 |
|
|
AUNE Home
>
Applied Psychology
>
Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Requirements Department of Applied Psychology, 2011-2012
Special Requirements for All Programs in the Department of Applied Psychology
Because these are programs of professional preparation, students must meet professional as well as academic standards. The Department of Applied Psychology adheres to the code of ethics of the following organizations: The American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, The American Counseling Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and the American Dance Therapy Association, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and also requires that students maintain the ability to function in a professional capacity and seek help, when necessary, in managing their personal issues. Questions about personal/professional competence or ethical conduct will be discussed with the student before any administrative action is taken. If resolution is not possible at the departmental level, the issues may be referred for more formal resolution through the Student Grievance Procedure.
Policies and procedures employed by the Department of Applied Psychology in evaluating academic, clinical, interpersonal effectiveness, and professional behavior can be found in the Department of Applied Psychology Handbook.
Certification and Licensing
Graduates of the Department of Applied Psychology may apply for professional credentials, recognizing their level of training and experience. Credentials may be granted by national professional boards/organizations or by the regulatory boards of individual states.
Generally there are three levels:
Licensure
is a legislatively established form of regulation granted and administered by individual states. It may protect the practice of an occupation as well as the title. This makes it the most desirable, both for public protection (its primary purpose) as well as for members of that profession. Only states may grant licenses. State licensure establishes standards for insurance payers to use in identifying qualified practitioners. Examples of titles under current usage are licensed clinical mental health counselor, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, licensed alcohol and drug addictions counselor, or creative arts therapist.
Certification
is a process of verifying one's professional qualifications. State laws may establish certification; national professional organizations/boards may also certify. Most often this includes a written examination of one's knowledge in the field. The National Board of Certified Counselors offers certification as a National Certified Counselor and several specialty certifications. Certification for drug and alcohol counselors is available both through professional organizations and through state certifying bodies. Certification for Behavior Analysts and Assistant Behavior Analysts is available through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Certifications, memberships, and registries are not generally recognized by insurance payers, but are useful to the public in assessing a practitioner's qualifications.
Registry or Roster
usually refers to a listing of those using a title or providing a service. Registries can be maintained by the profession or by the state. Some states require rostering in order to practice. Clinical Membership in AAMFT and Registry through the American Dance Therapy Association (American Dance Therapists—Registered) are examples of this level of credential. The state of Vermont, for example, maintains a roster of unlicensed practitioners and requires rostering prior to obtaining post degree supervised hours for licensure. The state of New Hampshire requires that applicants have supervision plans filed prior to beginning post-master's practice.
The legislature in each state establishes the criteria for licensure and an appointed board determines an individual's eligibility for licensure. The Department has designed its programs to be consistent with the standards of the representative professional organizations. Individual states, many of which base their legislation on professional organization standards, vary as to specific coursework, number of hours of supervised practice, supervisor qualification, and other required criteria.
The Department of Applied Psychology recognizes the importance of licensing and certification as part of the preparation for professional practice and offers coursework and internships that allow students to achieve a licensable portfolio. However, because licensure is the sole province of the state regulating bodies, the Department cannot guarantee that students will be licensed or certified.
It is the students' responsibility to obtain their state's regulations and to meet specific state requirements. This is especially important since some states require that all coursework be completed within the graduate degree program, and will not allow courses to be added at a later date. Additionally, board membership changes and new legislation may alter licensure requirements or interpretation of these requirements during a student's program. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and to meet these requirements. The cost of any coursework over and above that required for the student's program is the responsibility of the student, including the cost of meeting any future changing regulations.
Membership in state professional organizations and ongoing contact with licensing boards in their respective states will assist students in assuring their own eligibility for professional licensure. Core faculty members in the Department are available for advice and counsel on licensing matters.
Changing State Licensing Requirements
AUNE, while not responsible for actions of external licensing agencies, does intend to support both current masters and doctoral degree students and graduates in meeting changing requirements. In doing so, we strive to be fair and consistent to all students. Therefore, if licensing requirements enacted by an external agency exceed the current degree requirements, the following options are available:
- For current masters or doctoral degree students: additional coursework to satisfy licensing requirements (either existing courses or SISs). Current students may use elective credits, or if necessary, study an additional semester at the current per-credit rate.
- For graduates of masters or doctoral degree programs: the opportunity to enroll as a Continuing Education Student in either the appropriate course or, as an exception, in an SIS, at the following rate: 50% of the Continuing Education masters per credit tuition. This charge is less than the current per credit fee for matriculated masters students.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MA—62 credits
Students may enter the program in the Fall or Spring semesters. Both entry points require 6 semesters of study and the degree requirements are the same.
