ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY
MARSTON/WATSON HALL
206.281.2987
GRADADMISSIONS@SPU.EDU

Faculty, students, and staff in the School of Psychology, Family, and Community strive to become a community of learners: (1) Guided by faith. Exploring the implications of vital expressions of Christian faith for the human condition, as well as for emotional and relational healing and health. (2) Rooted in academic discipline. Fostering rigorous and creative learning environments, as well as contributing primary scholarship to the scientific study of psychological and social processes. (3) Committed to service. Grounding our learning community in the theory, research, and application of our disciplines in order to produce skilled graduates who can serve with character and competence in a broken world; nurturing creative partnerships with our local community and beyond in order to serve in and learn from socially and culturally diverse settings.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ is to provide the highest quality education and training in marriage and family therapy in a distinctly Christian context. The program focuses on the development of the self of the therapist through the integration of theory, research, and practice — all within a social-ecology perspective and guided by foundational Christian principles. People are viewed holistically, and training is guided by the values of openness, respect, curiosity, and accountability.

PROGRAM DISTINCTIVES
Our training is offered through academic coursework and supervised clinical practice, leading to a master of science degree in marriage and family therapy. The program provides a seven-quarter practicum sequence that delivers fundamental and comprehensive clinical training. Graduates are equipped to provide professional services as marriage and family therapists and to be effective participants in the ever-changing health care environment.

This degree can be completed in either a two-year (full-time) or three-year (part-time) sequence. In exceptional circumstances students may also have up to four years to complete degree requirements. In order to maintain active status in the program, students are expected to complete 24 credit hours per year. Exceptions are to be approved by the chair of the marriage and family therapy program. Courses are generally held during mid-afternoon and evening hours, Monday through Thursday, for 10 weeks. A typical full-time schedule is as follows:

First year: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30-8:30 p.m.

Second year: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30-8:30 p.m.

Full-time employment is discouraged for those who intend to pursue the two-year program. Full-time employment may be possible for those pursuing the three-year program. However, part-time employment is preferable.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM
The MFT degree prepares individuals for supervised service in clinical and agency mental health organizations, educational settings, and private psychotherapy. Other professional opportunities include educator, consultant, mediator, administrator, and medical family therapist. Marriage and Family Therapy program graduates work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Students will become skilled in providing professional therapeutic techniques in the treatment of family and individual issues based on a systems/relational understanding of people's lives. The program provides a seven-quarter practicum sequence that focuses on the development of the therapist and provides fundamental and comprehensive clinical training. This includes the following:

• Supervised internship at an approved site (500 hours of face-to-face client contact, of which at least 250 hours must be couples or family therapy).
• On-campus small-group supervision and individual/ group supervision at an internship placement site. One hundred (100) total hours of supervision is required, which will include at least 50 hours of live, video, or audio supervision.
• A clinical portfolio, presented in the seventh quarter. This is an in-depth application of a theory to clinical practice and the integration of the therapist with his or her clinical work. Supervisors and clinical practicum supervision group members attend the final presentation. ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ also offers a certificate in medical family therapy that can be incorporated into the standard MFT curriculum. Post-master's students may also obtain a certificate in medical family therapy.

ACCREDITATION

In addition to regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, the MFT program at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ holds national accreditation through the Commission of Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the accrediting agency for the American Association for Marriage and Family Training Programs. AAMFT is the national professional organization dedicated to the practice of marriage and family therapy. Graduates with post-master's degree experience are eligible to apply for licensure through Washington state's Department of Health. Five hundred (500) hours of clinical practice and 100 hours of supervision may be applied toward Washington state MFT licensure if an applicant graduates from the SPU MFT program. Licensure in more states follow COAMFTE curriculum and supervision requirements.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
The program begins in Autumn Quarter and admits students once a year. The application deadline is February 1. Listed below is a brief outline of University and program requirements for admission to MFT students. For detailed information on admission, visit The Graduate Center. You may also request an application packet by email, or by phone at 206.281.2091 or 800.601.0603.

1. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in any field. Candidates will have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in the last 45 quarter credits (30 semester credits) of coursework completed before applying for admission, or in all undergraduate work, whichever is higher.
   
2. A minimum of 18 semester credits or 24 quarter credits in the social and behavioral sciences, including a course in applied statistics and a course in individual life-span development, must be completed (at a regionally accredited institution) prior to full admission to the program. Students who have not already taken sufficient courses in this area are encouraged to take courses from the following areas: theories of personality, theories of counseling, abnormal psychology, and developmental psychology or family studies. Applicants may elect to take the psychology subject test of the GRE. Those who earn a score of 500 or higher may waive any unfinished prerequisite coursework, with the exception of the statistics and individual life-span development courses.
   
3. A minimum score of 950 (only verbal and quantitative) for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or 430 scaled score (35 raw score) for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is required. The test must have been administered within five years of the deadline date for application to the program. Further information on these tests can be obtained by calling the numbers listed below:
   
   Graduate Record Exam
   800.GRE.CALL or 800.473.2255
   
   
   Miller Analogies Test
   800.622.3231
   UW Testing Center for (local applicants)
   206.543.1170
   
   If the candidate has earned a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution, he or she can submit an official transcript on which the master's degree is posted and the GRE/MAT will be waived. Note: Candidates with significant qualifications and exceptional recommendations who fail to meet the GPA or GRE/MAT minimum scores may still be considered for admission to the MFT program, because the program admits all students on a probationary status (see "Admission Procedures").
   
