Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy (PhD)

College of Health and Human Services

The Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Program offers the highest-quality of training and mentorship to students so they can become leaders in their community and in the field of MFT. The program seeks to form students into outstanding teachers, systemic scholars/researchers, clinicians, and supervisors.

Rooted in our university’s larger mission, and aligned with AAMFT’s commitment to service, advocacy, and public participation, we aim to cultivate servant-leaders. We develop students who contribute wisely and courageously to the formation of a more merciful and just society. As part of their training, students will have opportunities to specialize in neuroscience and integrated healthcare, couple therapy, or leadership. MFT PhD graduates will be prepared to pursue various career opportunities, including roles as faculty in MFT programs or related disciplines, and/or careers 

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If a student has completed 11 credits of MFT-895 Dissertation and is still not ready to defend, they will enroll in at least 1 MFT-897 Dissertation Defense Continuing Dissertation credit each semester until they are ready to defend, at which time they must register for 1 credit of MFT-897 Dissertation Defense.

Admission Requirements  

1. Hold a Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution outside the United States. Documentation of degree equivalencies must be submitted by an agency authorized to do so
2. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in Graduate level course work
3. Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty and/or work supervisors, who can attest to an applicant’s ability to be successful in graduate studies (See application form for further instruction)
4. Interview with program director and additional faculty

Academic Standing

Only two “C” grades (C+, C or C-) are permitted in the program. A third grade of “C+” or below will result in academic dismissal from the program. No course with a grade of “C-“ or below will count toward a graduate degree. Any grade of “F” may be cause for dismissal from the program. A second “C+” or below in a repeated course may be cause for dismissal from the program. Dismissals may be appealed through the appeal process.

Departments can identify courses in which a “B” is the minimum grade required. 

Dissertation

MFT doctoral students are required to complete a dissertation in order to graduate. Students must continuously enroll in a MFT Dissertation (MFT-895 Dissertation) course until the dissertation receives final approval from the student's committee.

Students must complete at least 11 credit hours in MFT-895 Dissertation and 1 hour of MFT-897 Dissertation Defense prior to graduation. Students are required to complete 1 credit hour each semester after that (Fall, Spring, and Summer) until the student is finished. A continuation fee, equivalent to one credit hour, will be assessed for every semester the student is enrolled in MFT-895 Dissertation after the 12-hour requirement has been met.

An incomplete will be given in MFT-895 Dissertation until the final dissertation is approved by the committee. Upon approval of the thesis, the grade will be changed to a Pass. If a student does not enroll in MFT-895 Dissertation, the incomplete grade will turn to a Fail (F).

Doctoral Portfolio

In their Doctoral Portfolio, PhD students at MMU are required to document and compile their experiences, advanced training, and achievements across the first two (or more) years of their doctoral studies. Many portfolio requirements are completed, or started, as students move through their coursework. The Portfolio is like a Qualifying Examination in that it must be passed before a student can be recognized as a doctoral candidate. A doctoral student may begin working on or preparing for their dissertation prior to successfully completing their Portfolio; however, the Portfolio must be completed successfully before a student’s dissertation committee can be finalized.

Students may submit their Portfolio for faculty review starting 6 weeks before completing their final PhD course(s). Students can submit their Portfolio at any time within 1 year of completing the courses required for completion of the doctoral degree (excepting the required dissertation credits); if a student has not passed within this time frame, they would most likely be dismissed from the program.

The Portfolio reflects student work and achievement across the following broad domains: Teaching, Research, Clinical & Supervision, and Service. The requirements for the Portfolio are outlined in the program handbook. 

Transfer Policy

Upon admission to the program, students may transfer in graduate courses with the approval of the Program Director. The maximum number of transferable credit hours is 12. Credit allowance for graduate courses is considered on an individual basis; however, students must have earned a “B” or higher for the course to be considered. Course syllabi, college catalog, and a sample of previous course work may be requested for consideration of a class.