Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles - Copy of Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology: Program Concentrations

Program Concentrations

Marriage and Family Therapy (Minimum of 50 units required)
The Master's degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy will teach students to apply psychotherapeutic research and principles in the treatment of individuals, couples and families.The focus of the program is on clinical assessment, planning and implementation of treatment goals for those with emotional difficulties and distress. Students will learn the theories and ethical practice of psychotherapy, to be applied in a variety of treatment settings. The program meets academic requirements for those who seek the California Marriage and Family Therapy License.

Preparation (6 units)
PSY 202 Psychological Foundations of Growth,
Development, and Learning(3)
PSY 268 Psychopathology(3)

Theories of Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (14 units)
PSY 203 Multicultural Counseling (2)
PSY 225 Counseling Theory and Procedure (3)
PSY 236 Family Therapy (3)
PSY 241 Marriage and Relationship Counseling (3)
PSY 274 Psychological Treatment of Children (3)

Counseling Skills (13 units)
PSY 230 Psychological Testing: Theory and Procedure (2)
PSY 235 Group Dynamics: Theory and Procedures (3)
PSY 265 Behavioral Psychopharmacology (2)
PSY 269 Field Experience in Counseling (6)
(with a minimum of 180 contact hours and 240 total BBS-acceptable
hours)

Family Challenges (3 units)
PSY 237 Human Sexuality (1)
PSY 238 Alcohol and Substance Abuse (1)
PSY 240 Spousal Abuse (1)

Research (3 units)
PSY 200 Research Methods (3)

Professional Ethics and Law (2 units)
PSY 263 Laws and Ethics in Counseling (2)

Thesis/Project/Oral
PSY 295 Masters Thesis (3)
or
PSY 296 Masters Project (3)
or
PSY 298 Case Presentation (0)

Students who do not complete their thesis or project during the semester they originally enroll in PSY 295/296 must enroll in PSY 297, a one unit continuation course, each subsequent semester until the thesis/project is completed. Students may enroll in the one unit continuation course a maximum of three times.

Students may take the oral exam a maximum of two times. The examination must be successfully completed by the end of the 12th week of the semester the student intends to graduate.

Emphasis (3-9 units)
In order to complete 50 semester units, MFT students complete from three (3) to nine (9) units of elective coursework. Elective units may be selected to create an emphasis in Counseling the Spanish-speaking client,Pastoral Counseling, clinical skills, research skills, or another area of special interest to the student.

Graduate Psychology Policies
Professional behavior is expected from MSMC students at all time. Students must abide by the ethical standards of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, all departmental and college policies, and the policies of any and all placement sites. If the expectations of the College or the placement site are not met the student is subject to dismissal from the program.
Students enrolled in the Master's programs at MSMC must maintain a 3.0 GPA. If they fall below this GPA,students are put on probation and given one semester to bring their grades up to a 3.0. If this is not achieved, they will be dismissed from the program.

ENLACES Certificate Program-Counseling the Spanish-Speaking Client (17 units)
Coursework familiarizes students with the diversity of cultures in the Spanish-speaking community, the unique issues that these cultures bring to the counseling setting. Professional terminology and theory in Spanish, and the Spanish-language psychological literature, are emphasized, in addition to practicum experience working with Spanish-speaking clients. This certificate program is a unique focus of the Mount St. Mary's College Master's in Counseling degree.

This certificate requires:
PSY 203 Multicultural Counseling (2)
PSY 245 The Cultures of Spanish-speaking People of the Americas (3)
or
SPA 244 Hispanic Civilization and Cultures (3)
PSY 275 Professional Spanish for Counselors (3)
PSY 269A, B Fieldwork Experience (6) (Must involve work with Spanish-speaking clients)
PSY 290 Workshop Three 1-unit special topic workshops must be taken