Educational Goals and Learning Objectives

To provide advanced clinical training in marriage and family therapy. Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- apply a range of MFT models and theories to clinical practice
- apply these MFT models to specific areas of family life (e.g., trauma, grief/loss, aging, health/illness and coping, etc.), and specific diagnoses
- develop personal models of clinical practice integrate multiple theoretical perspectives
- develop effective and theoretically consistent treatment plans for both clinical work and training purposes
- understand the theory construction process and to critique and evaluate current theories and models in MFT.
To prepare students to be faculty members in other MFT training programs. This includes training specifically in teaching, along with experience teaching and supervising master's level students in the master's degree program. Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- teach a majority of the COAMFTE master's level curriculum
- construct safe, constructive, and challenging learning environments
- develop and implement syllabi, in-class learning exercises, and basic lesson outlines
- demonstrate ability to teach using a variety of low and high technology formats to enhance student engagement and learning
- demonstrate an understanding of content and process match in adult learning
- construct learning assignments geared at different adult learning styles
- construct and constructively assess learning assignments that facilitate understanding and application of course material
- demonstrate a plan for continuing education for continued updating and enhancement of a course
- infuse courses informed by social justice content, human and family development from diverse cultures, international trends in family policy and law, and both classic and new research in the MFT literature.
To prepare students to be skilled researchers including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- effectively and appropriately utilize a range of statistical and research methods in quantitative MFT research
- effectively and appropriately utilize a range of qualitative traditions and methods and apply these to areas of MFT research
- understand the extant MFT research literature and basis for evidence-based practice
- evaluate extant research literature
- design and carry out research in the field of MFT that adds to the extant literature, including formulating research questions, data collection, analysis, and reporting of results
- link theory and research.
To train advanced clinical MFT supervisors. Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- integrate clinical models in a theoretically consistent manner
- develop a personal model of supervision grounded in clinical theory
- apply social justice perspective to clinical supervision and model of supervision
- provide supervision that is consistent with developmental level of clinical trainees
- effectively utilize various forms of supervision, including case report, videotape, and live modalities
- recognize isomorphic process and use it effectively in the supervision process.
To train a generation of marriage and family therapists in social justice approaches to MFT teaching, research, supervision, and practice. Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- apply a range of theories of social justice to clinical practice, clinical training, and research
- critically evaluate models/theories, teaching methods, and research from a social justice perspective.

Last Updated: 3/4/10