The University of San Francisco

USF is committed to becoming internationally recognized as a premier Jesuit Catholic, urban university with a global perspective that educates leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Our diverse San Francisco Bay Area community, where cultural and artistic events abound, is bound to stimulate your own creativity and desire to learn.

The School of Education

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Since its inception in 1972, the School of Education has demonstrated its commitment to prepare education and community leaders whose background and interests are reflective of, and responsive to, the cultural diversity of today's world. It particularly prepares students to serve as teachers, curriculum developers and supervisors, administrators, higher education personnel, counselors, therapists, psychologists, private consultants, and as business managers and trainers.

When you enroll in the USF School of Education, you enter a very special arena - that is, a small school within a unique university, dedicated to academic excellence and social justice. As such, the School of Education provides all the advantages of a small college, including close contact with peers as well as intensive mentoring and support from knowledgeable and dedicated faculty.

Master of Arts in School Counseling

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The University of San Francisco's Master of Arts in School Counseling is a 2-year, 48 unit program. Graduates of the program are eligible for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS).

The school counseling program emphasizes cognitive behavioral and humanistic theories of counseling and teaches pragmatic, problem solving interventions with youth in schools. A particular focus of the curriculum is the enhancement of multicultural youth development and empowerment, and a commitment to the quality school movement which fosters learning conditions that maximize intellectual development and creativity, respectful relationships, and self-directed learning.

Classes meet on alternate weekends (Friday evenings and all day on Saturday) for a total of eight weekends per semester. Courses are designed with a practical orientation and are taught in a workshop format, emphasizing application of theory and development of skills. Students begin their fieldwork in the schools during a first semester practicum class and complete the fieldwork requirements during four semesters of fieldwork classes. The fieldwork class each semester is conducted under the supervision of a PPS credentialed instructor.

MA in Counseling Psychology - Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy

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The MA in Counseling Psychology - Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy program is a unique, innovative educational program for preparing MFTs to address the current and emerging mental health needs of children, adults and families. It emphasizes:

• a lifespan developmental perspective,
• a problem-solving, goal-oriented perspective,
• a family systems perspective,
• and a multicultural perspective.

Students learn theories and effective practices for working with individuals (children, adolescents, young adults, midlife adults and older adults) and their families in a variety of community mental health, school and work settings.

The first year focuses on counseling theory and practice, legal and ethical issues in family counseling, multicultural counseling, assessment, psychopathology, and pragmatic theories and techniques. A partnership of fieldwork and classroom learning forms the core of the second year. Pragmatic, family systems, multicultural and life transitions counseling interventions are emphasized. Students take specialized coursework and apply their learning to individuals and families in supervised community social service settings.

After graduation and completion of licensing requirements, graduates may be employed in private practice or managed care, community/public agencies, and other institutional environments (e.g., schools, higher education, health-care facilities, business). They also may choose to pursue a doctoral degree.

The 49-semester unit program provides education and training consistent with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences' (BBS) educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) licensing and the National Board for Certified Counselors' (NBCC) educational requirements for general certification. The program also is consistent with the broad standard of training within the field of marital and family therapy.

USF's Marriage & Family Therapy program is offered in San Francisco and at regional campuses in Santa Rosa, San Ramon, Sacramento and Cupertino. Classes are offered one to three evenings per week to accommodate working professionals.

Information

If you are interested in this school and would like to find out more, please Request Information from University of San Francisco.

For more information, visit the home page of University of San Francisco - School of Education.