Mar 28, 2024  
University Catalog 2021-2022 
    
University Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Clinical Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, with Professional Clinical Counselor, MA


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MA in Clinical Psychology:  Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counselor
Location:
AU Los Angeles
Credits for Degree: 90 quarter credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Classroom
Standard time to completion: 48 months

Program Overview

In 2009, the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California differentiated Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC) as two distinct licenses that were available to mental health professionals at the master’s level. As such, Antioch University developed the opportunity for students in the MAP-Clinical program who designated the General Practice specialization to take coursework in their general practice elective coursework that would make them eligible for the PCC license in California.

The profession of counseling, governed by the American Counseling Association (ACA), holds a theoretical framework that is slightly different than that of marriage and family therapy. Historically, marriage and family therapists were trained in a diagnosis, medical-focused model (often trained to work in hospitals and clinics), whereas counselors were trained in a developmental, normative-stress model (often trained to work in schools and college counseling centers for people undergoing normative life stressors). After World War II, many counselors and therapists were trained and hired interchangeably to work with the massive increase of individuals needing a wide variety of services, including vocational guidance and job placement as well as comprehensive psychological treatment to aid in their suffering of PTSD symptoms. Thus, MFTs and PCCs are now often working in many of the same locations, although their scope of practice and theoretical framework of training are different. Specifically, PCCs often are focused on:

  1. normative development across the lifespan (e.g. development throughout adulthood and midlife) at the master’s level; and,
  2. career counseling theory and career-focused assessment techniques (e.g., development throughout adulthood and midlife) at the master’s level.

Current Tuition and Fees

University Tuition and Fees  

GATEWAY Course for the PCC Specialization:


17 Units LPCC Specialization


Students can take PSY 5090  as their clinical skills elective (which can also fulfill one of their core course requirements). Students can also choose to take PSY 5360E  (Research for Evidence-Based Practice) in lieu of PSY 5450E  (Program Development and Evaluation) if desired.

The Professional Development Coursework Option


All courses offered in the graduate psychology program are designed to broaden and deepen the knowledge and skills necessary to provide psychological services at the highest professional level. Successful completion of any course in the department will increase skills and/or professional knowledge on the part of the student. Given this, in addition to their specialization(s), most students should consider adding the Professional Development Coursework Option (PDC) to their degree program. The PDC allows students to take additional theoretical, application, social justice, and reflective practice courses as part of their degree program. Doing so will increase both professional skills and employment readiness. Students must consult with their adviser and plan carefully when considering any PDC courses to ensure they are not overburdened during their studies.

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