Program Details
Post-Master of Science in Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate
Offered By: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Total Program Credits & Course Length:
Total Program Credits:
15
Online: 8 weeks
Transfer Credits:
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the program
Program Tuition Rate:
Online:
$500 per credit.
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Overview
Enhance Your Career in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Post-Master of Science in Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate is designed for professionals who hold a master's degree in counseling or other behavioral areas and desire to advance their career in counseling. The marriage and family therapy program provides you with the knowledge and essential skills to assess and address marriage and family-related issues, including, but not limited to, communication issues, parent-child relationships, family system dynamics and couple's issues.
Requirements include a master's or doctorate degree in counseling, substance abuse counseling, clinical or counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, behavioral health, social work, nursing or psychiatry medicine.
Earning this certificate in marriage and family therapy within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is an excellent pathway to enhance your critical thinking skills of marriage and family systems, grow your knowledge base in behavioral health therapy and develop techniques to treat problems related to these areas.
Degree Outcomes
Continue Your Education in Counseling and Behavioral Health
Upon earning a post-master certificate in marriage and family therapy, you will have increased knowledge in counseling and behavioral health, which encompasses advanced family systems theory, couples and family dynamic processes, diversity in family systems and family systems affected by addictive disorders.
This marriage and family therapy certificate program engages you in all aspects of traditional and nontraditional family and couple relationships with emphasis on the role, value and benefit of family systems therapy. At the forefront of this certificate program is the comprehension of systems theory and examining deficiencies in families, along with the effects of other issues such as divorce, substance use and domestic violence.
What You Will Learn
Engage in Couple Relationships and Family Systems Theory
Course topics include:
- Introduction to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in relation to the field of counseling
- Researching and utilizing community resources
- Examining historical and theoretical perspectives of couples and family dynamics
- Identifying the development of problems
- Exploring counseling and therapy techniques and addressing treatment
- Evaluation of biopsychosocial perspectives of family and family systems
- Study of diverse family dynamics, such as multiracial, blended, step, single-parent, adoptive, foster, etc.
Career Outcomes
Become a Leader in Behavioral Health
A post-master certificate in marriage and family therapy equips you with advanced knowledge and the skillset to accelerate your continuing education in professional counseling and behavioral health. The program is based on best practices specially aligned toward the counseling and behavioral health fields and other related areas. Earning this certificate provides you with leadership qualities and an in-depth understanding of counseling theories and family dynamic processes to succeed in diverse settings.
The programs offered at Grand Canyon University may vary by content and course length. You are currently
viewing the program version
available in Arizona.
For information about specific course content, credit length and VA approval in your state, please contact
a counselor at 1-855-GCU-LOPE or click here to request more
information.
Major:
15 credits
Total Degree Requirements:
15 credits
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This survey course provides an introduction to the graduate certificate programs in childhood and adolescence disorders, marriage and family therapy, substance use disorders and addiction, and trauma. Students are introduced to the University policies and procedures, the learning management system, the library, and proper APA formatting for academic writing. In addition, students are introduced to the current DSM and how the information relates to the field of counseling. Students also learn about researching and utilizing community resources, and becoming certified in specializations.
Course Description
This course examines the dynamic processes of traditional and nontraditional family and couple relationships and the role, value, and benefits of family systems therapy. The biopsychosocial perspectives of family and family systems are evaluated along with the foundational development of marriage and family therapy. Assessment and treatment of couples and families are also addressed.
Course Description
This course examines the development of problems within the family of origin, and the historical and theoretical perspectives of couples and family system dynamics. It addresses the dynamics of the parent/child relationship, family of origin influences, partner selection, and premarital therapy. Family roles and interactional patterns are examined, as are parenting and changes in the parental relationships across the lifespan, resilience, and divorce. Skills and techniques relevant to couples, premarital counseling, family therapy, parenting, and lifestyle transitions are explored.
Course Description
This course examines the dynamic processes of diverse family systems, including multicultural families, blended families, same-sex parents, grandparents as primary caregivers, single-parent families, adoptive, foster, transitional families, and separated families.
Course Description
This course examines the impact of substance use and addictive disorders on family systems. Various treatment interventions are discussed. The treatment roles and responsibilities of addicted individuals and their families are also examined.
Online
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
GCU offers the most experienced leadership in delivering online degree programs. Full-time faculty members and fully trained adjunct instructors, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way.
Designed with the career-oriented professional in mind, our online classes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Choose from programs across our distinct colleges, in high-demand employment areas. Classes begin frequently.
Evening
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment.
Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom. Night classes are designed for a specific number of students, providing a warm and nurturing environment that supports an engaging experience.
In an evening cohort, you will progress through your degree program with the same career-minded classmates, providing an opportunity to network and forge relationships that go beyond the classroom. Classes begin frequently at various locations, including our main campus.
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures (11 months)* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.