The first year is an introduction to the foundations of Mental Health Counseling theory and practice. In the second year, students continue to study the fundamentals of the profession, adding a professional seminar and a 600-hour practicum/internship experience which should include a supervised experience in individual, group, and systems interventions. This field experience requires a commitment of about twenty hours per week over the course of two semesters. Students who wish to use their current employment as a practicum or internship must consult with the director of clinical training for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
In the third year of the program, at least two concentration seminars are taken, selected from a variety of focused treatment or population courses such as: cognitive behavioral approaches, child and family counseling, mind-body and expressive approaches to mental health counseling. Students take another year of professional seminar and complete a 600-hour internship to meet their more advanced training needs.
Required Courses are Listed under Each Competency Area
Behavioral Science
|
9 credits |
Individual Assessment and Intervention
|
15 credits |
Group and Social Systems Assessment and Intervention
|
6 credits |
Professional Identity and Practice
|
26 credits |
Major Areas of Concentration
|
6 credits |
| Total Credits for MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 62 credits |
60-credit minimum is required if any courses are waived. | |
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Substance Abuse/Addictions Counseling
MA—63 credits
Students may enter the program in the Fall or Spring semesters. Both entry points require 6 semesters of study and the degree requirements are the same.
Students in this concentration must also complete a weekend course in psychopharmacology of substance abuse. One of the two internship/practicum years must be completed in a substance abuse treatment setting or in a general setting with an identified substance abuse population (such as a student assistance program in a high school).
The first year is an introduction to the foundations of Mental Health Counseling theory and practice. In the second year, students continue to study the fundamentals of the profession, adding a professional seminar and a 600-hour practicum/internship experience which should include a supervised experience in individual, group, and systems interventions. This field experience requires a commitment of about twenty hours per week over the course of two semesters. Students who wish to use their current employment as a practicum or internship must consult with the director of clinical training for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
In the third year of the program, two concentration seminars are taken: Integrative Approaches to Addictions Counseling, and Family Counseling Approaches to Addictions. Students take professional seminar and complete a different 600-hour internship to meet their more advanced training needs. Another year of Professional Seminar is completed: this seminar has an additional focus in addictions counseling.
To earn the MA degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Substance Abuse/Addictions Counseling, a student must successfully complete a minimum of sixty-three credits, distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed under Each Competency Area
Behavioral Science
|
10 credits |
Individual Assessment and Intervention
|
15 credits |
Group and Social Systems Assessment and Intervention
|
6 credits |
Professional Identity and Practice
|
26 credit |
Major Areas of Concentration
|
6 credits |
Total Credits for MA in Clinical Mental
Health |
63 credits |
60-credit minimum is required if any courses are waived.
All waivers must be submitted to the Registrar's Office in writing.
Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy
MA—63 credits
To earn an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, you must earn sixty-three credits, (a minimum of sixty credits if any required courses are waived), as distributed below. Students will complete a 250 clock-hour practicum in the Fall and Spring of the first year of the program, and a twelve-month, 1,000 clock-hour internship, starting in May and extending through the Spring of their second year. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting agency for the accreditation of clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and postgraduate levels.
Practicum and internship placements may require criminal background checks as well as verification of up-to-date vaccinations.
Required courses are listed under each Standard Curriculum Area Requirement as outlined by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
| Area I: Theoretical Knowledge | 6 credits |
|
|
| Area II: Clinical Knowledge | 6-12 credits |
|
|
| Area III: Individual Development and Family Relations | 9 credits |
|
|
| Area IV: Professional Identity and Ethics | 3 credits |
|
|
| Area V: Research | 3 credits |
|
|
| Additional Courses | 30 credits |
|
|
| Total credits | 63 credits |
Note: By the conclusion of the practicum and internship requirements, the student must have provided a minimum of 500 therapy hours including no fewer than 250 relational hours under approved supervision at the approved sites, and received no fewer than 100 hours of approved supervision, twenty-five hours of which must be live or videotaped therapy sessions and twenty-five of which must be live, videotaped, or audiotaped sessions directly observed by the supervisor. Students may be required to provide their own video or audiotaping equipment at their internship site. All COAMFTE clinical requirements must be adhered to by the sites and supervisors. The Director of Clinical Training will provide current information and will assist MFT students to obtain an appropriate clinical site placement and supervision |
|
60-credit minimum is required if any courses are waived.
All waivers must be submitted to the Registrar's Office in writing.
PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy
PhD—80 credits
Required Courses are Listed under Each Competency Area:
| Theory | 6 credits |
|
|
| Clinical Practice | 18 credits |
|
|
| Individual Development and Family Relations | 3 credits |
|
|
| Clinical Supervision | 21 credits |
|
|
| Research | 15 credits |
|
|
| Additional Courses | 15 credits |
|
|
| Dissertation & Internship | 2 credits |
|
|
| Total Credits, PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy | 78- 82 credits |
Note: A total of 1000 hours of clinical practice (i.e., face-to-face client contact, with at least 500 relational hours and 200 hours of supervision) - including internship and practicum is required. Students from COAMFTE-accredited master's degree programs may waive up to 500 clinical hours and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists may waive an additional 300 clinical hours. Students without a background in MFT may be required to take additional prerequisite coursework. |
|
Practicum and internship placements may require criminal brackground checks as well as verification of up-to-date vaccinations.
Additional degree requirements:- Satisfactory completion of a doctoral dissertation which demonstrates doctoral level scholarship.
- Satisfactory performance on the Qualifying Examinations at the end of the second academic year.
Students have a maximum of seven years from initial enrollment to complete all course requirements, clinical hours, and dissertation.
Master of Arts in Dance Movement Therapy
and Counseling
MA—62 credits
The program typically takes two-and-a-half to three years to complete, entailing two days per week of classes. In your first year, you will take core classes in dance/movement therapy, two semesters of practica in dance/movement therapy as well as counseling courses.
During your second year, you will take advanced dance/movement therapy courses and additional counseling courses. You will also spend nine months over two semesters in a supervised counseling practicum/internship sequence, for 15 hours per week totaling 450 hours, and take a concurrent 6-credit Professional Seminar sequence.
You will begin your six- to nine-month dance/movement therapy internship (700 hours) during the fall of your third year. Internship sites range from the local New England area to locations throughout the country; international sites are also a possibility when supervision is available. (The internship must be supervised by a BC-DMT.)
Before graduation, each student must have taken a 3-credit course or its equivalent in Anatomy & Kinesiology. Documentation of this requirement must be submitted to the Program Director in order for degree requirements to be satisfied.
Graduates of the MA program are eligible for R-DMT registration from the American Dance Therapy Association. They must apply directly to the ADTA.
To earn the MA degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling students must successfully complete a minimum of sixty-two credits, distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed under Each Competency Area
Behavioral Science Foundations
|
12 credits |
Individual Assessment and Intervention Strategies
|
15 credits |
Group & Social Systems Assessment & Intervention Strategies
|
6 credits |
| Professional Seminar | 12 credits |
| Practicum and Internship | 14 credits |
| Methods Research and Evaluation | 3 credits |
Total Credits for MA in DanceMovement Therapy and Counseling |
62 credits |
60-credit minimum is required if any courses are waived.
All waivers must be submitted to the Registrar's Office in writing.
Please Note: An MEd in Dance/Movement Therapy is also available. Course requirements are the same as for the MA, but there is more flexibility in the type of internship and supervision allowed. Internships not supervised by BC-DMT's, however, do not qualify the graduate for R-DMT registration. (62 credit minimum program)
Post-Master's Certificate of Respecialization in Dance/Movement Therapy (Certificate)
32 credits
The Certificate Program is completed over two academic years (fall and spring semesters only). In the first year, students take core classes and practica in dance/movement therapy. During the second year, they take advanced dance/movement therapy courses. In order to earn the certificate, students must earn 32 credits, distributed as follows:
Required Courses are Listed under Each Term
Fall Semester, First Year
|
11 credits |
Spring Semester, First Year
|
11 credits |
Fall Semester, Second year
|
6 credits |
Spring Semester, Second Year
|
4 credits |
Total Credits for Dance Movement Therapy Certificate |
32 credits |
Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate Program
12 credits
The Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate Program is completed over two academic semesters starting in the fall. In the first semester students take six 1-credit introductory courses in autism spectrum disorders. During the second semester students take three additional 1-credit courses and take one 3-credit advanced specialty seminar.
Fall Semester
|
6 credits |
Spring Semester
|
6 credits |
Total Credits for the Autism |
12 credits |
Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program
19 - 25 credits
The Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program is a four semester certificate program. The program is available either with or without a 9-credit clinical component. Students accepted into the clinical component will register to take Practica and Professional Seminar in the second, third and fourth semesters.
Behavioral
|
8 credits |
Individual Assessment and Interventional Strategies
|
9 credits |
Professional Identity and Practice
|
9 credits |
Total Credits for the Autism |
19-25 credits |
© 2012 Antioch University New England, 40 Avon Street, Keene, NH 03431-3516 800.553.8920