Program Description
Division of Health & Behavioral Science Faculty
College of Applied & Natural Sciences Website
Seattle Pacific Seminary Faculty
Seattle Pacific Seminary Website
If you sense a call to both ministry and delivery of professional mental health counseling services, consider the dual-degree programs in Seattle Pacific University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program and in the Seattle Pacific Seminary. Dual degrees include MS in Marriage and Family Therapy / MA in Theology (Theological Integration) and MS in Marriage and Family Therapy / MDiv.
By pursuing a dual degree, you will bring together skills and knowledge in both disciplines, enriching your graduate education and your career opportunities. You also will earn two advanced degrees in less time than it would take you to earn the same two degrees separately.
Three years of full-time study allows you to complete the MA in Theology (Theological Integration) and the Marriage and Family Therapy degree. If you wish to complete the education often required for church ordination, as well as clinical licensure, the Master of Divinity degree can be completed alongside the MS in Marriage and Family Therapy in a four-year sequence.
Find out more about policies related to dual degree programs.
Admission Requirements
To earn the dual degrees, apply to the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, as well as Seattle Pacific Seminary through Graduate Admissions.
Acceptance in one program does not guarantee acceptance in the other. Once you are admitted to both programs, you will receive a specialized program plan.
Application Deadlines
For admission procedures and deadlines for both programs, visit Graduate Admissions.
Contact
Suggested Course Sequence
3-Year Full-Time Example Tracking Sheet
Plan of Study Grid
| First Year |
|---|
| Autumn |
|---|
| MFT 6100 |
Social Ecology of Family |
3 |
| MFT 6200 |
History, Systems, and Christian Perspectives |
3 |
| MFT 6300 |
Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy I |
3 |
| THEO 6001 |
Prayer and the Practice of Theology |
2 |
| THEO 6020 |
Global Christian Heritage 1: Creed & Canon |
4 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Winter |
|---|
| MFT 6301 |
Becoming a Systems Therapist |
3 |
| MFT 6303 |
Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy II |
3 |
| MFT 6600 |
Psychopathology and Family Systems |
3 |
| THEO 6050 |
Global Christian Heritage 2: Reform and Revival |
4 |
| | Credits | 13 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MFT 6220 |
Gender Perspectives and Family Therapy |
2 |
| MFT 6810 |
Issues, Ethics and Law |
3 |
| THEO 6080 |
Global Christian Heritage 3: Mission and Migration |
4 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Summer |
|---|
| MFT 6641 |
Treatment of Young Children and their Families |
1 |
| MFT 6642 |
Treatment of Adolescents and Families |
1 |
| MFT 6643 |
Parenting and the Treatment of Families |
1 |
| | Credits | 3 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Autumn |
|---|
| MFT 6610 |
Treatment of Abusive Systems |
3 |
| MFT 6811 |
Ethical Issues and Crisis Intervention |
2 |
| MFT 6933 |
Clinical Practicum I |
1 |
| THEO 6030 |
Church's Doctrine 1: Trinity & Creation |
4 |
| | Credits | 10 |
| Winter |
|---|
| MFT 6410 |
Treatment of Couples |
3 |
| MFT 6934 |
Clinical Practicum II |
2 |
| THEO 6060 |
Church's Doctrine 2: Christ & Salvation |
4 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MFT 6620 |
Assessment and Testing in Family Therapy |
3 |
| MFT 6935 |
Clinical Practicum III |
2 |
| THEO 6090 |
Church's Doctrine 3: The Holy Spirit, the Church, and Christian Hope |
4 |
| | Credits | 9 |
| Summer |
|---|
| MFT 6401 |
Group Therapy I |
1 |
| MFT 6936 |
Clinical Practicum IV |
2 |
| | Credits | 3 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Autumn |
|---|
| MFT 6210 |
Multicultural Issues in Family Therapy |
3 |
| MFT 6630 |
Psychopharmacology, Physiology and Medical Issues |
3 |
| MFT 6937 |
Clinical Practicum V |
2 |
| THEO 6003 |
Formation and Vocation: Integrative Capstone |
2 |
| THEO 6010 |
Bible 1: Intro Old Testament and Pentateuch |
4 |
| | Credits | 14 |
| Winter |
|---|
| MFT 6110 |
Human Sexuality |
3 |
| MFT 6700 |
Graduate Research |
3 |
| MFT 6938 |
Clinical Practicum VI |
2 |
| THEO 6040 |
Bible 2: Historical Books to Prophets |
4 |
| | Credits | 12 |
| Spring |
|---|
| MFT 6402 |
Group Therapy II |
2 |
| MFT 6710 |
Graduate Research II |
1 |
| MFT 6939 |
Clinical Practicum VII |
2 |
| THEO 6070 |
Bible 3: Intro NT and Gospels |
4 |
| THEO 6894 |
Theological Integration: Capstone |
2 |
| | Credits | 11 |
| | Total Credits | 108 |
Notes
Students must also complete 4 additional credits of MFT electives in the quarters of their choosing. Additionally, 6 credits of theology electives accepted under the MA- THEO Requirements. This example schedule frontloads the MFT coursework in the first year. Students should talk with MFT advisors about reconfiguring their schedule to best fit their situations.
This “example” tracking sheet lists the courses needed to complete both the MA in Theology (Theological Integration) degree at Seattle Pacific Seminary and the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy in the SPU College of Applied & Natural Sciences. The quarters, days of the week and times of day that specific courses are offered may, however, vary from year to year. Moreover, students may elect to take a different credit load quarter by quarter than is shown here. Also, students must be accepted into each program separately and may in some cases begin the second program a year or more later than the first. Accordingly, the actual sequence in which a given student takes the required courses for the two degrees, and the actual “calendar time” it takes that student to complete those two degrees, may vary considerably from this model.
But in the dual-degree configuration shown here, a student can complete both degrees by taking, not a minimum of 130 credits of coursework, but as few as 115. 15 of the required credits of interdisciplinary and elective courses for the MA can be fulfilled by MFT courses. Plus, the MA degree is designed to integrate theology with other disciplines (like psychology).