4. Applicants will submit three letters of recommendation, including (1) at least one from a person professionally qualified to recommend for a field of this nature (e.g., mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, pastoral counselor, psychologist); and (2) at least one from a person qualified to evaluate academic ability (e.g., educator); and (3) a third personal recommendation that may include a reference from an employer and/or supervisor from a volunteer experience. Recommendation forms are included in the application brochure. Recommendations must be submitted on the forms provided. Forms should be sent to the applicant in sealed and signed envelopes to be included with the application package.
   
5. Applicants will submit a typed personal statement. Please present a succinct statement that provides an accurate indication of writing and grammatical skills. Generally, statements should be three to four pages in length. The personal statement should address (1) career objectives; (2) rationale for seeking the degree and choosing to attend ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ; (3) personal interest in marriage and family therapy; (d) professional and personal strengths as they apply to the mental health profession; (4) related volunteer or work experiences; (5) the way in which personal and professional life experiences have converged to motivate application to the MFT program; and (6) other insights as deemed appropriate by the applicant.
   
6. Those for whom English is not their first language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and present a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test.
   
7. Those who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States must provide an official confidential statement of financial support covering each year of intended enrollment.
   
8. Those interested in the Medical Family Therapy Certificate need to request application materials for this program also.

ADMISSION PROCEDURES
The Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Admissions Committee will complete an initial applicant screening process based upon the materials only. Finalists are invited to meet with members of the committee for an all-day group-interview process in early April. It is highly recommended that applicants participate in the group-interview process. Telephone interviews are also permissible, but in only exceptional circumstances.

Admission to the graduate program depends upon recommendation by the MFT faculty and approval from the chair of marriage and family therapy. The entire process is usually completed within 10 weeks after the final deadline date for applications.

All students are admitted on a probational status in order to allow faculty to be certain students are fully prepared for placement in an internship site. Full admission is required in order for placement in an internship site to occur. To be considered for full admission, students must complete a minimum of 11 units in the MFT program, with average GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses, and must be recommended for continuance by MFT faculty.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT
Students wishing to apply master’s degree level coursework completed at a regionally accredited institution prior to application must provide applicable transcripts and/or syllabi. Each course must be at least three graduate quarter credits and be equivalent to courses taught in the MFT program at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ. A minimum grade of B will be needed for transferred work, and a maximum of 9 quarter credits may be transferred.

MEDICAL FAMILY THERAPY CERTIFICATE

The medical field is developing integrated healthcare teams in medical settings to address the physical, emotional, spiritual and relational needs of patients. Due to rapid changes in the healthcare delivery system, which is struggling to provide a model to meet the needs of the consumer, payor and insurer, there is a growing need for sound training in integrative and collaborative healthcare.

Since 1995, the Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the New England Journal of Medicine have published studies showing that an integrated treatment protocol resulted in prolonged survival rates, significant cost savings, and an increased quality of life for cancer and heart disease patients. ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ has seen an increase in alumni obtaining jobs in different medical centers working with infertility, cancer and diabetes. Master's level students with advanced training in medical family therapy can become a vital part of the collaborative healthcare team. This is an ideal time to join the movement toward integrated healthcare that focuses upon the needs of the whole person and family system.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SPU's Medical Family Therapy Certificate Program is the only training program on the West Coast geared to training biomedical, psychosocial and spiritual providers to work in medical settings as a part of an integrated healthcare team.

With its commitment to excellence, service and Christian faith, SPU's School of Psychology, Family and Community stands ready to offer a biopsychosocial model of specialized training in collaborative medicine. In addition, this training will the role of spirituality and faith practices in healing and health. SPU's certificate in Medical Family Therapy will prepare health and mental health providers to be leaders in the development of this field. With the training and research emphasis on the role of spirituality in health and healing, our graduates will be equipped to introduce and implement a biopsychosocial-spiritual model of care into a healthcare system struggling to be both cost-effective and healing.

COURSEWORK

There are two options for those interested in obtaining the Medical Family Therapy Certificate.

Graduate students already enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at SPU may add 15 additional credits focused on medical family therapy in order to receive the certificate.

The certificate in Medical Family Therapy, can be earned during or after completion of the MFT program.  Below are links to the two approved program plans for combining the MFT M.S. Degree and the MDFT certificate.

Professionals who have a degree in marital and family therapy will only need to complete the core courses (20 units:  see link below) to receive the certificate. Classes may be taken individually, also. The Psychopharmacology, Medical Family Therapy and Beliefs courses can be taken alone; each class earns 3 quarter credits or 30 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Coursework

Those persons who have received graduate training in social work, behavioral science, theology, nursing or medicine will need to review their prior classes. Depending upon past coursework, additional credits may be needed. For most students, the certificate can be completed over a two-year period with one class per quarter the first year and practicum the second year.

INTERNSHIP

In the late summer early fall after all coursework is complete, students will be placed in a year long internship 10 hours a week in an outpatient medical clinic. Students will have a chance to discuss internship placement possibilities prior to placement. Clinics range from Family Medicine, Oncology, Rheumatology, Women's Health, and other specialty medicine sites. Students will work alongside physicians, nurses, and staff providing on-site psychosocial care. They will be actively involved in charting, consulting with medical team, program development, and clinical treatment. Clinic schedule will be determined in consideration of clinic need, space restrictions and student's availability. During the internship year students will also be enrolled in the practicum supervision course once a week on campus.

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