Marriage and Family Therapy, Ed.S.,M.S.

M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy and Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy:

Two sequences are offered in the area of Marriage and Family Therapy. The first, an M.S. is intended for applicants with a bachelor’s degree. In the second those who have earned a master’s degree in a related field and wish to specialize in marriage and family therapy may pursue an Ed.S. Both sequences provide the courses and clinical training under supervision to work toward earning a license-eligible degree. Recent legislation has reduced the number of clinical hours required for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in New Jersey. The Ed.S. program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE0; application for candidacy status for the M.S. program has been made with COAMFTE. Ordinarily we recommend that full-time students complete the M.S. program in three years. An option of finishing the program in two years, including summers, is available for students deemed ready for accelerated academic and clinical work. Students may pursue the programs either full time or part time. Program faculty welcome students from the United States and abroad. An emphasis on multicultural processes runs throughout the curriculum and clinical training.

I. M.S. Sequence in Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and Family Therapy (M.S./M.F.T.)

This program of study is designed for the beginning professional with an area of study in psychology or other relevant field at the undergraduate level, who wishes to specialize in marriage and family therapy. The courses build the foundations in counseling/therapy skills and for completing the standard curriculum as stipulated by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

Applicants for the program who do not have experience in providing counseling/therapy must demonstrate a readiness to do so. Throughout the program, students are expected to combine classroom learning with clinical work under supervision at appropriate sites.

A minimum of five hundred (500) hours of supervised client contact (at least 50 percent with families and couples at an appropriate site) with an AAMFT-approved supervisor or the equivalent is required. There must be one hour of supervision for every five hours of client contact, and the supervision must include at least fifty (50) hours of live or taped cases with at least twenty-five (25) live or videotaped. Students receive individual and group supervision. Students who have completed all course work but have not completed all the supervised clinical hours for CPSY 9880-9881 will be required to register for CPSY 9886 (one credit) for one semester, and, if the hours remain unfinished, for CPSY 9880 or 9881. Students will work in a diversity of settings which meet licensing and accreditation standards at sites throughout New Jersey and the metropolitan area. The standards for licensing are available from the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners and for accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Successful oral defense of a written case study is the final step toward graduation.

The degree fulfills the current educational requirements for licensing in New Jersey as a marriage and family therapist, and for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Admission
In addition to the general University and department requirements for admission to graduate studies, the following guidelines are in force:

· Official undergraduate transcript(s);

· Recent Graduate Record Examination scores;

· Three letters of recommendation including at least one from a former professor;

· Personal statement including personal goals;

· Resume;

· Appear for a personal interview;

· Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites of CPSY 6105 Biological bases of Behavior/Physiological Psychology (or a biology course, including a focus on human anatomy and the nervous system) and CPSY 7515 Social Psychology, or these may be taken during the course of study

Degree Requirements

(Total credits: 60 minimum)

Foundation Courses (18 credits):

CPSY 6001 Tests and Measurements

CPSY 6003 Counseling Skills

CPSY 6101 Personality Theory

CPSY 6103 Abnormal Psychology

CPSY 6316 Group Counseling

CPSY 7005 Statistical Methods

Core Curriculum (42 credits):

CPSY 6102 Psychology of Human Development

CPSY 6601 Couple and Family Dynamics: Systemic Perspectives

CPSY 7101 Research Methods

CPSY 7610 Human Sexuality

CPSY 7615 Gender and Ethnicity in Families

CPSY 7620 Seminar in Systemic Therapies

CPSY 7621 Couples and Family Systems Techniques I

CPSY 7622 Couples and Family Systems Techniques II

CPSY 8011 Seminar on Ethical and Legal Issues: A Systemic Approach

CPSY 8517 Seminar on Psychopathology and Systemic Diagnoses

CPSY 8800 Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Couple and Family Therapy (elective)

CPSY 8801 Foundations of Assessment and Treatment in Systems

CPSY 9880 Internship in Couple and Family Therapy I

CPSY 9881 Internship in Couple and Family Therapy II

The prerequisites. are CPSY 6105 (Biological Bases of Behavior) and CPSY 7515 (Social Psychology). They can be transferred from the advanced undergraduate level or taken as graduate courses.

