IX. Graduate Programs

Family Relations and Applied Nutrition

MSc Program

The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition offers an MSc graduate program in three fields: 1) applied human nutrition; 2) family relations and human development; and 3) couple and family therapy.

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements for these fields of study include an honours degree or equivalent with an average at least 75% in the last two years of study (or 20 credits).

Applied Human Nutrition

Admission requirements for the MSc program in the field of Applied Human Nutrition are most easily satisfied by applicants with honours degrees in human nutrition, and food and nutrition. Applicants with degrees in related fields (e.g., nutritional sciences, psychology, kinesiology, food science) may be considered with suitable make-up work in core areas. Credit in the following undergraduate courses is normally required by all entering students: 1) a one-semester course in applied statistics within the last five years (minimum grade of 75%); 2) a one-semester course in research methods within the last five years (minimum grade of 75%); 3) a one-semester course in biochemistry; 4) a one-semester course in human physiology (at or beyond the second-year level); 5) two one-semester courses in human development/sociology/psychology/communications; 6) one 300-level and three 400-level one-semester courses in human nutrition. These requirements may be in progress at the time of application. Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines.

Family Relations and Human Development

Admission requirements for the MSc program in the field of Family Relations and Human Development can be satisfied by applicants with honours degrees in a wide variety of undergraduate majors including family studies, child studies, psychology, sociology, and nursing. Credit in the following undergraduate courses is required of all entering students: 1) a one-semester course in applied statistics within the last five years (minimum grade of 75%); 2) a one-semester course in social-science research methods within the last five years (minimum grade of 75%); 3) a one-semester course in one of human development, child development, gerontology, or parent-child relations; 4) a one-semester course in one of family sociology, social psychology, family relations, family theory, or communications; 5) three 400-level (senior, fourth year) one-semester courses. Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines.

NOTE: Department policy does not permit transfer applications from graduate students registered in the MSc in Family Relations and Human Development into the MSc in Couple and Family Therapy.

Couple and Family Therapy

Admission requirements for the MSc program in the field of Couple and Family Therapy can be satisfied by applicants with honours degrees in a wide variety of undergraduate majors including family studies, child studies, psychology, sociology, and nursing. Credit in the following undergraduate courses is required of all entering students:1) a one-semester course in applied statistics within the last five years (minimum grade of 70%); 2) a one-semester course in social-science research methods within the last five years (minimum grade of 70%); 3) a one-semester course in one of human development, child development, gerontology, or parent-child relations; 4) a one-semester course in one of family sociology, social psychology, family relations, family theory, or communications; 5) three 400-level (senior, fourth year) one-semester courses. Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines.

NOTE: Department policy does not permit transfer applications from graduate students registered in the MSc in Family Relations and Human Development into the MSc in Couple and Family Therapy

Relevant work and/or volunteer experience is an asset. The application must include an Overview of Professional Experience and Plans discussing the applicant’s motivation for Couple and Family Therapy graduate education (maximum 3 typed pages). There is no need for non-thesis applicants to the MSc in CFT to choose an advisor prior to making the application. Selected applicants are invited for an interview, and will have the opportunity to speak with potential advisors at that time. Applicants for the thesis stream only must also submit the Statement of Academic/Research Intent - a detailed, referenced, research plan outlining the relevance of the topic, the connection to faculty research interests and the specific research questions. Also for thesis applicants only, research advisors can be CFT faculty or faculty from the broader department. While CFT faculty do not have research discussions with thesis applicants prior to the application and selection process, thesis applicants can make prior contact with a potential research advisor in the Department if this is deemed an appropriate fit to applicant's research interests.

The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) encourages applications from qualified students who are members of identified minorities. Scholarship aid is available to minority students on a competitive basis from AAMFT.

The most qualified applicants will be short-listed and invited to attend a day-long interviewing process with the Couple and Family Therapy faculty. Participation in the interview is required for admission. Applications from outside of Canada are welcome and external interviewing is appropriately explored. Program offices should be consulted for admission deadlines. Prior to beginning graduate studies in CFT, admitted students must submit a current police record check (CPIC - Canadian Police Information Check) from their local police department.

Degree Requirements

Applied Human Nutrition

For all students in the MSc program in the field of Applied Human Nutrition, a minimum of 2.25 graduate credits will be chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee including:

FRAN*6000 [0.50] Research Methods
FRAN*6010 [0.50] Applied Statistics
FRAN*6020 [0.50] Qualitative Methods
FRAN*6550 [0.25] Research Seminar

One additional [0.5] graduate elective course such as FRAN*6610, FRAN*6510, or other graduate level elective course related to the student’s research specialization. It can be taken within Family Relations and Applied Nutrition or in other academic units of the university.

