Marriage & Family Therapy Program Applicant
Auburn University
Human Development and Family Studies
HDFS, according to Auburn University's website, is an interdisciplinary program focused on advancing and applying knowledge about individuals and families in a changing world. In my studies, I found it to be much more than that.
​
Yes, AU HDFS looks at people and families from many different perspectives— biologically, socially, and psychologically— but more that that, it places emphasis on relationships. To me, the ethos of HDFS is this: life change happens in the context of relationships. This is why I want to be a marriage and family therapist— to help people's relationships move towards health and thriving! I believe Auburn HDFS has more than equipped me for any Marriage and Family Therapy program.
The classes offered in Auburn's program showcase the biopsychosocial perspective, and I've given some examples here.
​
​
Photo: Auburn University Photographic Services
​
Adult Development
and Aging
HDFS 3050
Professional Development and Ethics
HDFS 2030
In Adult Development and Aging, I learned a lot about what it means to be an adult. We focused mostly on older adults and the way that aging changes one's life, but also focused on important issues such ageism and successful aging. These concepts will prove important in my work as a therapist one day because understanding the things that adults are going through is critical to helping them through these changes and experiences.
In Professional Development and Ethics, I had the opportunity to learn about ways to develop myself for the professional world. Skills such as résumé and website building can come in handy when it comes to applying for grad school and in any professional field. Especially helping professions like counseling and therapy, questions of ethics are incredibly important. Being informed on things like ethical dilemmas and cultural competency is invaluable when dealing with people.
Development of Interpersonal Relationships
HDFS 3080
I believe this class is possibly one of the most important parts of my coursework. Because I hope to be a therapist, I feel that it is absolutely essential that I understand concepts that are frequently overlooked such as listening, connecting whole messages with the body language that I am projecting, and other skills that are crucial when dealing with people. Furthermore, these skills will be crucial so that I can pass them on to clients who are struggling or wish to improve their own relationships. This class equipped me to do just that.
Parent Education
HDFS 4670
Parent Education was a critical course for me because it was in this class that I developed some very important writing skills. The class is very informative in matters of education for parents, but also has a heavy focus on APA writing and the effective consumption of research. This class was one of my first exposures to research. Click below to view a paper that I wrote while I was in the class.