Rethinking what it means to specialize in mft at the master's level

There has been an increase in specialization programs that offer an introduction to marital and family therapy at the master's level. These programs are often referred to as major, minor, track, sequence, or area of emphasis. They typically consist of one or two theory/overview courses housed within a traditional counseling/therapy department. This paper discusses some of the problems with this model and then offers an alternative that attempts to improve conceptual integration and skill development. The alternative model discussed is an interdisciplinary three-course sequence in family assessment concepts and skills. Course descriptions and objectives are provided and discussed.