PhD in Marital and Family Therapy

Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy Overview

Apply today to start earning your PhD in MFT.

When you’re ready to advance beyond your master’s degree, our university’s PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy degree offered online or on-campus will help expand your clinical practice in professional psychology and ability to treat your clients holistically. This field of psychology focuses on each aspect of who we are as individuals and as members of our various communities through the lens of human sciences.

A doctorate in marriage and family therapy strengthens your professional credibility.  Through a model of scholarship and hands-on practice, the PhD marriage and family therapy education program will provide you with the skills you need to make a difference in the lives of individuals, couples, families, and the societal constructs which bind us all together. Whether your goal is pursuing a career in social work or choosing a family therapy and couple therapy profession, this challenging yet rewarding couples and family therapy program will equip you with the tools and knowledge to succeed in couple family therapy and mental health therapy practice. 

As an MFT student, you’ll explore the complexities of family systems and their influence on relationships, behavior, and well-being. Some of the topics covered in the PhD in marriage and family therapy program are; behavioral science, advanced couples therapy, diversity and the family, sex therapy, psychopharmacology, and more.

In addition to our 114 credit post-baccalaureate program offered on-campus, the university offers an on-campus and online 69 credit post-master’s program.  Learn more about our course offerings below.

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Offered at These Locations

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Program Highlights

Hands-on Training

Get 300 hours of direct client contact, 100-plus supervision hours, and at least 100 professional development hours in the 114 unit PhD, giving you 600 to 1,300 hours to apply towards your license after earning your marriage and family therapy degree. Six Steps to a Successful Practicum

Service and Investment

If qualified, you can receive up to $50,000 of loan reimbursement from the National Health Services Corps in exchange for two years of work in an underserved area.

Cultural Competency

This doctorate in marriage and family therapy program has cultural competency at its core, and consistently adds culturally and linguistically qualified mental-health professionals into the health science workforce.

Compelling Coursework

In the marriage family therapy graduate program with therapy specialization, you will explore courses such as: advanced couple therapy, social basis of behavior, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and more.

Location Options

You can choose from four of California’s most desirable university locations, each with a different focus, as the home for your PhD studies: Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, or online.

Leadership in the Field of Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy

Many of the leading pioneers in the field have taught at Alliant, including Maurizio Andolfi, Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy, James Framo, Edwin Friedman, Jay Haley, Norman Paul, Virginia Satir, and Carl Whitaker.

The tradition continues today with leading MFT faculty, including public policy expert Benjamin E. Caldwell, common factors researcher Sean D. Davis, EFT model developer and world-renowned couple therapist Susan M. Johnson, family chemical dependency expert Ann Lawson, and international EFT trainer Scott R. Woolley.

Learn more about our faculty and its legacy of impact

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Admissions

Learn About Admissions Requirements

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Faculty

Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty

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Degree Information

Concentrations

Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) Concentration, a MFTC program, prepares you to work in and with the medical health care system to help those struggling with medical issues. You will be trained to work with the complex biological, psychological, relational, social, and spiritual dimensions of health care.

Links and Downloads

School Performance Fact Sheets

Disclaimer Regarding Program Outcomes Data:

The employment and licensure data provided in the School Performance Fact Sheets (SPFS) is required by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). The PhD program is newly launched and had no graduates in the 2022–2023 calendar year, so outcome data is not yet available.

The PhD program is in the process of seeking COAMFTE accreditation to ensure the continuation of high-quality, accredited training in systemic and relational clinical practice.

Please review our Graduate Achievement Data, which includes graduation, job placement, and licensure rates, aligned with COAMFTE reporting standards.

San Diego Graduate Achievement Data

Los Angeles Graduate Achievement Data

Sacramento Graduate Achievement Data

Irvine Graduate Achievement Data

Online Graduate Achievement Data

We provide the diversity composition of our student body, faculty, and supervisors. Please follow the links below for the related data. We hope this information will help you make an informed decision regarding your graduate study.

San Diego Diversity Chart

Los Angeles Diversity Chart

Sacramento Diversity Chart

Irvine Diversity Chart

Online Diversity Chart

Career Prospects in the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy

Our doctorate, the PhD in MFT, is an accredited doctoral program designed to advance family therapists and researchers through clinical, theoretical, and research training.

• Integrated healthcare
• Higher education and other educational institutions
• Charitable organizations
• Clinical management
• Solo or Independent practice 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in the family therapy degree program?

The PhD in marriage and family therapy program can sharpen your knowledge on family dynamics and relationship issues. With the PhD family therapy degree in particular, you will be exposed to a range of therapy psychology topics, including applied therapy theories and instructional methods. Your knowledge in family studies and human development can provide valuable insights into the challenges that patients face at different stages of their lifespan. Advanced theories in systemic counseling, clinical practice, and couple and family therapy will further deepen your understanding of relational patterns, therapeutic interventions, and ethical supervision.

What scholarship and financial aid options are available?

Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your higher education, and Alliant University offers institutional scholarships for many of our doctoral students. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more in our Financial Options Guide.

When does the program start?

The MFT PhD doctoral program is offered as a semester-long program and is open for enrollment during the fall enrollment periods. You can find a copy of our academic calendar here.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The PhD degree program can take as few as 69 credits (three years) if post-master’s, and as many as 114 credits (five years) if post-baccalaureate. This advanced doctoral path equips students with skills in evidence-based practice, and program specialization. Talk to an admissions counselor to find the best option based on your level of education.

Can I enroll in individual courses at Alliant?

Alliant only offers full academic programs. If you’re interested in taking individual courses, or specific courses for licensure, we recommend exploring our Lifelong Learning and Professional Development program, which may offer what you need. You can contact them directly at ce@alliant.edu for more information.