Theology (MA) / Marriage and Family Therapy (MS)
Program Description
School of Psychology, Family, and Community Faculty
School of Psychology, Family, and Community Graduate Programs 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.
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 MDiv (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 School of Psychology, Family, and Community, 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
- Graduate Admissions
- graduateadmissions@spu.edu
- 206-281-2091 or 800-601-0603
Theology: Theological Integration Concentration (MA)
60 Credits Minimum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core THEO Courses | ||
| THEO 6001 | Christian Formation in Discipleship:Acts of Piety | 2 |
| THEO 6002 | Christian Formation in Mission: Acts of Mercy and Justice | 2 |
| THEO 6003 | Integrating Academy, Abbey, and Apostolate | 2 |
| THEO 6010 | Bible I: Interpreting and Teaching Christian Scripture | 3 |
| THEO 6020 | Global Christian Heritage I: AD 100-1453 | 3 |
| THEO 6030 | Theology/Ethics I: Doctrine of God and Environmental Stewardship | 3 |
| THEO 6040 | Bible II: Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| THEO 6050 | Global Christian Heritage II: AD 1454-1900 | 3 |
| THEO 6060 | Theology/Ethics II: Doctrine of Christ and Holistic Discipleship | 3 |
| THEO 6070 | Bible III: Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| THEO 6080 | Global Christian Heritage III: AD 1900-Present | 3 |
| THEO 6090 | Theology/Ethics III: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the Global Church | 3 |
| Section Credits Required | 33 | |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Choose two: | 6 | |
| Theology Praxis in Geographical/Historical Context | ||
| Theology, Race, and Culture | ||
| Encounter of Christian Faith with Other Faiths | ||
| THEO 6894 | Theology and the Disciplines | 3 |
| Section Credits Required | 9 | |
| THEO or Interdisciplinary Electives 1 | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
Approved interdisciplinary courses are listed in the SPS Handbook (6000 level courses in BUS, EDU, MFT, ORG)
Marriage and Family Therapy (MS)
70 Credits Minimum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Classes | ||
| MFT 6100 | Social Ecology of Family | 3 |
| MFT 6110 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 6200 | History, Systems, and Christian Perspectives | 3 |
| MFT 6210 | Multicultural Issues in Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 6220 | Gender Perspectives and Family Therapy | 2 |
| MFT 6300 | Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy I | 3 |
| MFT 6301 | Becoming a Systems Therapist | 3 |
| MFT 6303 | Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy II | 3 |
| MFT 6401 | Group Therapy I | 1 |
| MFT 6402 | Group Therapy II | 2 |
| MFT 6410 | Treatment of Couples | 3 |
| MFT 6600 | Psychopathology and Family Systems | 3 |
| MFT 6610 | Treatment of Abusive Systems | 3 |
| MFT 6620 | Assessment and Testing in Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 6630 | Psychopharmacology, Physiology and Medical Issues | 3 |
| 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 |
| MFT 6700 | Graduate Research | 3 |
| MFT 6710 | Graduate Research II | 1 |
| MFT 6810 | Issues, Ethics and Law | 3 |
| MFT 6811 | Ethical Issues and Crisis Intervention | 2 |
| Section Credits Required | 53 | |
| Theory and Elective Classes | ||
| Select four credits of the following: | 4 | |
| Collaboration Practice Roles in Integrated Care | ||
| BPSS Care Collaboration in Medical Family Therapy | ||
| Assessment Tools for Medical Family Therapy | ||
| The Brain-Savvy Therapist | ||
| Grief, Death, and Families | ||
| Spirituality and Health | ||
| Motivational Interviewing for Patient and Family Health | ||
| Trauma Informed Care in Medical Family Therapy | ||
| Specialty Practice in Medical Family Therapy | ||
| Brief Family Therapy | ||
| Experiential Theory and Family Therapy | ||
| Narrative Family Therapy | ||
| Advanced Bowen Theory and Therapy | ||
| Internal Family Systems Therapy | ||
| Adlerian Therapy | ||
| Premarital Education | ||
| Marketing Your Practice to Physicians | ||
| Drama and Expressive Arts in Family Therapy | ||
| Dilemmas in Psychotherapy | ||
| The MFT in Professional/Private Practice | ||
| Seminar in Special Topics | ||
| Section Credits Required | 4 | |
| Practicum Training | ||
| Select 13 credits of the following: | 13 | |
| Clinical Practicum I | ||
| Clinical Practicum II | ||
| Clinical Practicum III | ||
| Clinical Practicum IV | ||
| Clinical Practicum V | ||
| Clinical Practicum VI | ||
| Clinical Practicum VII | ||
| Advanced Clinical Practicum | ||
| Section Credits Required | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 70 | |
Suggested Course Sequence
3-Year Full-Time Example Tracking Sheet
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Credits | |
| THEO 6001 | Christian Formation in Discipleship:Acts of Piety | 2 |
| MFT 6200 | History, Systems, and Christian Perspectives | 3 |
| MFT 6300 | Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy I | 3 |
| MFT 6100 | Social Ecology of Family | 3 |
| THEO 6020 | Global Christian Heritage I: AD 100-1453 | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| MFT 6600 | Psychopathology and Family Systems | 3 |
| MFT 6303 | Theories of Marriage and Family Therapy II | 3 |
| MFT 6301 | Becoming a Systems Therapist | 3 |
| THEO 6050 | Global Christian Heritage II: AD 1454-1900 | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| MFT 6220 | Gender Perspectives and Family Therapy | 2 |
| MFT 6810 | Issues, Ethics and Law | 3 |
| THEO 6080 | Global Christian Heritage III: AD 1900-Present | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| 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 | ||
| THEO 6002 | Christian Formation in Mission: Acts of Mercy and Justice | 2 |
| MFT 6610 | Treatment of Abusive Systems | 3 |
| THEO 6030 | Theology/Ethics I: Doctrine of God and Environmental Stewardship | 3 |
| MFT 6933 | Clinical Practicum I | 1 |
| MFT 6811 | Ethical Issues and Crisis Intervention | 2 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Winter | ||
| MFT 6410 | Treatment of Couples | 3 |
| THEO 6060 | Theology/Ethics II: Doctrine of Christ and Holistic Discipleship | 3 |
| MFT 6934 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| MFT 6620 | Assessment and Testing in Family Therapy | 3 |
| MFT 6935 | Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| THEO 6090 | Theology/Ethics III: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the Global Church | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Summer | ||
| MFT 6401 | Group Therapy I | 1 |
| MFT 6936 | Clinical Practicum IV | 2 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| THEO 6003 | Integrating Academy, Abbey, and Apostolate | 2 |
| MFT 6210 | Multicultural Issues in Family Therapy | 3 |
| THEO 6010 | Bible I: Interpreting and Teaching Christian Scripture | 3 |
| MFT 6937 | Clinical Practicum V | 2 |
| MFT 6630 | Psychopharmacology, Physiology and Medical Issues | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Winter | ||
| THEO 6040 | Bible II: Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| MFT 6110 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| MFT 6700 | Graduate Research | 3 |
| MFT 6938 | Clinical Practicum VI | 2 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| MFT 6939 | Clinical Practicum VII | 2 |
| MFT 6710 | Graduate Research II | 1 |
| MFT 6402 | Group Therapy II | 2 |
| THEO 6070 | Bible III: Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| THEO 6894 | Theology and the Disciplines | 3 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Total Credits | 102 | |
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 School of Psychology, Family and Community. 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).