Doctoral Programs - Requirements

Admissions and program requirements

• Admission requirements
• Financial assistance
• Program requirements

Admission requirements
The doctoral programs in marital and family therapy are advanced study over and above a standard master's degree curriculum in the field. Student transcripts will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis for the following areas of prerequisite study. Plans of study incorporating these standard master's level courses are available for students who have not completed these prerequisites.

Prerequisite master's level study shall include

Supervised clinical experience
Doctoral students must document a minimum of 1000 hours client contact in family systems/relational therapy under the supervision of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor (or equivalent). These hours may be obtained prior to or during doctoral study, however all doctoral students will be expected to participate in the doctoral level practicum sequence and be involved in clinical practice during their program of study. Students with less than 200 hours approved client contact will begin in the master's level practicum.

Additional requirements
Acceptance into doctoral study in marital and family therapy will be based on an integrated evaluation of the following criteria:

• Autobiographical/personal statement including personal goals and writing sample on file
• MS, MA, or MFT, or a graduate degree in a related field (i.e., sociology or anthropology unless applying for post-bachelor's entry level
• Minimum grade point average 3.3 or above
• Minimum GRE: 1000 on verbal and quantitative combined (PhD only)
• TOEFL: pencil test - 550; Computer score - 213 (English as 2^nd language only)
• Critical Essay Exam (DMFT only)
• Three letters of reference (academic and/or professional)
• Resume (preferred but not required)
• Oral interviews with department (one day)

Financial assistance
Students who are accepted into the marital & family therapy program may receive financial assistance through merit-based awards such as teaching fellowships and a variety of research and student-serve assistantships, or through need-based financial aid such as a loan or the University's work study program.

Students interested in receiving financial assistance of any kind should indicate their interest on their application and during their admission interview.

Program requirements

PhD in Marital and Family Therapy
DMFT Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy
Combined Master's in MFT and PhD or DMFT

PhD in Marital and Family Therapy (108 quarter units)
Students develop expertise in conducting original research from both quantitative and qualitative approaches and skills for theory development and clinical training in academic and other settings. Program includes:

• 63 units required courses in theory, clinical practice, research, and supervision
• 6 units doctoral practicum
• 19 units concentration and/or electives
• 20 units dissertation
• a doctoral internship following completion of course work

The PhD requires 3-4 years of study. A sample full-time, three-year plan follows:

Year One - Doctoral Core
MFTH 507: Clinical 2 -- Meaning (Narrative, Solution-Focused) (3)
MFTH 508: Clinical 3 -- Natural Systems (Bowen, Structural, etc.) (3)
MFTH 509: Clinical Issues (4)
MFTH 601: Statistics I (4)
MFTH 602: Statistics II (4)
MFTH 603: Statistics III (4)
MFTH 604: Advanced Qualitative Methods (4)
MFTH 605: Advanced Quantitative Methods (4)
MFTH 606: Overview and Critique of Research in MFT (4)
RELT 615: Philosophy of Religion (3)
RELR 535: Spirituality and Mental Health
MFTH 634: Doctoral Practicum (4)
MFTH 694: Doctoral Seminar (1 over 6 quarters)
MFTH 607: Computer (1)

Year Two
MFTH 504: Advanced Theory in MFT (4)
MFTH 505: Advanced Family Studies (4)
MFTH 506: Clinical 1-Cybernetics (3)
MFTH 509: Clinical 4-Clinical Issues (3)
MFTH 608: Assessment & Presentation of Research (3)
MFTH 519: Teaching Techniques (recommended elective) (2)
MFTH 625: Grant Writing (recommended elective) (3)
MFTH 634: Doctoral Practicum (2)
MFTH 696/697 Research/Dissertation (5)
RELE 500 or 600 level course in ethics
Concentration/electives (20)
Qualifying Exams

Year Three - Internship & Dissertation
MFTH 501: Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 502: Advanced Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 696/697 Research/Dissertation 15 units
Doctoral Internship (9 month, full-time)
Defense of Dissertation

Certificates are also available in group counseling, school counseling, clinical mediation, Christian family therapy, and drug and alcohol counseling.

Clinical hours & doctoral internship

• Before the PhD is awarded students must document 1000 hours direct client contact in systems/relational therapy under the supervision of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor (or equivalent). Some or all of these hours may be obtained prior to doctoral study. The qualifications of the supervisor as well as the kind of therapy provided will be assessed in determining how many previous client contact hours are credited. Since graduates of the PhD program are expected to develop sophistication in systems oriented practices, theory, and supervision above and beyond master's level work, even persons with previous extensive clinical experience may benefit from AAMFT Approved Supervision.
• The doctoral internship affords the opportunity for full time advanced marital and family therapy work under the supervision of a senior marriage and family therapy professional. Internships will be designed meet the specific professional objectives of each student and may involve clinical practice, supervision, teaching, and/or research. Internships need not be in the Loma Linda area. Internships in other countries are possible. In some cases internships may grow out of a student's current place of employment, however, how the internship requirements and the student's developmental goals are being met must be clearly demonstrated.

