Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy Specialization
Pursue your Master of Arts in Psychology (MA), Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization at University of the Rockies' campus located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Program Emphasis:
In the Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization, you will take a core curriculum that includes the study of theoretical and applied psychology with the objectives of understanding human development, child and adult psychopathology and treatment, professional ethics, assessment and statistics, and counseling techniques. Additionally, you will take courses in and receive training in marriage and family therapy.
Degree Completion Requirements:
To fulfill the requirements for the Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy Specialization, you must successfully complete the following:
- Program coursework of 60 credits
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00
- Comprehensive Exam at the conclusion of the program
- 20 hours of individual therapy
- 700 hours of practicum
Program Outline:
Take advantage of the flexible course offerings, as follows:
- Evening and/or weekend courses are offered.
- Evening courses meet one night per week for 4 hours over a 9-week term.
- Weekend classes meet on three weekends over the 9-week term from Friday at 12:00 noon through Sunday at 1:30 PM.
- The typical course load is two courses per term.
- Courses are listed in the proposed sequence. You will have assistance from the Registrar for scheduling your courses.
Courses:
PSY 5000 Introduction to Professional Psychology (1 credit)
This course provides an overview of the roles, relationships, and responsibilities of individuals in the various specialties in applied and professional psychology. Particular attention is given to identifying those specialties for which licensing is required/available, and the distinction between experimental/theoretical psychology and applied/professional psychology.
PSY 5130 Life Span Development (3 credits)
This course surveys the major theoretical perspectives on life span development from conception through late adulthood. Developmental processes related to physical, cognitive, moral, and emotional functions are reviewed as well as societal and cultural aspects of development.
PSY 6160 Family Systems & Dynamics (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to the systems approach to intervention with families. It includes a historical perspective on family theory development. The focus is on obtaining knowledge and theory about the nuclear family in traditional and alternative forms. Normal family patterns of interaction, family life cycle, family of origin, family subsystems, and societal influence are explored. Contemporary issues and outcome research literature are reviewed. This course serves as a knowledge base for further study of assessment, treatment, and intervention with families.
PSY 5230 Relational & Contextual Factors in Psychology (1 credit)
This course includes reviews and study of contemporary literature involving the roles and impacts of relationships and situational variables in behavior and behavior change, particularly in therapeutic relationships.
PSY 5280 Ethics, Laws & Standards of Professional Practice (3 credits)
This course is a study of the ethical and legal issues confronting the practicing psychologist. Topics related to clinical methodology, standards of practice, and inter-professional relations are explored. Students learn principles of ethical decision making, standards for human and animal use in research, and standards of care specified by state and federal laws. Emphasis is placed on exploration of the emotional impact that major ethical and legal dilemmas have on decision making. Students also master the current code of ethics of the American Psychological Association and other professional codes of ethics, such as the code of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy or the code of the American Counseling Association. This course must be taken at University of the Rockies and may not be transferred from another institution. Cross-listed and equivalent with ORG/PSY 6520.
PSY 6600 Theories & Techniques of Marriage & Family Therapy I (3 credits)
This course is a didactic integration designed to introduce the student to the foundations of marriage and family therapy. It provides an overview of the major theoretical approaches to marriage and family therapy. Assessment techniques and intervention strategies are presented for all of the schools of thought, with an emphasis on intergenerational, communication, experiential, structural, and behavioral approaches.
PSY 5310 Fundamental Data Analysis & Research Design (2 credits)
This course emphasizes statistical concepts related to distributions and methods most appropriate to data and theories in psychology. The focus is on a quantitative approach to the concepts and methods of statistical inference. Topics include sampling, frequency distributions, estimation, and probability. Statistical techniques in analysis and interpretation of experimental data include estimation and testing, analysis of variance, experimental designs, linear regression, and correlation. Various statistical models are discussed including analyses of variance, covariance, and multiple regression; non-parametric statistics; components of variance; and designs and analyses for multi-factor experiments. Basic research design issues are addressed, with a focus on selecting data analysis techniques to appropriately address research questions. It is highly recommended that this course be taken concurrently with PSY 5320.
PSY 5320 Fundamental Data Analysis & Research Design Lab (1 credits)
This is a laboratory course where students apply the concepts covered in PSY 5310 to various psychological problems and real life situations. Data collection, analysis, and interpretation experiences are heavily emphasized. PSY 5320 is a co-requisite or pre-requisite to this course. It is highly recommended that this course be taken concurrently with PSY 5310. PSY 5310 in conjunction with PSY 5320 comprise the equivalent of PSY 5400.
