Students who successfully complete this 60-credit hour specialization will earn a Master of Science in counseling and human resource development specializing in marriage and family counseling. The specialization in marriage and family counseling is designed to meet the requirements of the South Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners. Once graduates complete an approved supervised clinical experience and pass the appropriate examinations, they are eligible for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.
Students who have completed the requirements for the marriage and family counseling specialization and graduated from the program are endorsed for counseling in a marriage and family setting. The following statement is intended to identify the specific endorsement for students entering marriage and family counseling: Upon successful completion of the requirements for a M.S. in CHRD specializing in marriage and family counseling, students will: understand and advocate for developmental needs of individuals, couples, families and groups; effectively identify and assess developmental and sexual needs of individuals, couples and families over the lifespan; integrate and affirm cultural, ethnic and gender identities as they relate to the practice of marriage and family counseling; adhere to ethical, legal and professional standards of all aspects of marriage and family counseling; assess, diagnose and treat mental health needs from a systems perspective; be prepared to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist. Students in the marriage and family counseling specialization are also responsible for having taken supporting area courses which supplement or enhance their chosen specialty.
For more information about this program, please contact Naomi Timm-Davis.
Program Objectives
Each program objective aligns with one of the eight core CACREP standards and with one college counseling and student affairs specialty track standard.
Students will:
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for competent ethical practice.
- Demonstrate skills, knowledge, and awareness to counsel within a diverse society.
- Describe and explain the process of change as expressed by individual and family counseling theories across the lifespan.
- Identify and describe theories and models of career development, counseling and decision-making.
- Demonstrate essential interviewing, counseling, and conceptualizing skills.
- Identify and apply approaches used for various types of group work.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of standardized testing and other assessment techniques.
- Discern evidence-based counseling practices.
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in conceptualizing and treating marriage, couple and family counseling.
Availability
- Brookings Campus