Business Administration - John F. Kennedy University

College of
Professional Studies
College of Professional Studies
Alumni of this program enjoy a high pass rate on the state’s MFT
examinations. They are considered some of the best, most
comprehensively trained providers of psychotherapy and
coun seling services in the San Francisco and greater Bay Area, and
are highly sought after by agencies and other employers upon
graduation and licensure.
Program learning outcomes
The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
(AAMFT) published objectives for marriage and family therapist
training programs in 2004. The faculty of the John F. Kennedy
University Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program
selected from that publication the objectives which best describe
the program’s desired learning results. From the AAMFT
objec tives, faculty developed the following Program Learning
Outcomes (PLOs):
• Knowing the self. Students can articulate and evaluate the role
of the self in marriage and family therapy.
• Understanding the client. Students can assess and diagnose
client problems systematically and contextually.
• Connecting with the client. Students can establish, maintain,
evaluate and utilize the therapeutic relationship to serve the
mental health needs of the client.
• Facilitating improved interpersonal relationships. Students can
utilize concepts, structures, and theories appropriate to the
practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Providing psychotherapy within legal and ethical mandates.
Students can identify, explain, and apply state, federal, and local
laws that govern the provision of psychotherapy and can employ
ethical decision-making processes.
• Providing culturally sensitive services. Students can recognize
their own potential biases and deliver culturally sensitive
treatment.
• Evaluating outcomes of clinical work. Students will be aware of,
evaluate, and respond to measurable outcomes of their work
with clients.
Program Phases
Phase I—Foundation courses of Phase I combine current and
traditional theory applied within the context of the class room using
didactic and experiential methods. Coursework includes the core
competencies of the program: theory, diag nosis and assessment,
clinical skills, legal and ethical issues, treatment approaches and
modalities, and evaluation of treatment.
Phase II—The focus shifts to clinical training as students begin
fieldwork placements while simultaneously completing additional
coursework. Most students have their first direct clinical experience
at a JFK University Community Counsel ing Center in Pleasant Hill
or Sunnyvale and all stu dents do a clinical placement in a school.
The counseling centers provide an in-vivo, dynamic, and
immensely rewarding experience for the training
student-psychotherapists and their clients. Students may also
choose from a wide variety of community-based mental health
agen cies, schools, and hospitals within the greater Bay Area. dur ing
this component, students complete the written portion of the MA
comprehensive examination, modeled after the state’s MFT
licensure examination.
Phase III—While continuing advanced coursework, students
continue to focus on field placement, receiving both individual and
group supervision, and participate in group didactic training. Late
in Phase III, stu dents complete the oral portion of the MA
comprehensive examination. Students who choose to complete an
optional, in-depth MA thesis do so during this phase.
Specialization option
Students pursue the master’s degree with its emphasis in marriage
and family therapy and may also elect to add an area of emphasis
to further sharpen a focus of study for future practice. This is
accomplished by concurrent enrollment, generally beginning in
Phase II, in one or more of the specialization areas including
addiction studies, child and adoles cent therapy, couple and family
therapy, expressive arts therapy, sport psychology, and individual
study. Each specialization requires additional coursework and a
specific population for one fieldwork placement. not all
specializations are available at each program site.
admissions Policy
In addition to the University requirements listed previously in this
catalog, applicants to the MA Counseling Psychology Program
must submit the following:
• Official transcripts from the bachelor conferring institution and
any post-master bachelor credits (including other master’s
degrees). A 3.0 or better GPA is required for admission. In rare
cases, lower GPAs may be considered at the discretion of the
faculty.
• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
(International applicants to the program must have the
equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree.)
• A personal statement, four to six double-spaced, typewritten
pages, plus a title page. The statement should reflect the
applicant’s interest in the field and rationale for applying to this
program.
• Three signed letters of recommendation which attest to the
applicant’s suitability for the program, preferably from former
or current professors.
Performance review and advisement
Student advising is readily available with a faculty advisor, program
chair, or program director. Students are required to meet with an
advisor at least once per academic quarter or session.
Following admission, an ongoing process of evaluation begins.
84 College of Professional Studies JOHn F. KEnnEdy UnIvErSITy