Heath A. Grames, Program Director
W. Jeff Hinton, Clinical Director

About The Marriage and Family Therapy Program

The University of Southern Mississippi Marriage and Family Therapy program (M.S.) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The program currently offers a full-time track and a part-time track. Both tracks combine academic course work and supervised clinical experiences with individuals, couples and families. They are designed to focus on the integration of theory, research and clinical practice throughout the family life span. Full-time students normally complete their degree requirements in two full calendar years while part-time students complete degree requirements in three to four calendar years.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Master's Program is to prepare students in the application of family therapy practice and knowledge in a variety of professional and community practice. We strive to prepare competent mental health professionals dedicated to improving the human condition through both prevention and intervention. The program emphasizes a multilevel systemic perspective that begins with individual internal relationship levels of processes and sequences and culminates with cultural levels of meanings and constraints.

The strengths of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of Southern Mississippi include the following:

• Broad-based clinical training utilizing both modern and postmodern methods and interventions
• A biopsychosocial perspective with an emphasis on resiliency and strength
• Opportunities for clinical practice in community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, youth courts, alcohol and drug treatment facilities
• On site therapy clinic that serves the needs of Mississippi's high-risk children, youth and families
• Strong faculty-student mentoring
• Success in preparing students for advanced graduate degrees
• Excellent demonstrated success in preparing MFT students for the National MFT Licensure Examinations.

Diversity Statement

Diversity encompasses many areas including culture, race, ethnicity, gender, class, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religious and spiritual values, and belief systems. The marriage and family therapy program at Southern Miss is committed to faculty and student exposure to diverse people and ideas through classroom activities, clinical experiences, and professional development opportunities.  Information and experiences acknowledging issues of diversity and discrimination are integrated throughout the MFT curriculum. Presentations by a diverse group of speakers are integrated into MFT coursework, thus expanding student exposure to a variety of viewpoints that stimulate critical thinking skills. Faculty strives to obtain grants that place students in diverse community settings. The University Clinic for Family Therapy, the on campus training clinic, allows MFT students the opportunity to provide therapy services to a diverse community population. The faculty strives to assist students in the expansion of their world view, facilitating their ability to provide meaningful therapeutic experiences.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE MFT DIVERSITY STATEMENT

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

The educational outcomes (including program, faculty, and student learning outcomes) of the Marriage and Family Therapy MS Program at The University of Southern Mississippi are based on professional marriage and family therapy principles. More specifically, these educational outcomes have as their foundation AAMFT Educational guidelines, the AAMFT Code of Ethics, AMFTRB Examination Domains (task and knowledge statements), and the state of Mississippi MFT licensure laws. The Marriage and Family Therapy MS Program’s educational outcomes are listed below.

Program Outcomes

The Marriage and Family Therapy MS Program at The University of Southern Mississippi strives to:

1. Graduate students who are prepared for employment in the mental health field.
2. Prepare students to be successful on the MFT National Exam.
3. Graduate students who will be successful in obtaining licensure as a marriage and family therapist or certification as a mental health professional in the state of Mississippi.
4. Promote awareness of and demonstrate sensitivity to diversity, multicultural issues, power and oppression.
5. Provide challenging clinical experiences through placements that expose students and faculty to a range of diverse populations presenting with a variety of mental health issues.
6. Support and promote faculty and student participation in professional development activities acknowledging the value of lifelong learning.
7. Graduate students within the advertised time period of the program

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from the Marriage and Family Therapy MS Program at The University of Southern Mississippi will:

1. Demonstrate competence in the assessment and diagnosis of individuals, couples, and families as it relates to the practice of MFT.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of diversity and multicultural issues and advance his/her understanding of diversity (e.g., culture, race, ethnicity, gender, SES, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religious and spiritual values, and belief systems).
3. Compare and contrast the major models of MFT and will evaluate their application in various clinical contexts.
4. Demonstrate integrity and professionalism in their interactions with colleagues, supervisors,
clients, and faculty.
5. Identify and resolve ethical dilemmas related to the practice of MFT.
6. Develop a professional identity by participating in professional development activities.
7. Identify MFT National Practice Exam strengths and limitations and develop a plan of action to enhance student’s strengths and overcome student’s limitations (in accordance FAM 663 course guidelines).
8. Satisfy the Mississippi MFT licensure educational requirements.

Faculty Outcomes

Faculty members of the Marriage and Family Therapy MS Program at The University of Southern Mississippi will:

1. Demonstrate a high level of competency as a MFT clinical educator and continue to advance his/her knowledge and skills.
2. Demonstrate continuing growth in their awareness of and sensitivity to diversity, multicultural issues, power, and oppression (e.g., culture, race, ethnicity, gender, SES, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religious and spiritual values, and belief systems).
3. Demonstrate the value of establishing and maintaining a professional identity as a MFT.
4. Demonstrate integrity and professionalism in their interactions with colleagues, administrators, clients, students, and the community.
5. Participate in scholarly activities in accordance of the university, college, department, and program requirements.