The Psychology Department has offered an MFT concentration through a M.A. in Clinical Psychology program from its inception in 1977 to 2012. The increasing demand for couple and family therapy in the U.S. and abroad underscores the need for specialized training in family systems theory and techniques. In fact, U.S. News and World Report identified Marital and Family Therapist as one of the 50 best careers of 2010. There is a great need for competently trained, systemically oriented clinicians who can serve the body of Christ and those marginalized by our society.
This 2 year, 48 credit MA program will produce graduates who are distinctive as Christians in their practice of marriage and family therapy; and who will demonstrate a vision for clinical practice as service, especially to the body of Christ, the Church, and to marginalized persons throughout the world. It will prepare students for professional licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists. Consistent with the historic mission of our graduate psychology programs at Wheaton, our vision is to develop whole and effective clinicians through a balanced approach to education which attends to spiritual, personal, interpersonal, and professional growth and development as part of the education process.
Some of the MFT program distinctions and core values include:
- Cohort model - seeking to create a diverse, cohesive learning community characterized by Christ-centered relationships
- Global perspective - emphasis on the needs of marginalized persons throughout the world
- Academic excellence - scholarship committed to servanthood
- Clinical competence - curriculum is built around MFT core competencies as developed by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and consistent with Illinois licensure requirements for the MFT license. (Incoming students who wish to practice outside of Illinois will need to research requirements for other States, and we will do our best to help meet these.)
- Faculty engagement - as teachers, mentors, clinical supervisors
- Prepares students for professional licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists
Sequence of Courses
The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy is a 48-credit, two year program.
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Year 1
Fall Semester
13 total credits
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Year 1
Spring Semester
12 total credits
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MAFT 634 - Marriage and Family Therapy I: Theoretical Foundations (3)
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MAFT 635 - Marriage and Family Therapy II: Systemic Assessment and Intervention (3)
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Psyc 512 - Theories and Principles of Counseling (3)
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MAFT 624 - MFT Ethics and Professional Practice (3)
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MAFT 637 - Families in Context: Culture, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, and religion (3)
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MAFT 633 - Couple Therapy: Systemic Assessment and Intervention (3)
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MAFT 631 - Individual and Family Life Cycle Development (3)
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BITH 561 - Theological Anthropology (2)
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MAFT 620 - Personal and Professional
Development Group (PPDG) (0)
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MAFT 620 - PPDG (0)
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MAFT 696 - Clinical Practicum I (1)
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MAFT 697 - Clinical Practicum I (1)
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Year 2
Fall Semester
12 total credits
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Year 2
Spring Semester
11 total credits
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MAFT - 645 Systemic Interventions with Children and Adolescents (3)
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MAFT 655 - Systemic Interventions with Special Populations: Abuse, neglect, violence, and poverty (3)
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MAFT 642 - Psychopathology and the Family (3)
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MAFT 656 - Integration seminar: MFT and Christian faith/practice (3)
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Theological Studies Requirement (Christian Theology or Foundations of Biblical Interpretation or History of the Church to 1900) (4)
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MAFT - 618 Family Therapy Research and Implications for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
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MAFT 620 - PPDG (0)
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MAFT - 620 PPDG (0)
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MAFT 698 - Clinical Practicum II (2)
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MAFT - 699 Clinical Practicum II (2)
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Visit the Graduate Admissions website to apply to the M.A.-Marriage and Family Therapy Program.