PSY 6610 Theories & Techniques of Marriage & Family Therapy II (3 credits)
This course focuses on mastery of basic and advanced principles of marriage and family therapy through an integration of therapeutic perspectives of modernist models. Models studied include strategic, brief solution focused, narrative, and integrative. Intervention strategies from each perspective are presented and practiced.
PSY 6951 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
PSY 6460 Marital Systems (3 credits)
This course explores current theory and practice of couple and marital therapy. It includes a review of the professional and non-professional literature related to the subject. Topics such as divorce, infidelity, relationship enhancement, cross-cultural marriages, and same sex couples are researched. Interactive patterns, societal influences, and intervention strategies are discussed.
PSY 6470 Theories & Techniques of Group Counseling & Psychotherapy (3 credits)
This course is a study of the history, theory, and practice of group counseling and psychotherapy. Several major contemporary models of group counseling are examined. Instructional methods include both didactic presentations and experiential methods. Students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a training group as a group member and as a leader. A strong emphasis is placed on ethical standards and self-assessment of personal strengths and weaknesses that affect group leadership.
PSY 6952 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
PSY 5530 Cultural Diversity & Individual Differences (3 credits)
This course provides a systematic review of the wide range of cultures and individual differences and the ways in which cultural mores, ethnocentrism, and factors such as matters of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, customs and cultures impact behavior of the individual themselves and of those around them. Through this course, students better understand themselves and others, in terms of perceptions and behaviors.
PSY 6580 Human Sexuality & Sexual Disorders (3 credits)
This course focuses on the sexual response cycle, sexual identity, and the treatment of sexual disorders in clinical practice. The primary emphasis is on the way in which a disturbance in the processes of the sexual response cycle (desire/excitement/orgasm/resolution) leads to sexual dysfunction. The student also becomes familiar with the paraphilias and gender identity disorders.
PSY 6953 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
PSY 5110 Theories of Personality I (2 credits)
This course explores the major theories of personality including Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Biological, Cognitive, Trait-Factor, and Humanistic/Existential approaches. Students study individual theories and compare and contrast these theoretical positions in terms of current research. It is strongly recommended that students take this course concurrently with PSY 5120.
PSY 5120 Theories of Personality II: Applications in Clinical Psychology (1 credit)
In this course, students explore the relevance and application of personality theories to the profession of psychology, particularly clinical psychology and other mental health service provider specialties. It is strongly recommended that students take this course concurrently with PSY 5110.
PSY 5610 Psychometrics: Tests & Measurements (3 credits)
This course involves the study of the theory and practice of psychological measurement. The focus is on the process of measuring and differentiating variables of psychological interest. Students explore basic concepts of measurement and the principles of test construction. The course familiarizes the prospective professional psychologist with the common tests used in psychological and educational practice. These include intellectual, aptitude, and achievement tests; interest inventories; personality tests; and social measures.
PSY 6954 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
PSY 6220 Family/Marital Assessment (3 credits)
This course covers assessment goals related to treatment strategies, assessment techniques, and assessment instruments used in working with couples and families. Guided practice in selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting assessment techniques and instruments is provided.
PSY 6230 Treatment of Family Violence (3 credits)
This course explores the major personal and social theories of family violence, including elder abuse. The course focuses on severe marital conflicts, rape, and physical and emotional violence. The cycle of family violence is examined with emphasis on societal factors that contribute to this behavior. Students explore causality and treatment alternatives for victims and perpetrators as well as current research findings in the field.
PSY 6955 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
PSY 6380 Seminar in Marriage & Family Therapy (3 credits)
This course is for students with prior coursework in marriage and family therapy. It focuses on current research and theory in the field, and provides students with the opportunity to build theory and create and develop marriage and family interventions.
PSY 6956 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
PSY 6957 Practicum (Marriage & Family Therapy) (1 credit)
Students gain direct supervised clinical experience providing therapeutic services to couples or families. 100 contact hours of client service are required for each credit hour.
Choose From the Following Electives:
PSY 6585 Play Therapy (3 credits)
This course is designed to acquaint students with the types of children with whom therapy is appropriate and to help students improve their ability to conduct meaningful assessment interviews with children, parents, and teachers. The course emphasizes the play therapy approach to psychotherapy with children and familiarizes the student with current law and play therapy techniques addressing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children, including theoretical understanding of play therapy techniques.
PSY 6570 Comparative Styles in Parenting (3 credits)
This course reviews the various styles of parenting and guiding the development of children and adolescents. Styles are compared and contrasted, with specific targets toward assisting parents in the marriage and family counseling process.
PSY 6575 Couples Communication (3 credits)
This course provides an examination of the types and levels of effectiveness of communication employed by couples. Areas of focus include communication media, modalities, styles, techniques, and methods of interpretation used by couples.
Comprehensive Exam
