Department of Family and Community Medicine

MFT 4930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 5210 - Introduction to Family Therapy

3 Credits

This is an introductory course for students in the master’s degree program in Family Therapy. The focus of the course is to introduce students to basic therapeutic skills and provide a broad overview of the family therapy field. Didactic and experiential approaches will be utilized to facilitate students’ learning of family therapy skills through structuring, empathic listening, reflection, and the use of basic intervention skills. In addition to reflections and course discussion, students take part in role plays in the course to learn about the therapeutic environment.

MFT 5320 - Group Counseling Theory and Practice

3 Credits

This course is designed to prepare counselors in effective methods of group counseling. The primary focus of the course is to equip students with theoretical and practical approaches to group counseling and group dynamics. The course will include a weekly experiential group designed to demonstrate the application of concepts including: stages of group development, leader’s role, and the skills needed to participate in group counseling. The emphasis in the weekly group is to identify and explore personal issues and concerns—especially those that may impede your effectiveness as a counselor. It is important to explore yourself in this process (strengths, “soft spots”, goals, personality style, world view, values, attitudes, biases, familial and cultural background, etc.). Students will have an opportunity to explore these issues through exercises and activities in and out of class, as well as by being a group member.

MFT 5380 - Theory and Intervention in Human Sexuality

3 Credits

Normal sexual behavior and the theories and models of intervention in treating sexual dysfunction.

MFT 5410 - Practicum in Family Therapy

3-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

The practicum course prepares students to work with clients in practice and gain valuable experience to learn therapeutic skills and techniques. Students receive direct supervision from the instructor both in group and individual formats, reviewing cases, clinical topics, and other self of the therapist topics. Students will be evaluated on their clinical skills, case notes, and other therapy management skills. This course is only available to Couple and Family Therapy Students in the program.

MFT 5600 - Family Research Methods

3 Credits

This is an introductory research methods course that covers basic concepts and terminology for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to research. The course will also allow students to critically analyze literature in Couple and Family Therapy and interpret findings from studies in the field. Students will be asked to write a research proposal of a clinical topic in the field with research to support the content.

MFT 5700 - Human Growth and Development

3 Credits

This course will provide an opportunity to examine human development from birth to adulthood. Particular emphasis will be placed on development in context and the cultural considerations that impact the lift course of humans. Thus, development from birth to adulthood will be examined within the context of the family life cycle, and stages of adult development. In addition, an ecological view of development will be discussed. The course will examine each phase of development with a focus on the clinical application of developmental knowledge to the process of marriage and family therapy.

MFT 5770 - Found Multicultural Counseling

3 Credits

The goal of this course is to initiate the process of enacting social justice values and use of multicultural competencies in family therapy. This will include growing self-awareness about implicit and explicit biases, deconstruction of dominant colonial discourses in our modern lives, and construction of alternate and equally valuable discourses. We will explore historical trauma for minority communities, the globalization and connectedness of families, and, perhaps most poignantly, the issues of race, skin color, religion, immigration, and sexuality in the U.S.

MFT 5915 - Internship in Family Therapy

0-4 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Students take the internship course as a requirement of the MFT requirements for clinical hours and supervision. The class will be both group and individual supervision for students who see clients at their internship site and work at the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy. Students will be able to consult with their supervisor on cases, notes, and other administrative areas of their clinical work. This course is only available to Couple and Family Therapy students in the Medical Family Therapy Program.

MFT 5930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 5980 - Graduate Independent Study in Medical Family Therapy

1-3 Credits

MFT 5990 - Thesis Research

1-6 Credits

MFT 5995 - Oral Thesis and Examination

3 Credits

This course will help students prepare their final oral thesis and examination for the master’s program. The student will work with their advisor on guidance on the final paper and presentation of a clinical case for the exam. Students are encouraged to meet often with their advisor for advice and to send drafts of their paper to their advisor.

MFT 6010 - Doctoral Residency

0 Credits

MFT 6140 - Interpretive Phenomenology

3 Credits

This course builds upon prior study in qualitative research methods. The course will examine phenomenology as a methodology for understanding human actions and for conducting research into human practices and meanings. The hermeneutic turn for developing knowledge for practice disciplines (e.g. education, psychology, family therapy, nursing, social work, public administration, and medicine) will be addressed along with issues and skills in conducting interpretive research. Post-modern conceptions of validity for evaluating interpretive research will also be examined.

MFT 6500 - The Neurobiology of Interpersonal Behavior

3 Credits

The neurobiological factors in interpersonal relationships.

MFT 6530 - Ethical & Legal Issues in Family Therapy

3 Credits

An intensive and case-focused investigation of standards of professional practice in family therapy; ethical and legal issues in individual, group and conjoint therapy.

MFT 6550 - Diagnosis and Assessment in Family Therapy

3 Credits

Interpersonal and individual perspectives on clinical diagnostic classifications and related assessment methods and instruments.

MFT 6560 - Theoretical Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy

3 Credits

The theoretical and epistemological foundations of couple and family therapy.

