Dec 09, 2024  
2003-2004 Springfield College Graduate Catalog 
    
2003-2004 Springfield College Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Marriage and Family Therapy


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Marriage and family therapy has been a rapidly growing field since its beginnings some fifty years ago. Therapists, counselors, educators, clergy and health care workers, among others, are becoming increasingly aware of the complexities of human interactions and are seeking new ways of conceptualizing and working with individuals, couples and families.

Offering both a Master’s degree and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS; for those already possessing a Master’s degree), the program is designed for: students beginning their graduate careers; for individuals interested in expanding or enhancing their clinical and theoretical knowledge; or for individuals who need to take courses necessary to meet licensing/certification requirements. The program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis and courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening for those who work during the day.

The program offers courses which provide students an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of family systems theory, exposure to the various schools of marriage and family therapy, and training in the skills necessary for provision of marriage and family therapy in a variety of settings. Fieldwork designed to help students integrate theory and practice is also an important part of the curriculum. Students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills gained during the course of study to a wide range of personal, educational and clinical settings.

Contact Person:
Dr. Laura Maggio
Telephone: (413)748-3472
E-Mail: Laura_Maggio@spfldcol.edu

Undergraduate Prerequisites: None.

Psychology and Counseling


The psychology and counseling programs in the Psychology Department fully encompass the College’s humanics philosophy, serving as a vital bridge to the understanding of the full range of human behavior-both in practical, real-life situations or in theoretical and scholarly study. Founded more than fifty years ago to address the stresses of a dynamic postwar culture, the College’s Psychology Department prepares graduate students to assume leadership roles in a variety of careers, including athletic counseling, college administration, clinical, school guidance counseling, industrial or organizational psychology, `and marriage and family therapy.

Many exciting new career opportunities are available for counselors and psychologists holding advanced degrees, particularly in the fields of educational counseling, community mental health care, counseling for the aging, and the growing areas of consulting, training, and marketing research.

Contact Person:
Dr. Ann Moriarty
Chair, Department of Psychology
Telephone: (413) 748- 3322
E-Mail: Anna_Moriarty@spfldcol.edu

The Programs and Curricula

The Springfield College graduate programs in psychology and counseling strive to meet ever-changing community and organizational needs by producing highly trained counselors, administrators, and human resource professionals with a keen sense of self-awareness, effective counseling skills, and knowledge of a wide range of helping strategies. The College’s emphasis on humanics is especially well-suited to preparing compassionate and insightful graduates who understand the interconnectedness of spirit, mind, and body.

The graduate programs combine content mastery and exceptional field training to produce scientist-practioners uniquely prepared to apply their knowledge of the human mind and the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of human behavior to real-life situations- helping people live better and more productively.

In each psychology program, the curriculum is characterized by two parallel themes: a practical understanding of people and why they behave the way they do, and a scholarly appreciation of the problems encountered in the discipline of psychology.

Students in the psychology and counseling programs must complete forty-eight to sixty semester hours of graduate course work, depending on the concentration. The programs are designed to allow flexibility for both full- and part-time students. Courses are often scheduled in evening and summer sessions, and individual work sites may be used for fieldwork/internship experience and credit. Working professional can often complete the requirements for a part-time master’s program in two years. Sample curriculum sequences for part-time study are available upon request.

The Psychology Department is housed in Locklin Hall, which includes a counseling laboratory with two-way mirrors, a new research and computer laboratory with biofeedback equipment, as well as classrooms and offices. The programs are enhanced by the on-campus presence of the Springfield College Counseling Center, the Center for Performance Enhancement and Applied Research, an Employee Assistance Program, a career center, and many college services and offices where graduate students can pursue supervised fieldwork in a convenient professional setting. Services at the Counseling Center include a wide range of remedial and preventative mental health services. The College’s athletic facilities provide training and study opportunities for athletic counseling students. In addition to campus resources, a wide array of schools, businesses, other institutions of higher learning, human services and counseling agencies provide for a wealth of mentoring, internship and professional opportunities.

Departmental Requirements (Total 6 s.h.)


Marriage & Family Program Requirements (Total 9 s.h.)


Human Development (3 courses required)

Marital & Family Studies (3 courses required) (Total 9 s.h.)


  • RHDS 587 - Substance Abuse & Family Treatment Credits: 3 s.h.

Marital and Family Therapy (3 courses required) (Total 9 s.h.)


Professional Studies (1 course required)


Clinical Experience


12 months/ 15 hours per week, minimum.

Selectives


Research Requirements (Total 60 s.h.)


Plan A: M.Ed.


Master’s Comprehensive Examination

Plan B: M.S. - Thesis


Dual Marriage and Family Therapy/Mental Health Counseling Option


A dual concentration has been created for those interested in meeting the licensing requirements for both marriage and family therapy and mental health counseling in Massachusetts. This concentration can be completed by choosing electives tailored to meet both requirements and by taking one additional credit for an M.Ed. or ten additional credits for an M.S. (Seven additional credits would be required for Dual Track with M.S. option.)

Refer to Masters Degree Requirements regarding Plan A, B, and C.

* Required Course

** Additional courses required for students who wish to apply for dual licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor.

Certificate of Advance Study- Minimum of 32 semester hours

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