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MA in Marriage and Family Studies

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the ability to supervise various programs in family counseling centers. 
  2. Achieve competence in data collection concerning individuals, couples, and families through interviews, psychometric instruments, and other methods. 
  3. Effectively operate in developmental psychological assessments.
  4. Show efficiency in cross-cultural communication.
  5. Understanding of the concerns of vulnerable groups (poverty milieu, victims of abuse, substance abusers, juvenile delinquency milieu).
  6. Analyze and evaluate research data relevant to families.
  7. To develop and show sensitivity to the spiritual needs of individuals, couples, and families. 

Program Curriculum

Core courses (required 30 credits or 50 ECTS)

  • MAFT 511 Introduction to Marriage and Family Studies (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 514 Psychopathology (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 516 Christian Perspectives on the Helping Profession (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 523 Human Growth and Development (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 531 Systems Theory (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 533 Human Sexuality (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 541 Family Stress and Resilience (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 543 Personality Theory (3 credits or 5 ECTS) [listed as Community Interventions on ETS website]
  • MAFT 547 Cultural Contexts in Clinical Practice (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 555 Research Methods in Relationship Science (3 credits or 5 ECTS)

Elective Courses (choose four courses from the following – 12 credits or 20 ECTS)

  • MAFT 510 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Family Therapy (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • MAFT 522 Traditional and Systematic Therapies (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • COUN 520 Counseling Theories and Techniques (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • COUN 561 Counseling Children and Adolescents: Development Issues and Interventions (3 credits or 5 ECTS)
  • COUN 548 Supervision I and II (2x3 credits)

Thesis (12 credits or 20 ECTS)

  • COUN 598 Thesis Seminar (3 credits or 5 ECTS) Directed Study
  • COUN 599 Master’s Thesis (9 credits or 15 ECTS)

Total Credit Hours Required: 54 credits or 90 ECTS
The German accreditation agency ‘evalag’ has accredited a slightly extended version with 14 courses plus a thesis. The total number of ECTS credits is 90 ECTS and extends over three years of part-time studies since the legal maximum of ECTS a part-time student may take in Germany is 15 per semester.

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