College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Catalog 2016

86 patterns of clients and their families to chronic and acute illnesses; models of collaboration between medical family therapists and other health care professionals; the role of medical family therapists in the continuum of medical services; the politics and economics of health care; understanding human systems in health care; and brief interventions and systemic assessments useful in the treatment and care of patients and their families. Additionally, the program emphasizes professional development by assisting students in strengthening their professional and personal qualities necessary for successful participation in the medical milieu. The student's growth as a reflective practitioner is encouraged through clinical research in physician, patient, therapist, family communications, adjustments to acute, chronic, or terminal illness, social effects and ethical dilemmas of new medical technologies, and other issues that transcend historical distinctions between physical treatment and psychosocial interventions. Program faculty and students cooperate to publish research findings and clinical experiences. Also, faculty and students of the program contribute to the growth of Family Systems Health Care and medical family therapy by supporting and participating in professional groups such as the Collaborative Family Health Care Coalition, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Bereavement, Gerontology, and others. In addition to degree requirements, students must complete the following coursework to receive a Concentration in Family Systems Health Care (24 credit hours):  FSHC 5000: Family Systems Health Care I  FSHC 5010: Family Systems Health Care II  FSHC 5100: Practicum I in Family Systems Health Care*  FSHC 5110: Practicum II in Family Systems Health Care*  FSHC 5300: Integration and Collaboration Among Health Care Systems  FSHC 5500: Politics and Economics of Health Care  FSHC 6400: Understanding Human Systems in Health Care Settings  One Elective * Students may choose to do part of all of their external practicums in a medical setting to obtain their required clinical hours for the M.S. program. At least 200 clinical hours are required for this concentration. M.S. Comprehensive Exam In addition to successfully completing all coursework and obtaining the required minimum 500 client contact hours and 100 supervision hours, students must pass a comprehensive examination as required for the M.S. in Family Therapy degree. This clinically focused examination tests the student's ability to apply what has been learned. Exams are given, and retakes arranged through the administrative office. The comprehensive examination is developed by the Program Director in consultation with the faculty and the community advisory council. The examination reviews core curriculum content and ability to apply this material to real life situations. Details of the examination and suggestions for study will be presented each term at a comprehensive examination review, one to three weeks prior to the exam. Each comprehensive examination answer is reviewed independently and blindly by three faculty reviewers. Faculty has a four-week period of time to complete exam grading. Students may review their exam materials with the M.S. Program Director. The comprehensive exam may be retaken one time after an initial failure, and twice after a score of "in progress". Remedial study and retake of classes as assigned by the program