Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: Marriage and Family Counseling (2001-2002)

Program Description

The Department of Counselor Education and College Student Personnel offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in marriage and family counseling. The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation has approved this Certificate Program as a comprehensive program in marriage and family therapy. This approval signifies that the program meets curriculum requirements for licensing as a marriage and family counselor. In addition, graduates of the approved program may immediately apply for an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (ALMFT) license. The ALMFT is a temporary license and allows the counselor up to five years to complete the remainder of the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) requirements.

Requirements for Enrollment

Students must be enrolled in the WIU counselor education master’s degree program (community counseling) or be a graduate of that program. Students from related master’s degree programs must have their course work reviewed by the coordinator of the Marriage and Family Counseling Certificate Program.

Certificate Requirements

• CN 572 Family and Systems Counseling: 3 s.h.
• CN 573 Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling: 3 s.h.
• CN 574 Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling: 3 s.h.
• CN 577 Internship in Marriage and Family Counseling: 5 s.h.
• A graduate level sociology course on the study of American family life: 3 s.h.
  TOTAL: 17 s.h.

Course Descriptions

572 Family and Systems Counseling. (3) This course will focus on the pragmatics of applying family systems theory to clinical practice, assessment, and evaluation with couples and families. Prerequisites: CN 540.

573 Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling. (3) The practicum consists of 100 clock hours of supervised clinical experience with a variety of couples, families, and individuals. Prerequisites: CN 540, CN 547, CN 593.

574 Seminar in Marriage and Family Counseling. (3) The seminar addresses advanced variable topics that focus on special treatment populations (e.g., substance abuse) and current topics of relevance (e.g., gender issues in family therapy). The seminar will interface with application to students' practicum. Prerequisites: CN 540, CN 572.

577 Internship in Marriage and Family Counseling. (1–5, variable) The student will be assigned to work under careful supervision at an internship site. The purpose of this internship is to gain practical experience in applying the knowledge gained in didactic courses in his/her field of specialization in marriage and family therapy. Prerequisites: A grade of A or B in CN 573.