social, and cognitive behaviors will be covered and applied with practical cases. Counseling techniques and treatment options will be learned.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course will highlight developmental psychology throughout the lifespan, from birth through death. Current psychological and medical knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult development will be explored along with the impact of the developmental process on the individual and the family.

Credits

3

Course Description

The goal of this course is to provide a brief comprehensive overview of clinical psychopharmacology for non-medical providers. This course will acquaint students with the fundamentals of psychotropic drugs. Basics of pharmacology, indications, drug interactions and adverse side effects of commonly used psychotropic medications.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an introduction to some of the cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic variables that influence the counseling relationship and process. Factors such as age, gender, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual values, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, and socioeconomic status, are examined. We will emphasize on therapy issues related to each group, and learn effective treatment approaches to use that will be most appropriate. The process of becoming an effective multicultural therapist in terms of becoming more aware of the values and customs of persons from other racial/ethnic groups will be included. Therapist cultural self-awareness and the role of counseling in eliminating biases, prejudice, oppression, and discrimination are emphasized.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course serves as an introduction to graduate level research in the social sciences with a specific emphasis on psychology. Research methods and statistics will be integrated to provide a general overview of the ways that social scientists collect information. The research process will be examined including concepts of design, conduct and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field will be fully explored. Examples of data sources and methods of statistical description and analysis will be covered with special emphasis on developing ethical, trustworthy and useful information. The course also will provide a foundation for locating and evaluating scientific, technical, business and government qualitative and quantitative information.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an overview of Large Therapy Systems. Emphasis will be on obtaining the conceptual knowledge and skills relative to conducting effective group treatment for a variety of client populations.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course focuses on the understanding and use of testing results for the marriage and family therapist.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the biological, sociological and psychological basis of human sexual functioning. Sexuality is a core element of human functioning and a key element in understanding intimate relationships. An evidenced-based approach will be used to explore topics including sexual development and function throughout the lifespan, normative and atypical sexual functioning, as well as other sexual factors relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Some specific topics will include sexual arousal and response, masturbation, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and sexual anatomy. Theories of sexual attraction from both sociological and evolutionary points of view will also be presented. A clinical model of intimacy will be presented, as well practical information for use in couple’s therapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

Students will learn about the different causes of addiction, understanding addiction as both a disease and a behavioral phenomenon. Topics include definitions of addiction, ethno-cultural influences in addiction, profiles in addiction, substances of addiction, models of treatment, family and group support, self-medication and theories of addiction. The emerging course of non-substance addictive behaviors (food compulsions, internet/gaming, shopping and pathological gambling) will also be discussed.

Credits

3

Course Description

The processes of communication as these apply to both interpersonal and intrapersonal experience. Emphasis on the purposes of communication as well as the forms that are believed to enhance the conduct of counseling and psychotherapy.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will discuss family-focused treatment targeting high-risk youth. Issues such as drug use, youth criminal activity and drop-out prevention will be the main topics.

Credits

3

Course Description

The course will primarily focus on issues that are salient to the aging population, including long-term care. Students will learn skills to help families in all stages of life deal with chronic or ongoing health concerns as well. There will be a strategic training to develop necessary understanding of the challenges of the later stages of life. Students will be required to conduct an in depth interview of one family situation where such issues discussed in the course material are present.

Credits

3

Course Description

This course has been designed to foster a grounded and well-informed understanding of ethical and legal issues as they relate to the mental health professionals in general and MFT professionals in particular. In the course students will become aware of familial relationships, and defining of legal consequences to those relationships and their dissolution, and the transition of individuals into new family formations. Marriage and its legal effects, divorce, the law of the parent-child relationship, including post-separation parenting and child support, and the recognition of non-marital relationships. Other legal matters such as family law include domestic violence, adoption, and child protection, child abuse reporting is included. Commonly experienced ethical and legal matters within the practice of MFT will be examined through discussion, assigned readings, written work and practical exercises.

Credits

3

Course Description

Studies in the treatment of trauma as it impact the family. Beginning and advanced techniques in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of child and elder abuse, domestic violence, rape, disaster, crime and other trauma will be explored.

Credits

3

Course Description

The Capstone Course is the culmination of your MFT degree program for the non-clinical track and is taken last. In this course, the student works on a compressive case write-up/treatment plan using one or more marriage and family therapy models. Student must demonstrate skills in research, synthesis of information, and critical thinking. The Capstone will be reviewed at the conclusion of your coursework and may serve as a tool for your further research and/or practice. The Capstone course is used to assess the student achievement of all MFT program Learning Outcomes.

Credits

3

Notes:

*The non-clinical track for the MFT program is available for students who are residing in countries or states that they do not need the MFT licensure. The Non-Clinical Track follows the same curriculum distribution as the Clinical track in the MFT, excluding the Practicum classes. Those students who do not want to pursue licensure for the MFT may complete all the course requirements and opt out of the Practicum course requirement with the Non-Clinical Track, but this degree will not qualify them for licensure. A student may choose the non-clinical track at the start of their program, or change the track during the program after unsuccessfully obtaining a practicum site after three sessions. Students who are interested in this track will submit a signed form requesting to move to the non-clinical track. The form should be signed by the student and the MFT Program Director. The form will be submitted to the office of the Registrar. Note: Students will not be able to complete the practicum courses and apply for licensure after completion of the Master Degree with a non-clinical track.

TUW MFT Accreditations

University Accreditation

Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For more information on WSCUC, visit www.wscuc.org or write WSCUC at 985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501.

The online Marriage & Family Therapy graduate degree program at Touro University Worldwide is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and is designed so that graduates are eligible for MFT Licensure in the State of California (and most other states) without requiring any additional coursework.

Specialty Accreditation

The MFT program at Touro University Worldwide (TUW) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

MFT Tuition & Fees

For the Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program, Touro University Worldwide’s tuition is $500 per semester credit. Each eight (8) week, three (3) credit course costs $1,500. Learn more about TUW tuition and fees.

Track 1 credit 3 credits Cost of Program
Non-Clinical Track $500 $1,500 $27,000*
Clinical Track $500 $1,500 $36,000*
LPCC Track $500 $1,500 $41,000*

* Based on number of credits required for the degree

Application Fee: Students applying to the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree program pay a one time $25 application fee.

Material Fee: Students on the Clinical track are required to pay $145 Material Fee during the Capstone course (MFT690), which will provide access to an exam kit that prepares students for the CA Exam, National Exam and LPCC Exam. The exam kit is part of the capstone course only.

Woman Calculating