Doctor of Philosophy in Marital and Family Therapy (PhD)
Program Director: Carmen Knudson-Martin, PhD
University of Southern California (1987). Professor, Marital and Family Therapy; AAMFT Approved Supervisor; Licensed Marital and Family Therapist.
Contact Information
Program Director: Carmen Knudson-Martin • (909) 558-4547, extension 47002 • cknudsonmartin@llu.edu
Administrative Assistant for Doctoral Programs: Patrice Harris • (909) 558-4547, option 4 • pdharris@llu.edu
Program Overview
Interim Master's Degree
Professional Accreditation
Professional Licensure
Program Philosophy and Goals
Student Learning Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Corequisites
Tuition
Financial Assistance
The PhD program in Marital and Family therapy is designed to achieve two outcomes: (1) to graduate a diverse student body prepared to provide leadership in the field of marriage and family therapy; and (2) to develop family therapy scholar/practitioners who will advance theory, research, clinical practice, and teaching in the field of marital and family therapy.
The program follows the scientist-practitioner model, in which the students are expected to develop expertise both in empirical research methods and clinical practice for careers in teaching, research, and practice. Requirements include:
- 108 quarter units
- minimum of 3-4 years full time study (part-time plans available)
- post-master’s course work in MFT theory and practice, qualitative and quantitative research, supervision, and spirituality
- a concentration--choices include, but are not limited to: medical family therapy, organizational consulting, family studies, and school consultation
- 1000 hours face-to-face client contact in systems/relational practice
- a dissertation reflecting independent research that advances the family therapy field
- 36 units professional development experiences in which students develop specialized competencies linking practice, research, and theory (formerly internship)
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Interim Master’s Degree
A PhD with interim master’s degree is available for selected advanced students whose master’s degree is not in marital and family therapy (or equivalent) or students currently enrolled in COAMFTE accredited masters programs. This combined degree program requires 160 units and takes a minimum of five years of full time study to complete.
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Professional Accreditation
The PhD in Marital and Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the accrediting body associated with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
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Professional Licensure
The PhD program is designed to provide the academic requirements to meet the California licensing standards according to Business and Professions Code 4980.38 for those students who have not previously met these requirements. For more information on MFT licensure in California, please refer to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Links for other state licensing bodies may be found here.
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Program Philosophy and Goals
The program is consistent with Loma Linda University's vision of transforming lives through whole person health care. Our mission is to bring health, healing, wholeness, and hope to individuals, families, and communities through education, research, clinical training, and community service. The PhD in MFT program accomplishes this by preparing scientist-practitioners who will advance the body of knowledge through which marital and family therapists promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
The curriculum is organized around nine guiding concepts: relational systems, wholeness, social forces, healing power of relationships, diversity, empirical process, education and prevention, spirituality, and worldwide focus. The student learning outcomes flow from these guiding concepts.
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Student Learning Outcomes
Each of the six student learning outcomes for the PhD in MFT program support the LLU mission of providing whole person care with a specific emphasis on advancing systems/relational theory and practice in diverse societal context. They are as follows:
1. Students will develop a professional identity as doctoral level marital and family therapists aligned with national practice standards.
2. Students will become adept in systems/relational practice, demonstrating sophistication as a scientist/practitioner.
3. Students will be able to analyze, synthesize and critique MFT theory, human development, and family science literatures to advance and integrate research, theory, and practice in the field.
4. Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills as a researcher in the field of marital and family therapy.
5. Students will be responsive to the societal, cultural, and spiritual contexts in which health and well-being are embedded.
6. Students will develop an ethical consciousness that guides their practice in aspects of professional work.
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Admission Requirements
The PhD in Marital and Family Therapy program represents advanced study over and above a standard master's degree curriculum in the field. Acceptance into this program is based on an integrated evaluation of the following criteria:
1. Personal essay (see guidelines with application)
2. MS degree in marital and family therapy or equivalent
3. Grade-point average (3.3 minimium)
4. Oral interviews with department (one day).
5. Three letters of reference (2 academic and one professional)
6. Resumé (preferred but not required)
7. GRE scores (taken within the last five years)
8. International students: TOEFL, 550 (pencil test) or 213 (computer score) (English as a second language only)
9. Official transcripts for all college and graduate study.
10. Prior to matriculation students must pass a background check.
Click here to see the criteria used to evaluate applicant interviews.
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Corequisites
Student transcripts will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis for the following areas of corequisite study. A plan of study incorporating these standard master's degree-level courses is available for students who have not completed these corequisites:
Theoretical knowledge in family systems/relational therapy (8)
Clinical knowledge in marital and family therapy (16)
Individual development and family relations (8)
Additional study in areas 1-3 (4)
Professional issues and ethics in marital and family therapy (4)
Research (4)
Additional related study (4)
Minimum Approved Corequisite Units: 48
Click here to view the criteria used to evaluate prior coursework.
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Tuition
Tuition for 2012-13 is $660 per academic unit. Additional registration fees are $674 per quarter. Non-academic units (clinical training and professional development) are $50-500 per quarter.
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Financial Assistance
Students who are accepted into the PhD in Marital and Family Therapy program may apply for a variety of work study and department funded research, teaching, and administrative assistantships awarded by the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences. These typically pay about $20 per hour and do not include tuition remission.
Students may also apply for need-based financial aid, such as a loan or other work-study programs on campus. Departmental awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Students accepted into the PhD program in marital and family therapy are eligible to and encouraged to apply for the AAMFT minority fellowships.
Students may apply for financial aid by writing to:
Student Financial Aid Office
Student Services
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350
(909) 558-4509
finaid@llu.edu
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