MFT 6650 - Advanced Couple and Family Therapy

3 Credits

MFT 6660 - Intro Family Studies

3 Credits

In this course, students will learn about the history and evolution of family frameworks in the field. Students will identify how family varies on certain cultural, generational, and belief systems that can guide clinical work with different populations. Students will also understand how evidenced-based research and literature in the family field can inform clinicians about certain skills and techniques.

MFT 6690 - Supervision in Family Therapy

3 Credits

This is a comprehensive course covering the clinical supervision of marriage and family therapy. Student will learn about the skills and development on becoming a competent supervisor in training. The objectives of this course are the nine objectives identified by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy required of individuals pursuing the status of Approved Supervisor as designated by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. This course is designed to meet the requirement of a course of at least 30 hours stipulated by AAMFT.

MFT 6700 - Medical Family Therapy Externship

1 Credit (Repeatable up to 2 credits)

This course will introduce the concepts of Medical Family Therapy and integrated behavioral healthcare to master's students. Course topics will cover areas such as systems work with health and illness, interventions to work with biopsychosocial issues, the roles of behavioral health providers in healthcare, and operational issues that impact patient care. This externship will include a group presentation and final paper to reflect on a Medical Family Therapy case study. Students will have the opportunity to tour two primary care clinics and watch a medical team meeting.

MFT 6710 - Integrative and Evidence Based Models of Couple and Family Therapy

3 Credits

Advanced approaches to family therapy that integrates a variety of systemic concepts. These include integrative, empirically supported and common factors modes.

Prerequisite(s): MFT 6560

MFT 6720 - Integrative Care Practicum

3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Supervised practical experience in MFT and Medical Family Therapy. By permission of Instructor only.

MFT 6730 - Research Practicum

1 Credit (Repeatable for credit)

Directed experience in interpersonal, behavioral and clinical research.

MFT 6740 - Theories and Models of Medical Family Therapy

3 Credits

Systemic and biopsychosocial models of interaction and intervention in integrative care.

MFT 6750 - Practicum: Supervision of Marriage and Family Therapists

3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Experience in conducting supervision of MFTs and Medical Family Therapists. By permission of instructor only.

Prerequisite(s): MFT 6690

MFT 6760 - Families, Health, and Illness

3 Credits

The interpersonal and psychosocial impact of health and illness on individuals and families.

MFT 6770 - Behavioral Medicine and Integrative Care

3 Credits

The methods and models of psychosocial and behavioral intervention in health care.

MFT 6790 - Self of the Therapist: A Sociocultural Perspective

3 Credits

This course offers students skills and concepts about "self of the therapist" when working in clinical practice. Students will learn what aspects of work with individuals, couples and families affect them from a systemic and sociocultural perspective. The course will offer readings and papers that will help students critically think and analyze aspects of professional practice from different frameworks and cultural viewpoints.

MFT 6795 - Community Health and Health Policy

3 Credits

This course will introduce doctoral students to areas of community health and community medicine through lecture, community meetings, and a special project. Students will be able to speak with community stakeholders about important health issues, learning how to develop partnerships for grant writing and other community projects. Students will also learn about policy issues that are impacting health areas of society and certain health disparities that exist. Each student will address a “pressure point” in communities and help develop skills of knowing how to develop a project around this pressing health or social issue.

MFT 6825 - Teaching Skills in Medicine

3 Credits

This field course prepares doctoral level students for learning teaching skills with different medical learners. Students will have the opportunity to observe lectures and didactics for medical students and medical residents. Students will be asked to develop a behavioral health lesson plan for teaching both medical students and medical residents. A didactic presentation in the Family Medicine Residency and an outcome paper of content knowledge will be required for this course.

MFT 6830 - Couple and Family Research in Healthcare

3 Credits

The purpose of the course is to provide advanced graduate students with foundational knowledge and key resources for designing and implementing research projects within social and clinical science contexts. The course will emphasize the process of conceptualizing a research question, selecting and designing appropriate research protocols (e.g. experimental, observational, qualitative, etc.), and starting a research project (e.g., IRB application, measurement selection, ethical considerations, etc.). The course will have three major sections: quantitative research designs (including survey research and experimental design), qualitative research designs (including focus groups, structured and unstructured interviews, and community based participatory research), and mixed methods designs (including observational and interaction coding).

MFT 6870 - Clinical Supervision (Advanced)

1 Credit (Repeatable for credit)

Students will have on-site supervision every other week, where the instructor will both supervise the student and shadow periodically on appointments in the clinic. Students will continue to work in integrated care settings, applying behavioral health and team-based skills with other providers. Additionally, students will meet once per month via secured video conference to discuss practice-related issues. Students will also have the opportunity to present a case study or medical topic to medical residents during Thursday didactic lectures. The course is only for students enrolled in the Medical Family Therapy Doctoral Program.

MFT 6910 - Doctoral Internship

0-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 6930 - Special Topics

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 6950 - Special Study for Examinations

0 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 6970 - Advanced Research Topics in Medical Family Therapy

3 Credits

Study of qualitative and quantitative methods and design applicable to research in medical family therapy.

MFT 6980 - Graduate Independent Study in Medical Family Therapy

1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

MFT 6990 - Dissertation Research

0-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)