Students who enter the MSc-AHN program from a non-nutrition undergraduate program will also be required to take those undergraduate and/or graduate courses necessary to meet foundational knowledge in applied human nutrition. In addition, students must complete a research thesis.

Family Relations and Human Development

For all students in the MSc program in the field of Family Relations and Human Development, a total of 3.75 credits will be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor and advisory committee.

Core courses include:

FRAN*6000 [0.50] Research Methods
FRAN*6010 [0.50] Applied Statistics
FRAN*6020 [0.50] Qualitative Methods
FRAN*6340 [0.50] Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Family Relations and Human Development
FRAN*6330 [0.25] Research Seminar

In addition, students must complete a research thesis and are required to take a minimum of three (3) additional elective graduate courses (1.5 credits) related to their program of study.

Couple and Family Therapy

The intensive curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy has been designed to enable students to achieve an integration of theory, practice, and research. Clinical training in the MSc in CFT is guided by a systemic perspective, with emphasis on narrative, solution oriented, emotionally-focused and dialogic approaches. Attention to issues of gender, race, class, ethnicity, sexual identity, and culture as well as experiences of oppression and abuse are infused through all aspects of the curriculum.

Students are expected to develop competence in research. Students may choose to write a thesis, by conducting a research study, or they may choose the major research paper (non-thesis) option, and write a critical paper on a selected clinical topic. The thesis option is recommended for those students intending to pursue PhD studies at the University of Guelph or elsewhere. Thesis students will take additional courses to support their thesis research project (see the courses in the list below). Students completing the degree by the non-thesis option, take FRAN*6350, Major Paper.

Clinical training consists of four continuous practica (FRAN*6090) within the on-site Couple and Family Therapy Centre, plus an externship in a community agency (FRAN*6095). Each onsite practicum requires roughly 300 hours of student engagement (direct and indirect client service, supervision, and class time) over the semester. The externship is 350-400 hours over the semester and requires students to travel up to 100 km to an agency where they will complete the remaining hours required for completion of the program. Prior to graduation the CFT student must accumulate 500 hours of direct therapy work with clients, with at least 250 hours (of the 500 hours) working with couples and/or families. Each practicum student receives a minimum of one hour of individual supervision for every five hours of client in-session contact. In addition, each student participates in a weekly supervision group with a student to supervisor ratio of no more than 8:1. Supervision modalities include live supervision, live observation, video/audio-observation, and case consultation. All program faculty are Clinical Members and Approved Supervisors or Supervisor Candidates of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

For all students in the MSc in the field of Couple and Family Therapy, a minimum of 9.25 graduate credits are required, including the following:

FRAN*6070 [0.50] Sexual Issues and Clinical Interventions Across the Life Span
FRAN*6080 [0.50] Power Relations and Diversity in CFT
FRAN*6090 [0.50] Practicum in Couple and Family Therapy* *
FRAN*6095 [0.50] Externship in Couple and Family Therapy
FRAN*6100 [0.50] Clinical Issues in Couple and Family Therapy* *
FRAN*6120 [0.50] Theories and Methods of Family Therapy I
FRAN*6130 [0.50] Theories and Methods of Family Therapy II
FRAN*6140 [0.50] Professional Issues
FRAN*6160 [0.50] Introduction to Systemic Practice in Couple and Family Therapy
FRAN*6180 [0.50] Research Issues in Couple and Family Therapy
Note

* Students take FRAN*6090 and FRAN*6100 four times throughout their course of study. As such, each course totals 2.0 credits.

In addition to the above required courses, students take one restricted elective (0.50 credits) in the area of human or lifespan development. Course options for this restricted elective may include:

FRAN*6200 [0.50] Special Topics in Family Relations and Human Development *
FRAN*6310 [0.50] Family Relationships Across the Life Span
FRAN*6320 [0.50] Human Sexuality Across the Life Span
FRAN*6340 [0.50] Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Family Relations and Human Development
FRAN*6370 [0.50] Social Development During Childhood and Adolescence
FRAN*6410 [0.50] Developmental Assessment and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence
Note

* The special topic of FRAN*6200 must meet the COAMFTE criteria for individual development and family relations.

In addition, for Quantitative thesis students: Three additional courses are required:

FRAN*6330 [0.25] Research Seminar
FRAN*6000 [0.50] Research Methods
FRAN*6010 [0.50] Applied Statistics

For Qualitative thesis students: Two additional courses are required:

FRAN*6330 [0.25] Research Seminar
FRAN*6020 [0.50] Qualitative Methods

For non-thesis students: One additional course is required:

FRAN*6350 [1.00] Major Research Paper

Upon completion of the requirements for the emphasis in Couple and Family Therapy, the student will receive an MSc. The transcript will specify Family Relations and Human Development: Couple and Family Therapy.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120