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Systemic Couple and Family Therapy
Graduate Certificate in Counseling
Expand your capacity to help families and couples navigate challenges in their relationships. With five master’s-level courses, Capella’s Graduate Certificate in Counseling, Systemic Couple and Family Therapy examines the foundational principles and professional ethics of the field. You’ll explore effective assessment and intervention strategies and the intricacies of family systems. The credits earned in this certificate may be applicable to a master’s degree at Capella.
This certificate program is not designed or intended to prepare students for professional licensure in the fields of counseling or marriage and family therapy in any U.S. jurisdiction.
At a glance
- 100% Online
- 5 Core courses
Graduate Certificate in Systemic Couple and Family Therapy course requirements
This Graduate Certificate in Systemic Couple and Family Therapy requires a total of 20 program credits:
- 5 core courses
Explore Graduate Certificate in Systemic Couple and Family Therapy specialization courses
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MFT5008
Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy
4 quarter credits
This course provides an introduction to the profession of marriage and family therapy and its underlying systemic theoretical framework. Students evaluate systems theories from a historical perspective and distinguish them from those of other individual-based mental health disciplines. Students also analyze the history, philosophy, and clinical practice theories of marital and family therapy and examine the fundamental therapeutic concepts and skills needed to work with couples and families. Must be taken during the first quarter by students who have been admitted to the MS in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program and the Systemic Couple and Family Therapy graduate certificate. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.
4 quarter credits
MFT5222
Professional Ethics in Marriage and Family Therapy
4 quarter credits
Students examine the ethical and legal responsibilities framing marriage and family therapy and apply the criteria for state licensure. Students also explore how a therapist's personal beliefs, background, and worldview influence clinical practice; identify approaches to protecting clients from the therapist's potential preconceptions; and assess the role of advocacy in marriage and family therapy. Prerequisite(s): BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling and Therapy students require special permission for registration and must have completed PSYC3700 or PSYC4700 and PSYC4101 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
4 quarter credits
MFT5270
Systemic Family Therapy Theory and Practice 1
4 quarter credits
Students engage in a comparative study of the prominent schools of thought within the field of marriage and family therapy. Students demonstrate knowledge of the key theoretical assumptions, therapeutic strategies, and techniques used within the field. Students also evaluate and apply systemic, modern, and post-modern theoretical models when working with couples and families. Prerequisite(s): BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling and Therapy students require special permission for registration and must have completed PSYC3700or PSYC4700 and PSYC4101 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
4 quarter credits
MFT5271
Working with Families Across the Lifespan
4 quarter credits
Students build an understanding of families as systems, in particular family development, transitions, assessment, and intervention across the lifespan. Students also incorporate contextual factors in the application of systemic assessment and intervention strategies. Prerequisite(s): BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling and Therapy students require special permission for registration and must have completed PSYC3700 or PSYC4700 and PSYC4101 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
4 quarter credits
MFT5273
Couple and Marital Therapy
4 quarter credits
Students investigate systemic couples therapy theories, methods, and practices in terms of assessment, treatment planning, and intervention. Students analyze ethical considerations and contemporary issues in systemic couples therapy as they apply to clinical practice. Prerequisite(s): MFT5270.
4 quarter credits
*Course has prerequisite(s). See catalog for details.
What it's like to take courses in an Graduate Certificate in Systemic Couple and Family Therapy degree
You may have questions about how an Graduate Certificate in Systemic Couple and Family Therapy degree fits in your life. Explore the course room to see what you can expect. You'll experience the flexibility of online learning and get a feel for what it's like to be a Capella student.
How much does a graduate certificate in counseling cost?
The total cost of your certificate will depend on academic performance, transfer credits, tuition discounts and other factors. See cost information below.
- Based on the quarter system; 1–3 courses per 10-week quarter
- 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
- Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
- Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or quarter
- $525 per credit
- $175 resource kit
- 20 total quarter credits
- 0 max transfer credits
$10,500*
NO TRANSFER CREDITS 12 months
Are there scholarships available for certificates?
Your education is an investment in your future. There are more ways to save than you might think.
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What are the graduate certificate in counseling admission requirements?
Admission requirements
Applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Counseling, Systemic Couple and Family Therapy program must provide the following information for admission:
- Bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency or an internationally recognized institution
- Your official transcripts, minimum grade point average of 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Admission application – no application fee required
- A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.
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