Established in 1836, the school has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River.
The Master of Arts in family therapy at Saint Louis University is based on a systemic/relational view of individuals, couples and families. It fulfills the course and practicum requirements toward licensure in Missouri as a licensed marital and family therapist. A concentration in medical family therapy is also available.
The program requires a minimum of 60 credits beyond a bachelor's degree. Prerequisites include 18 credits in the behavioral sciences. Program requirements include didactic courses, two semesters of practicum, three semesters of internship in a community setting and a minimum of 500 hours of direct clinical contact. The concentration in medical family therapy prepares students to function as part of an integrated care team in addressing the biopsychosocial needs of individuals and families.
The concentration in medical family therapy prepares students to function as part of an integrated care team in addressing the biopsychosocial needs of individuals and families.
Graduate students perform research projects by working with a faculty mentor whose research interests match their own. Doctoral students are expected to publish and present a minimum of two research projects.
Possible careers in medical family therapy include:
A minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework in the social sciences.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Students should apply by Jan. 3, 2021. After applications are received, students may be invited to campus for group and individual interviews with program faculty. Interviews for the 2020-21 school year will be held Feb. 3, 2021.
For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Both the M.A. and Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy at Saint Louis University are 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.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MFT 5210 | Introduction to Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 5320 | Group Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
MFT 5380 | Theory and Intervention in Human Sexuality | 3 |
MFT 5410 | Practicum in Family Therapy | 6 |
MFT 5600 | Family Research Methods | 3 |
MFT 5610 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
MFT 5700 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
MFT 5770 | Found Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
MFT 5915 | Internship in Family Therapy (taken over multiple semesters) | 7 |
MFT 5990 | Thesis Research | 6 |
MFT 6530 | Ethical & Legal Issues in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6550 | Diagnosis and Assessment in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6560 | Theoretical Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6570 | Medical Family Therapy Externship | 1 |
MFT 6650 | Advanced Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6660 | Intro Family Studies | 3 |
MFT 6710 | Integrative and Evidence Based Models of Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6730 | Research Practicum | 1 |
Total Credits | 60 |
The M.A. concentration in medical family therapy prepares students to address the emotional and physical needs of individuals and families as part of an integrated care team. A portion of the internship is completed in a primary or specialty care setting working collaboratively with physicians and allied health professionals in delivering behavioral and mental health services to patients and their families.
Required courses in addition to required core courses are:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MFT 6740 | Theories and Models of Medical Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6770 | Behavioral Medicine and Integrative Care | 3 |
The project option is appropriate if students want to teach human anatomy structure and function, or if students are undecided about a career in the health professions and want to improve their academic background before applying to professional schools. It provides training in anatomy with a capstone project. A total of 30 credits is necessary to complete the degree.
Upon completion of the core curriculum, the student must identify an independent study project under the guidance of a Center for Anatomical Science and Education (CASE) faculty adviser for the required master's project (ANAT-5960, two to four credits) course.
The master's project course is intended to foster students' intellectual development by working independently with a faculty adviser and an M.S. (project) committee. It is hoped that a student will develop the capacity to plan and execute a project and will acquire competence and critical writing skills.
The M.S. (project) committee will be formed as the student prepares the project proposal. A three-member M.S. (project) committee, chaired by the student’s primary adviser, will be recommended to the director of the anatomy graduate program for approval. The committee must include at least two members of the CASE anatomy graduate faculty.
The initial responsibility of the M.S. (project) committee is to determine the feasibility of the project and its proposal, and to permit the student to proceed only after such determination has been made. The committee and director of the anatomy graduate program shall sign off on the student's proposal and a copy should be kept in the student's file in the CASE office. The signing of this document signifies that the student has permission to proceed with the study as outlined in the proposal.
The M.S. (project) committee will meet regularly with the student and adviser and is responsible for reviewing the ongoing project and manuscript drafts, and to provide feedback in a timely manner.
A manuscript of the project, in the form of a treatise, must be completed and approved by the faculty adviser and M.S. (project) committee. The treatise is a critical analysis of the project and is expected to demonstrate mastery of the material using critical thinking skills. The manuscript should follow the formatting guidelines issued by the Office of Graduate Education.
As the project and manuscript near their completion, a tentative date to complete the oral examination will be scheduled, no less than two weeks in advance, by the faculty adviser and approved by the M.S. (project) committee. The last day to complete the final oral examination will be identified by the graduate education calendar of deadlines and will be strictly enforced.
Before the oral examination is officially scheduled to take place, the student's master's project course project must be completed and approved by the student's faculty advisor and M.S. (project) committee.
Two weeks before the thesis defense, an electronic and print announcement of the date, time, location and title of the defense will be publicized to all members of CASE. A final draft of the student’s thesis must be made available in the anatomy conference room for faculty and students to review at least seven working days prior to the defense.
The oral examination will consist of a formal presentation of the student project to the M.S. (project) committee, the faculty and students in CASE, and to any family member or anyone from the general public wishing to attend. After the presentation, the committee will meet with the student privately to ask any questions relating to the project and manuscript, and of the student's knowledge of anatomy. After the private meeting, the student will be asked to leave the room as the committee votes on the oral examination performance by filling out the ballot issued by the Office of Graduate Education. Once the ballot is completed, signed and sealed it is the committee chairperson's responsibility to deliver the ballot to the Office of Graduate Education immediately following the oral examination.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
MFT 5210 | Introduction to Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6530 | Ethical & Legal Issues in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6660 | Intro Family Studies | 3 |
MFT 5610 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
MFT 5410 | Practicum in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6550 | Diagnosis and Assessment in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6560 | Foundations in Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6710 | Integrative and Evidence Based Models of Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Summer | ||
MFT 5320 | Group Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
MFT 5380 | Theory and Intervention in Human Sexuality | 3 |
MFT 5410 | Practicum in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 6570 | Medical Family Therapy Externship | 1 |
Credits | 10 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
MFT 5600 | Family Research Methods | 3 |
MFT 5770 | Found Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
MFT 5915 | Internship in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 5990 | Thesis Research | 3 |
MFT 6730 | Research Practicum | 1 |
Credits | 13 | |
Spring | ||
MFT 5700 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
MFT 5915 | Internship in Family Therapy | 3 |
MFT 5990 | Thesis Research | 3 |
MFT 6650 | Advanced Couple and Family Therapy | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Summer | ||
MFT 5915 | Internship in Family Therapy | 1 |
Credits | 1 | |
Total Credits | 60 |