Professional Certificate in Family and Couples Therapy

• Admission Requirements
• General Requirements
• Curriculum

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Programs Description

This certificate program provides training in family and couple’s therapy. It is designed to enhance the assessment, intervention, and consultation skills of professionals from the behavioral sciences, medicine and other health sciences holding at least a master’s degree and professional license. Graduate students in a psychology doctoral program are allowed to register in the program.

Program Goals

The primary goals of the Certificate Program in Family and Couples Therapy are:

1. To develop or enhance the competencies of licensed mental health or health professionals in therapeutic interventions with couples and families.
2. To develop or enhance the competencies of licensed mental health or health professionals in the knowledge of systemic interventions and in the cultural, ethical, and legal implications of couples and family therapy practice.

Admissions Requirements

1. Master’s in art, Master in Science or MD degree from an institution of higher education
2. Professional License or registered in a Professional Psychology doctoral program.
3. Interview with program faculty.
4. Submit the following documents:
   1. Official transcript with Degree conferred.
   2. Copy of professional license.
   3. Two letters of recommendation written by individuals familiar with the applicant’s professional work and skills, using the format accompanying the application form.
   4. Certificate of No Penal Record
   5. Application processing fee, non-refundable
   6. CV/Resume

Graduate students in Clinical, Counseling, School Psychology, Social Work or Professional Psychology, may be admitted if they:

1. Provide evidence of one year of clinical practicum experience.
2. Have at least two credits in Family Therapy
3. Sign an understanding stating that the Certificate will only be provided after completing their graduate program and submitting a copy of their professional license.

The Program Director and faculty members select ideal candidates for admissions. Candidates demonstrating high involvement or interest in the field of couples and family therapy who evidence mental and personal maturity and the sensitivity to the psychosocial needs of others are prime candidates for admissions. In evaluating the applicants, emphasis is placed upon the following:

1. Potential to work with individuals, analytical skills and understanding of ethical standards of the profession.
2. Motivation and emotional stability
3. Letters of recommendation (see previous description)
4. Interview with faculty member

Upon acceptance, all students are required to submit the following:

1. Written confirmation of acceptance
2. Non-refundable deposit of $100.00 to secure the seat in the entering class.

Other documents will be notified as pertinent.

Degree Granted

Professional Certificate in Family and Couples Therapy

Graduation Requirements

• Satisfactory completion of courses (21 credits)
• Satisfactory completion of 100 hours of supervised practice

Grading System

Letter	Grade
P	Pass (100% - 70%)
NP	Not Pass (Less than 70%)
E	Extended
I	Incomplete
IP	In Progress
W	Withdrawal
AW	Administrative Withdrawal
NG	No-Grade Reported (under special circumstances)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

This policy has been established to ensure an acceptable time frame for completion of the academic program and the minimally accepted quality of performance. This policy also ensures that the Student Financial Aid requirements set forth by federal regulations are met.

This policy applies to all students enrolled in the Professional Certificate Program in Family and Couples Therapy at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU).

General Requirements

1. Time Frame for completion of the Program
   A Student will be allowed a maximum time frame of one year of enrollment beyond the standard required for the completion of the program (one year)

Program	Standard	Maximum
Professional Certificate in Family and Couples Therapy	1 year	2 years

2. Completion of Program Requirements
   1. Course Requirement
      Students must complete all courses within the established time frame. The Program requires a total of 21 credits and 100 hours of clinical practice.
   2. Performance Requirement
      A student must complete each trimester with a Passing (P) grade.
   3. Professional Behavior Requirement
      The students should conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional conduct set forth by Ponce Health Sciences University

Grade Requirement

In order to graduate, the student should complete all program requirements. An “I” (Incomplete) grade will only be allowed under very special circumstances as determined by the professor. The student must remove the “I” (Incomplete) in agreement with the professor and must be removed by the incomplete removal date of the following academic session. For detailed information about the institutional policy, refer to the Institutional Catalog.

Financial Aid Eligibility

A student failing to meet the program requirements will be dismissed. Students notified that they are to be dismissed from program, have the right to appeal the case in writing to the University President within five working days after receiving the notification.

The Appeal or Due Process for Dismissal

Students who are notified by the Program’s Academic Dean a decision of the Students Promotion Committee that he/she must repeat failed courses during the next academic year or to be dismissed from the program, have the right to appeal the decision within five (5) working days after receiving the notification.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed.

The student will appeal in writing to the Students Promotion Committee (SPC) and include all relevant documentation to support the request. The Committee will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they change their initial decision. After the meeting, the SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Program’s Academic Dean, who will notify the decision to the student.

If the SPC sustains the adverse decision, the student has the right to appeal to the Dean of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (SBBS). The appeal must be submitted in writing within seven working days of receiving the notification. The SBBS’ Dean will evaluate the appeal and the student’s academic record. The SBBS’ Dean can appoint a three-member Ad-Hoc Committee to re-evaluate all evidence. Rejection of the appeal by the Dean is final.

If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, they will notify the student in writing of the date and the time when the appeal will be evaluated. After the meeting, the Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the SBBS’ Dean. The Dean will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the Dean of the SBBS is final.

The same process described above will be followed in the case that the adverse decision made by the Committee is for non-academic reasons, such as unacceptable professional behavior. The SBBS’ Dean, or the Vice President for Student Affairs will refer the case to the SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process described above may be activated.

If an adverse decision is made due to non-academic reasons and the SBBS’s Dean sustains the decision after the appeal process, the student may appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Any additional appeal should be submitted to the PHSU President.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

Financial Aid eligibility is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.

It is the student’s responsibility to request reinstatement of financial aid.

Enforcement

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs shall have primary responsibility for overseeing this policy and will provide all students upon admission to PHSU, a copy of this document.

Tuition and Fees

For more details of PHSU tuition and fees please refer to: Tuition and Fees 2024-2025.pdf

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE REGISTRATION.

*Ponce Health Sciences University reserves the right to increase the tuition or other fees as deemed necessary.