Hispanic Studies, MA/Marriage and Family Therapy, MS

Program Co-Coordinators:

• Almitra Medina (3302 Bate Building; 252-328-2104; medinaa15@ecu.edu)
• Damon Rappleyea (324 Rivers Building; 252-737-2416; rappleyead@ecu.edu)

The Hispanic Studies, MA / Marriage and Family Therapy, MS  dual degree program is founded on ECU’s strong tradition of liberal arts education and service to eastern North Carolina and beyond. The program seeks to meet the growing need for professional licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) who possess the cultural and linguistic competence necessary to work in public or private practice as well as industry. By sharing twelve credit hours between the two master’s programs, students may be able to graduate in a reduced amount of time (usually three or three-and-a-half years).

The Hispanic Studies, MA program provides students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Hispanic cultures and to develop advanced Spanish language skills. The Marriage and Family Therapy, MS program provides students with socioculturally attuned training through numerous theoretical orientations. The program facilitates a wide selection of internships that prepare students to become competent and confident therapists. Students work collaboratively with Latinx/Hispanic individuals, couples, and families in clinical settings, applying indicated and evidence based therapeutic strategies to enhance the lives of clients. The Marriage and Family Therapy, MS program provides students with a diverse range of clinical and theoretical orientations that help to prepare them to become competent and confident therapists. Students work cooperatively with Latinx/Hispanic individuals, couples, and families in clinical settings to develop and apply creative therapeutic strategies. ECU’s marriage and family therapy program has been continuously accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) since 1992.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the university and both master’s degree programs. Students are typically accepted into one program and later admitted to the dual degree program. Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both programs individually before beginning the dual degree program. An application to the Graduate School must be submitted for each degree. The application fee need only be paid once.

Students admitted to the dual degree program are required to meet with both program directors to develop a program of study that includes a list of the 12 semester hours of courses that will count towards both degrees from the following two course lists.

Marriage and Family Therapy, MS

• SPAN 6003 - Applied Research Methods  
• SPAN 6004 - Engaged Field Work  
• SPAN 6070 - Engaged Research Experience  
• One SPAN elective from the following:
  • SPAN 6010 - Hispanic Cultural Studies  
  • SPAN 6020 - Contemporary Issues of the Hispanic World  
  • SPAN 6030 - Special Topics in Hispanic Studies  

Hispanic Studies, MA

• HDFS 7007 - Statistics in Child/Family Studies  
• HDFS 7400 - Research Methods in Child/Family Studies  
• Two HDFS practicums from the following:
  • HDFS 6415 - Family Therapy Practicum  
  • HDFS 6416 - Family Therapy Practicum  
  • HDFS 6417 - Family Therapy Practicum