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 required by all entering students: 1) a one-semester course in applied statistics (minimum grade of 75%) and 2) a one-semester course in research methods (minimum grade of 75%). MSc AHN students must also have taken prior to beginning the MSc program OR will take during the MSc program, undergraduate and/or graduate courses needed to meet foundational knowledge in applied human nutrition. These courses may include, but are not limited to: introductory to human nutrition, human physiology, psychology, communications/counselling, and human development/sociology. These requirements may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by April 30. 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 an honours degree or equivalent, in a related field. Credit in the following undergraduate courses is required of all entering students: 1) a one-semester course in applied statistics (minimum grade of 75%) and 2) a one-semester course in social-science research methods (minimum grade of 75%). These requirements may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by April 30. 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 an honours degree or equivalent, in a related field. Credit in the following undergraduate courses is required of all entering students:1) a one-semester course in applied statistics (minimum grade of 70%) and 2) a one-semester course in social-science research methods (minimum grade of 70%). These requirements may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by April 30. 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 CFT applicants 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 CFT faculty advisors at that time. Applicants for the thesis stream only must also submit a 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 the 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 half-day interview 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.
Program 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 advisor and advisory committee including:
FRAN*6000 | [0.50] | Quantitative Research Methods |
FRAN*6010 | [0.50] | Applied Statistics |
FRAN*6020 | [0.50] | Qualitative Research Methods |
FRAN*6550 | [0.25] | Research Seminar |
One additional [0.5] graduate elective course such as FRAN*6610 (Advances in Clinical Nutrition), FRAN*6510 (Nutrition in the Community) or another 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] | Quantitative Research Methods |
FRAN*6010 | [0.50] | Applied Statistics |
FRAN*6020 | [0.50] | Qualitative Research 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 Couple and Family Therapy |
FRAN*6090 | [1.00] | Practicum in Couple and Family Therapy * |
FRAN*6095 | [1.00] | 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 |
* 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 |
* 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] | Quantitative 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 Research 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.