Doctor of marital and family therapy - DMFT (100 units)
Students develop expertise in program development and evaluation, grant-writing, and the skills for supervisory and administrative positions in clinical practice and community settings. Program includes:

• 70 units required courses in theory, clinical practice, research and program development, and supervision and administration
• 6 units doctoral practicum
• 12 units program track and/or electives
• 12 units doctoral project
• a doctoral internship following completion of course work

The DMFT requires 3-4 years of study. A sample full-time, three-year plan follows:

Year One - Doctoral Core
MFTH 504: Advanced Theory in MFT (4)
MFTH 506: Clinical 1-- Cybernetics (MRI, Solution-Focused) (3)
MFTH 507: Clinical 2 -- Meaning (Narrative, Milan) (3)
MFTH 508: Clinical 3 -- Natural Systems (Bowen, Structural, etc.) (3)
MFTH 509: Advanced Family Studies (4)
MFTH 601: Statistics I (4)
MFTH 604: Advanced Qualitative Methods (4)
MFTH 605: Advanced Quantitative Methods (4)
MFTH 606: Overview and Critique of Research in MFT (4)
RELT 615: Philosophy of Religion (3)
MFTH 634: Doctoral Practicum (4)

Year Three - Internship & Project
MFTH 501: Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 502: Advanced Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 695/697 Research/Project (12)
Doctoral Internship (9 months, full-time)
Defense of Doctoral Project

Certificates are also available in group counseling, school counseling, clinical mediation, Christian family therapy, and drug and alcohol counseling.

Clinical hours and doctoral internship

• Before the DMFT is awarded students must document 1000 hours direct client contact in systems/relational therapy under the supervision of an AAMFT Approved Supervisor (or equivalent). Some or all of these hours may be obtained prior to doctoral study. The qualifications of the supervisor as well as the kind of therapy provided will be assessed in determining how many previous client contact hours are credited. Since graduates of the DMFT program are expected to develop sophistication in systems oriented practices, theory, and supervision above and beyond master's level work, even persons with previous extensive clinical experience may benefit from AAMFT Approved Supervision.
• The doctoral internship affords the opportunity for full time advanced marital and family therapy work under the supervision of a senior marriage and family therapy professional. Internships will be designed meet the specific professional objectives of each student and may involve clinical practice, supervision, teaching, and/or research. Internships need not be in the Loma Linda area. Internships in other countries are possible. In some cases internships may grow out of a student's current place of employment, however, how the internship requirements and the student's developmental goals are being met must be clearly demonstrated.

Combined master's in MFT and PhD or DMFT (168 quarter units-PhD; 160 units-DMFT)
This plan is for persons who do not hold the standard master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy prior to acceptance. Well-qualified post-bachelor's students and persons with master's degrees in other fields are likely candidates for this option. Under this plan students are awarded a master's degree while in progress toward either the PhD of DMFT. This plan saves approximately a year's study and facilitates timely licensure as a Marital and Family Therapist. Students accepted into this plan will be officially enrolled into the master's degree program until the master's requirements have been met and they have been evaluated for their appropriateness for continued doctoral study. Program includes:

PhD in MFT

• 60 units required standard master's level course work
• 61 units required doctoral level course work in theory, clinical practice, research, and supervision (30 of these hours must be completed before the master's degree is awarded)
• 21 concentration/elective units over and above standard master's curriculum
• 6 units doctoral practicum
• 20 units research/dissertation
• 1000 hours direct client contact (500 before master's degree is awarded)
• 9 month, full-time doctoral internship

DMFT

• 60 units required standard master's level course work
• 69 units required doctoral level course work in theory, clinical practice, research and program development, and supervision and administration (30 of these hours must be completed before the master's degree is awarded)
• 12 concentration/elective units over and above standard master's curriculum
• 6 units doctoral practicum
• 12 units doctoral project
• 1000 hours direct client contact (500 before master's degree is awarded)
• 9 month, full-time doctoral internship
• Under the dual degree plan the master's degree will be awarded after in-progress students have completed all 60 master's level units, 30 doctoral level units, an objective comprehensive exam, a capstone oral presentation in the doctoral practicum, and 500 hours direct client contact under an AAMFT approved supervisor. All doctoral requirements remain the same.
• The program takes 5+ years to complete. A sample full-time, 4-year program of study follows:

