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*In addition to the above coursework, students are required to choose an elective from a
selection of courses, including but not limited to:
SFTM 5036: Infant Mental Health
SFTM 5037: Suicide Prevention
SFTM 5038: Military Families
SFTM 5039: Collaborative Divorce
SFTM 5301: Agency Practice in Organizational Consulting
SFTM 5355: Introduction to Equine-Assisted Family Therapy
SFTM 5357: Developing a Private Practice I Coaching and Therapy
SFTM 5358: Solution Focused Coaching
SFTM 6330: Grief and Loss
SHSS 6620: Academic Writing
This required elective may be taken the term of the student’s choice.
The program fulfills the academic requirements for state licensure in Florida and for clinical
membership in AAMFT; additional post-master's clinical experience is required for both
credentials.
Program Formats
Students may enter the program term in the fall or summer terms. Full time students take
9 to 12 credit hours per term. If a student takes less than the 9 credits of required
courses per term, they need approval from the Program Director. They also work with the
Program Coordinator to develop a viable degree plan. Students who attend full-time can
expect to complete the program in 2 years. Summer attendance is required.
Degree Plans
Following is a sample degree plan for students who begin their studies in the Fall term.
Degree plans are developed upon enrollment.
Course Requirements
To complete the M.S. in Family Therapy, students must complete 500 hours of client
contact, 250 of which must consist of relational hours as defined by the program. Students
also must accumulate at least 100 supervision hours, 50 of which must be based on direct
observation and videotape. They are responsible for documenting clinical and supervision
hours, using the forms provided on the SHSS website under student resources. Students
are required to keep a copy of all documentation pertaining to both Internal and External
Practicums. This includes their clinical and supervision hour forms, contracts, and clinical
evaluations. A student’s first two Practicums are at the Brief Therapy Institute, Family
Therapy Clinic; therefore, they are called Internal Practicums. Students must pass the first
two Internal Practicums to be eligible to continue clinical training in two External
Practicums. Students may elect to take more than two Internal Practicums to better hone
in their clinical skills prior to moving into their External Practicum setting. The External
Practicums are internships in the community where students provide clinical services in
school, hospital, agency, private practice, and other settings.
Before students begin their External Practicum, they collaborate with the DFT Internship
Coordinator to identify and develop an external practicum, community-based site and a
contract with the site. Attendance at the annual internship fair is strongly recommended to
obtain an internship site. Prior to beginning their external practicum experience, students
must have completed an internship contract, signed by the student, the internship site
supervisor, their faculty supervisor, and the Program Director. If proof of a student’s