Requests for applications may be directed to the Office of Graduate Studies, College of Education and Human Services, (973)761-9668. Any information or questions about the program can be directed to Claudia Paredes, the Graduate Assistant for the program at (973) 275-2087 or e-mail at paredecl@shu.edu

Supervised clinical hours completed during the M.S. and Ed.S. programs count toward application for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. Licensure is regulated by state boards of examiners. The amount of supervised clinical hours varies from state to state. In New Jersey both the license-eligible degree and five years of clinical experience are required to apply for licensure as a marriage and family therapist. At least one of the years must occur after completion of the degree. Copies of the statutes and regulations regarding licensure can be obtained from the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners and other state licensing boards.

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II. Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy

The Marriage and Family Therapy Ed.S. program at Seton Hall University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), 1133 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Suite 300,Washington, D.C. 20005-2710,(202)-452-0109. The accreditation period is effective July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2008.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
This program is intended for those persons who have completed a master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, pastoral counseling or an allied field, and who wish to pursue a career in marriage and family therapy. All students must complete a minimum of 39 credits at Seton Hall University. If students lack any prerequisite, they may be required to complete additional credits beyond the 39 credit minimum. Prerequisite courses are Abnormal Psychology and Couple and Family Dynamics: Systemic Perspectives.

The purpose of this program is to provide students with the theoretical background and experiential training necessary to develop professional qualifications as couple and family therapists. The program must be completed within six years. It meets the educational requirements for licensure within the State of New Jersey and for associate membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The Marriage and Family Therapy Ed.S. program has accreditation status with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The accreditation period for the Ed.S. is effective July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2008.

ADMISSIONS:
In addition to university admission regulations, candidates for this program are required to submit the following:

An official transcript reflecting a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, pastoral counseling or an allied field;
Transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate course work;
Evidence of three years experience as a counselor/therapist;
Recent (within three years) Miller Analogies/Graduate Record Examination scores;
Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a former professor and one from a counseling/therapy supervisor;
Personal statement including professional goals; and
Appear for a personal interview.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
(Total credits: 39 minimum)

The curriculum for the Ed.S. is as follows:
CPSY 6102         Psychology of Human Development
CPSY 7101         Research Methods
CPSY 7610         Human Sexuality I
CPSY 7615         Gender and Ethnicity in Families
CPSY 7620         Seminar in Systemic Therapies
CPSY 7621         Couple and Family Systems Techniques I
CPSY 7622         Couple and Family Systems Techniques II
CPSY 8011         Seminar on Ethical and Legal Issues: A Systemic Approach
CPSY 8517         Seminar on Psychopathology and Systemic Diagnoses
CPSY 8800         Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Marriage & Family Therapy (as

                           elective)
CPSY 8801         Foundations of Assessment and Treatment in Systems
CPSY 9880         Internship in Couple and Family Therapy I
CPSY 9881         Internship in Couple and Family Therapy II

The prerequisites for the Ed.S. are CPSY 6601 (Couple and Family Dynamics: Systemic Perspectives) and CPSY 6103 (Abnormal Psychology).

Accreditation clinical standards require a minimum of 500 hours of supervised client contact (at least 50 percent with families and couples) at an appropriate site with an approved supervisor for completion of the program. There must be one hour of supervision for every five hours of client contact, and the supervision must include at least 50 hours of live or taped clinical material including a minimum of 25 hours of live or videotaped cases. When all other academic and clinical requirements are finished, students take part in the oral defense of a written case study accompanied by taped clinical processes.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

FACULTY:

Ben K. Beitin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Coordinator, Master’s, Ed.S. Students
Phone: 973 275-2856 , E-mail: beitinbe@shu.edu

Robert F. Massey , Ph.D.
Professor, Program Director, Ph.D., Ed.S., M.S. Programs
Phone: 973-761-9591, E-mail: masseyro@shu.edu

Wesley T. Matsui, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Coordinator, Ph.D. in Family Psychology
Phone: 973-761-9591, E-mail: matsuiwe@shu.edu

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS:

Angela Mead
G.A. to Clinical Coordinators
Phone: 973-761-2210, E-mail: meadange@shu.edu

Claudia Paredes
G. A. for Program Support
Phone: 973-275-2087, E-mail: paredecl@shu.edu

CONTACT US:
For additional information, please contact us at:

College of Education and Human Services
Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy
Jubilee Hall

South Orange, New Jersey 07079-2685
(973)761-9451
Program Director: Robert F. Massey, Ph.D.