2023-2024 Traditional Undergraduate Catalog

Counseling: Psychology/Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (BS/MA)

Credential: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling (updated 3.15.24)

Majors:   Psychology & Biblical Studies (BS); Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling (MA)

Certification/Licensure:  LBC| Capital’s Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program includes all curricular requirements for becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. There are additional non-curricular requirements for Pennsylvania Licensure.

Location:  Lancaster

Program Mission Statement:  The program will provide training that will give entry level qualifications for opportunities in marriage, couple, and family counseling field, eligibility to apply for state licensure in PA (Licensed Professional Counselor), and professional certifications.

Program Purpose & Goals:  

1. To provide clinical training such that students are well-versed in research-based theoretical orientations and able to articulate and apply such views.

2. To provide ample clinical experiences (in vivo and case study) such that students are able to grasp and deliver individual psychotherapy.

3. To provide a framework of learning that promotes critical thinking so that students are able to demonstrate professional evaluation of theoretical content in light of a biblical worldview.

4. To provide robust clinical supervision for students as they practice/apply clinical skills taught in the classroom. 

5. To provide experiences in which students can transition their knowledge of scholarly publications and foundational, research-based clinical theories into future research endeavors.

Program Description:  The BS/MA Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program is a five-year program that will allow students obtain both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling. This program will provide training that will give entry level qualifications for opportunities within marriage, couple and family counseling, eligibility to apply for state licensure in PA (Licensed Professional Counselor), and professional certification. For this degree, graduates will also be prepared to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Although not yet accredited through CACREP, the structure and content of the MA in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program is aligned with the CACREP 2016 Standards.

Program Learning Outcomes: As a result of this program, students will:

1. Recognize the history, development, legislation, government policy, ethics, professional identity development of counselors within the context of marriage, couple, and family counseling.

2. Evaluate family phenomenology, family of origin theories, models, techniques, and interventions related to marriage, couple, and family counseling, in order to foster family wellness through a biblical perspective.

3. Learn the application of theories and models in developing case conceptualization, etiology, treatment planning, diagnostic process, and referral within family systems and dynamics.

4. Comprehend assessments, including diagnostic interviews, genograms, family mapping, mental diagnostic status examinations, symptom inventories, and psychoeducational and personality assessments.

5. Develop an understanding of scholarly literature and its application of the structures of marriage, couples, and families, within the realms of human sexuality and its effect on couple and family functioning, aging and intergenerational influences, immigration, and related family concerns.

6. Enhance skills necessary to conduct competent cultural treatment relevant to marriage, couple, and family functioning, at various delivery modalities within the continuum of care.

7. Understand the etiology of trauma and crisis as well as the impact of interpersonal violence, mental health, and addiction on marriages, couples, and families.

8. Acquire strategies for interfacing with the legal system while understanding ethical principles and application to prospective marriage, couple, and family counseling.

9. Demonstrate understanding regarding the impact of life, gender roles, career, unemployment, under-employment, and changes in socioeconomic standing on marriages, couples, and families.

10. Synthesize information and knowledge into practice through supervised counseling experiences.

Experiential Learning:  The BS/MA Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling program includes two practicums and two internships.

Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements

Curricular Structure

Credits

Bible & Theology Courses

42

Arts & Sciences Courses

37

Counseling Courses

70

LBC 100 Foundations Seminar

1

Christian Service CSV 201, CSV 202

0

Program Total

150


Bible & Theology Courses (42 credits)

BIB 103Creation & Covenants: OT I

3

BIB 104Israel's Life & Literature: OT II

3

BIB 106Interpreting the Bible

3

THE 105Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies

3

BIB 203Life of Christ: NT I

3

BIB 204Early Church: NT II

3

THE 223Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall

3

THE 224Christian Narrative II: Redemption

3

THE 202Christian Political Engagement

3

THE 320Christianity and Culture

3

BNT
New Testament Elective

3

BOT
Old Testament Elective

3

THE
Theology Elective

3

THE
Theology Elective

3

 

Arts & Sciences Courses (37 credits)

LAN 101Academic Writing, Research, and Rhetoric

3

LAN 104Public Speaking

3

LIT
Literature Core (100/200 Level)

3

HIS
History Core (100/200 Level)

3

SCI
Science Core (100/200 Level)

3

SCI
SCI Lab

1

MAT 216Statistics for the Social Sciences

3

SOC 101/PSY 101General Psychology

3

SOC 203Principles of Sociology

3

SOC 228Principles and Techniques of Psychotherapy

3

HUM 204/SWK 204Cultural Diversity

3

Arts & Sciences Course (300 level)

3

Arts & Sciences Course (400 level)

3

 

Counseling Courses (70 credits)

PSY 122Group Psychotherapy

3

PSY 143History and Systems of Psychology

3

PSY 351Therapy Lab

3

PSY 415Practicum

3

CPS 501Orientation to Professional Counseling Identity, Function & Ethics

3

CPS 505Research and Program Evaluation

3

CPS 508Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships

3

CPS 510Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan

3

CPS 515Counseling Theory and Techniques

3

CPS 525Assessment Techniques in Counseling I

3

CPS 530Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling

3

CPS 531Psychopathology & Counseling

3

CPS 540Marriage Counseling & Psychotherapy

3

CPS 541Group Counseling Leadership Skills

3

CPS 550Family Counseling & Psychotherapy

3

CPS 572Counseling Addictions

3

CPS 575Counseling Children and Adolescents

3

CPS 583Multicultural Foundations of Counseling

3

CPS 588Career and Lifestyle Development

3

CPS 601Professional CNS Practicum

3

CPS 602Professional CNS Internship

3

CPS 603Counseling Internship II

3

CPS Elective

3

CPS Elective

3

 

LBC 100 (1 credit)

LBC 100Foundations Seminar

1

 

Christian Service (0 credit)

Christian Service provides an important part of the overall education program of the college. Its function is to assist students in experiencing various forms of practical ministry, proclaiming Christ by serving Him in the Church and society. CSV 201 and CSV 202
CSV 201Christian Service I

0

CSV 202Christian Service II

0

 

Faculty:

Jon Shacklett, MA, LPC, CAADC, ACS

Melissa Boas, MEd 

Adjunct Faculty:

Arwa Nye, MEd

Brittany Ober, MA

Daniel Grubb, MA

Day Butcher, PhD

Faith Ann Day, MA

James Johnson, DMin

Jonathan Reese, MA

Joshua Irvine, MA, LPC

Justin D. Charles, PsyD

Justin Steele, PsyD

Kimberly Blest, MA, LPC

Olivia Murrin, MA, LPC

Sean Dougherty, MS, MEd