M.A. in Cultural and Family Studies Degree Program
The M.A. in Cultural and Family Studies degree program is specifically designed for people looking to obtain a master’s degree to enhance their career advancement opportunities, assist with promotions, and gain a stronger educational base in cultural and family studies.
It provides students with a broad understanding of psychology, along with a focus on children and families and their cultural dynamics. Through knowledge of the optimal development of individuals and families across the lifespan and in multiple contexts, graduates gain the educational preparation for a variety of jobs in human and social service agencies, day care facilities, religious institutions or parent education programs.
*This program is not a clinical degree, and will not meet the educational requirements for CA BBS to apply for a license in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Sample Cultural and Family Studies Courses
Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy
This course is designed to introduce theories of family therapy from various schools of thought, including systems, the recovery model, postmodern and culturally relevant theory and practice. It focuses on the development of a working knowledge of families as systems and encourages thinking about one’s own role in his/her family and its impact on the self as therapist. Integrated throughout the course is the students’ awareness and understanding of severe mental illness as well as Multiple cultural/ Eco systemic factors that impact traditional and Multiple kinds of contemporary families.
Group Therapy
This course provides an overview of Group Therapy theories and practice with an experiential training component. It will include an examination of group practice with individuals, families, adolescents and children. The course will survey the wide range of populations and problems for which group work is applicable.
Communication and Counseling Skills
This is an introductory class in developing basic interview/communication skills for use in interpersonal relationships, working with students and parents in Educational settings, and an emphasis on the counseling relationship. This class is designed to train the student to see oneself in social interactions in light of one’s social/cultural/ethnic context, and to be able to communicate to others clearly, effectively and cross-culturally. There will be a strong emphasis on the skills of active listening, consisting of the skills of empathy, clarification, reflection of feelings, confrontation, as well as others. This will empower the student to function in the helper role of facilitator and counselor.