Year One - Standard Master's Curriculum
MFAM 535 Case Presentation and Professional Studies (4)
MFAM 515 Crisis Intervention Counseling (3)
MFAM 551 Family Therapy I: Theory and Practice (3)
MFAM 556 Psychopathology & Diagnostic Procedures I (3)
MFAM 614 Law and Ethics (3)
MFAM 624 Marital & Family Assessment (3)
MFAM 547 Social Ecology of Individual and Family Development (3)
MFAM 553 Family Systems Theory (3)
MFAM 644 Child Abuse & Family Violence (3)
MFAM 552 Marital Therapy: Theory & Practice (3)
FMST 514 Cross-cultural Counseling& Family Values (2)
MFAM 501 Research Tools and Methodology I (quantitative) (3)
MFAM 545 Gender Perspectives (2)
MFAM 674 Human Sexual Behavior OR
MFAM 670 Seminar in Sex Therapy (2-3)
MFAM 564 Family Therapy II: Theory & Practice (3)
MFAM 584 Treatment of Child and Adolescent Problems (3)
MFAM 536 Case Presentation Seminar (2)
MFAM 537 Case Presentation Seminar (2)
MFAM 734 Clinical Training (1.5-3)
MFTH 538 Introduction to Relational Practice (2)
RELR 535 Spirituality and Mental Health (3)
Group Counseling Elective (3-4)

Year Two - Doctoral Core and Accumulation of Clinical Experience
First week of second fall: COMPREHENSIVE EXAM (multiple choice)
MFAM 638 Family Therapy and Chemical Abuse (3)
RELT 615 Philosophy of Religion (3)
MFTH 604 Advanced Qualitative Methods (4)
MFTH 504 Advanced Theory in MFT (4)
MFTH 507 Clinical 2 -- Meaning (3)
MFTH 526 Advanced Psychopharmacology (3)
MFTH 601 Statistics I (4)
MFTH 509 Advanced Family Studies (4)
MFTH 508 Clinical 3 -- Natural Systems (3)
MFTH 605 Adv. Quantitative Methods (4)
MFTH 606 Overview and Critique of Research in MFT (4)
MFTH 606 Computer (1)
MFTH 634 Practicum (4)
MFAM 734 Clinical Training (1.5-3)

Year Three: PhD
MFTH 506 Clinical I -- Cybernetics (3)
MFTH 509 Clinical 4 -- Clinical Issues (3)
MFTH 602 Statistics II (4)
MFTH 519 Teaching Techniques (2)
MFTH 625 Grant Writing (3) (recommended elective for PhD)
MFTH 608 Assessment & Presentation of Research (3)
MFTH 634 Practicum (2)
RELE 500 or 600 level Biomedical Ethics (3)
MFTH 694 Doctoral Seminar (1 over 6 quarters)
MFTH 696/697 Research/Dissertation(5)
Concentration/electives (20)
Qualifying Exams

Year Three: DMFT
MFTH 509 Clinical 4 -- Clinical Issues (3)
MFTH 524 Administration in MFT (3)
MFTH 527 Advanced Legal & Ethical Issues (3)
MFTH 624 Program Development & Monitoring (3)
MFTH 625 Grant Writing (3)
RELR 535 Spirituality and Mental Health (3)
RELE 500 or 600 level course in ethics
MFTH 626 Program Evaluation (3)
MFTH 694 Doctoral Seminar (1 over 6 quarters)
MFTH 695/697 Doctoral Project 4 units
Concentration/electives (13-14)
Qualifying Exams

Year Four: PhD
MFTH 501 Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 502 Advanced Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 696/697 Research/Dissertation (15)
Doctoral Internship (9 months, full-time)
Defense of Dissertation

Year Four: DMFT
MFTH 501 Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 502 Advanced Supervision in MFT (2)
MFTH 695/697 Doctoral Project (12)
Doctoral Internship (9 months, full-time)
Defense of Doctoral Project

Certificates are also available in group counseling, school counseling, clinical mediation, Christian family therapy, and drug and alcohol counseling.

Doctoral internship
The doctoral internship affords the opportunity for full time advanced marital and family therapy work under the supervision of a senior marriage and family therapy professional. Internships will be designed meet the specific professional objectives of each student and may involve clinical practice, supervision, teaching, and/or research. Internships need not be in the Loma Linda area. Internships in other countries are possible. In some cases internships may grow out of a student's current place of employment, however, how the internship requirements and the student's developmental goals are being met must be clearly demonstrated.

Introduction, concentrations, and curriculum
Program philosophy and goals
Program requirements

Department of Counseling & Family Sciences Homepage