Program Overview

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Systemic Practice and Family Therapy (MSc)

Overview

Systemic practice and family therapy helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a part-time basis only and undertake a research dissertation over one year.

People teaching you

Dr Suzanne Mooney

Programme Director

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

• Dissertation: The dissertation is undertaken for a full academic year.

Assessment

Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• A dissertation.

Facilities

The School is situated across a suite of three buildings in Belfast's Queen's Quarter. We provide student and staff common rooms, computer suites and designated study spaces.

What our academics say

“We aim to provide students with excellent learning experiences to enhance their skills in both child and adult service settings. We hope students will leave the courses feeling better equipped to work compassionately and effectively with the many struggles individuals and families seek help with.”

Suzanne Mooney, Lecturer

Modules

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice - intermediate level

• Overview: Induction Day: systemic disposition, skills & contexts
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specialist skills at this level include the ability to develop complex decision-making and high levels of professional responsibility and accountability
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8068
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Specialist Practice Dissertation

• Overview: Semester One: Overview of the process of audit, service evaluation, and empirical research for qualitative research
• Learning Outcomes: Understand systematic approaches to searching and retrieving literature from electronic, academic and professional databases
• Skills: Skills of devising a project using a specific approach to answer an agreed question
• Credits: 60
• Module Code: SWK7001
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 36 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting - intermediate level

• Overview: (i) Systemic Practice Groups: enactments and intensification; externalisation, narrative therapy and solution focused techniques
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specialist skills at this level include the ability to develop complex decision-making and high levels of professional responsibility and accountability
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8067
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Theory, Practive and Research in Family and Systemic Practice - intermediate level

• Overview: Critical influences and historical development of family therapy and systemic practice, position of the therapist as part of the system
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specialist skills at this level include the ability to develop complex decision-making and high levels of professional responsibility and accountability
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8066
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting

• Overview: (i) Practice Application Groups on Skills Development: convening the family, genogram, ecomap and lifeline work
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy & systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8059
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice

• Overview: - Practice Application Groups on Skills Development, practising the topics covered in the taught sessions with emphasis on developing a systemic disposition
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8065
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Introduction to Systemic Theory, Research and Practice

• Overview: Introducing an eco-systemic analysis of families in society: family in contemporary society; family systems; critical family policy
• Learning Outcomes: As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)
• Skills: In addition to the skills generic to Cert-Dip-MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work
• Credits: 20
• Module Code: SWK8058
• Teaching Period: Full Year
• Duration: 24 weeks
• Pre-requisite: No
• Core/Optional: Core

Entrance requirements

• Graduate: 1 This is a multidisciplinary pathway with applications welcome from applicants with prior relevant professional training in a mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent as designated by the Association of Family Therapy (e.g. Social Work, Nursing, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology). Normally one year's post qualification experience is required.
• Graduate: 2 Successful completion of PG Diploma Systemic Practice and Family Therapy (AFT accredited Intermediate level) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
• Graduate: 3 All Social Work applicants from NI/UK must have a recognised social work qualification and have successfully completed the Assessed Year in Employment. Social work and social care applicants must be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and should include their NISCC Social Care Registration Number in the Additional Information section of the application form.
• Graduate: 4 Applicants should normally have a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification. Equivalent qualifications include the Pre-2007 Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Where this is not met, applicants must show their ability to study at postgraduate level through evidence of previous postgraduate training or completion of a reflective practice assignment.
• Graduate: 5 At least two references will be sought, one of whom must be the applicant’s current employer. At least one referee should be professionally qualified and be able to comment on the applicant’s current practice.
• International Students: Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.
• *Taken within the last 2 years.

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £7,300
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £7,300
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £9,250
• EU Other: £21,500
• International: £21,500

Additional course costs

• There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Career Prospects

• The different levels of systemic training at Queen’s provide knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health and social care.
• Systemic practitioners and systemic family therapists work in many health and social care settings such as children's services, older people's services, physical health and disability, substance misuse, justice and mental health services.
• This academic Master's programme develops students’ research skills through undertaking a study relevant to their current work context.

How to Apply

• Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.