phd in marriage and family therapy schools

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Best Ph.D. and PsyD in Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Programs

2024 - best doctorate degree in marriage & family therapy programs, what will i learn in an online marriage and family therapy doctorate program, admissions requirements for a doctorate in marriage and family therapy, list of marriage and family therapy doctorate degree programs.

Marriage and family therapy, as the name implies, involves helping people who are having trouble with marital and family relationships. Often, counseling sessions involve at least two people, and at some points, the entire family may partake. This makes the dynamic between the patient(s) and the counselor much different from standard psychological counseling, which is typically done on a one-to-one basis.

An online doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy is an extension of the master’s, and provides more in-depth knowledge. It is needed for licensing by some states. With a license, you can practice without being under the supervision of another doctor. You’ll also be qualified to lead research projects.

It is important to check the accreditation of the programs you’re interested in. Online doctorate degrees in marriage and family therapy are nationally accredited, but some programs only have regional accreditation. These regionally-accredited programs may only qualify you for licensing in the state the school is in, or in the worst, case, not qualify you at all. With some regionally-accredited programs, you may also have a hard time transferring credits from one program to another if you decide to change schools. Learn more about all of these important steps to becoming a marriage and family therapist in the article below.

CounselingPsychology.org is the premier source for rankings of Doctorate Degrees in Marriage & Family Therapy. Our methodology is based on factors including completion rates, cost of living, selectivity of the institution, breadth of programs offered, and faculty experience. All of these criteria are given equal weight in determining the rankings. To view the full methodology behind our rankings, visit CounselingPsychology.org's Methodology Page . With this data, you can find the best program for your unique needs.

Alliant International University

Alliant International University-San Diego is a private university located in downtown San Diego. With over 5,000 students, it offers a wide range of degree programs, from undergraduate to doctoral level. One of the most popular programs offered is the Doctorate Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. With its convenient location and wide variety of degree programs, Alliant International University-San Diego is a great option for students looking to further their education.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago is a private, accredited institution located in the heart of the city. With an enrollment of over 5,000 students, it offers a wide variety of programs from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. It is particularly well known for its Doctorate Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, which is highly respected in the field. It also offers other programs in psychology, business, and education, making it a great choice for those seeking a comprehensive education."

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University (BYU) is located in Provo, Utah and is a private, non-profit university. The school is the largest religious university in the nation with over 32,000 students enrolled. BYU offers a Doctorate Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. With over 250 programs of study, there is something for everyone. BYU is a great university to pursue higher education.

The number of credit hours required for these online degrees is on the high side when compared to other types of psychology-focused doctorates. Depending on your prior studies, you may need between 75-108 credit hours of coursework. Some schools also have limits on how long you can take to finish the degree, too. At the usual speed of taking and passing courses, most students can expect to have their doctorates within two to three years, assuming you’re starting with a master’s degree.

Subjects taught include a variety of courses on the theory and practice of marriage and family therapy. You’ll also learn how to do quantitative analysis and other practices involved in research projects. Finally, you can expect to have to create a thesis, defend a dissertation, or do a similar capstone project prior to graduation. Depending on the school, you may also have to get a certain number of practicum hours.

Some of the courses you may encounter include:

• Introduction to Systems Theory
• Systemic Family Therapy
• Crisis Management
• Grant Writing and Funding Opportunities
• Qualitative Action Research
• Practicum Hours
• Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention

Every school has somewhat different admission requirements. These vary depending on the state, the competitiveness of the program, and whether or not the program is meant to follow a master’s program at the same university. Some things, however, are much the same between institutions. This allows you to be ready to submit certain documents well in advance of the semester’s cutoff date.

• Application
• Fee (if applicable)
• Official transcripts
• Master’s degree in a relevant subject
• Minimum GPA
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• Statement of purpose

Some programs require GRE scores, as well.

As always, you should check with your prospective college about any specifics. This will ensure that you are as prepared as possible before attempting to enroll.

Find an online or campus-based doctorate program in marriage and family therapy today – our state-by-state listings make it easy to find a great program near you.

Jump to Your State Listings

Amridge university.

• Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy I Online
• Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy II Online
• PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy Online

Alliant International University-San Diego

• PsyD in Marital and Family Therapy Online

Fuller Theological Seminary

• Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy Campus

Chaminade University of Honolulu

• Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy Campus

University of Iowa

• Couple and Family Therapy Campus

University of Louisiana at Monroe

• Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a concentration in Systemic Studies Online

Lee University

• Doctor of Philosophy, Marriage and Family Therapy Campus

Texas Woman's University

• Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy Campus
• Marriage & Family Therapy Campus
• Marriage, Family, & Human Development Campus

Regent University

• Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Marriage & Family Ministry Online

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.

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EdD in Community Care & Counseling: Marriage & Family

Transfer credits, next start date, help build stronger families with a doctorate in marriage and family therapy.

Families are the backbone of society. They are the smallest social units, yet familial relationships are critical to mental health from the individual to the global level. As someone who has worked in or studied mental health, you probably understand how important these relationships are.

Are you eager to help couples and families work through their problems and find healing? Liberty University’s EdD in Community Care and Counseling  Marriage and Family may be for you. This program is an advanced, terminal degree designed to help you counsel families. Whether you are a licensed counselor, marriage and family therapist (MFT), or ministry associate looking for further training, an EdD or PhD in marriage and family therapy online can help.

Please note: This EdD degree is not designed to meet state counseling licensure requirements. If you are interested in a state counseling license, please see our  Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling ,  Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy , or Master of Education in School Counseling .

How long does it take to get a PhD in marriage and family therapy? If you’re considering a PhD in marriage and family therapy program online, it’s important to know what you’re committing to. Most PhD programs take approximately 7 years to complete.* The good news is that with Liberty University’s doctorate in counseling, you can get a respected terminal degree in half the time. Our EdD in Community Care and Counseling is comparable to a PhD in marriage and family counseling – and you can earn this doctorate in just 2.5 years! *U.S. News & World Report, at How Long Does It Take to Get a Ph.D. Degree? (viewed online June 15, 2021).

Why Choose Liberty University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Doctorate?

With Liberty University’s marriage and family therapy program, you can gain ethical, evidence-based knowledge. As a Christian university, we prioritize biblical principles to help you become a leader of integrity. You can learn to effectively minister to people in a complex, diverse society.

Here are some of the benefits of earning Liberty University’s MFT online doctorate:

• Our online EdD in marriage and family counseling is a practice-focused degree that emphasizes solving real-world problems with advanced research.
• Current state licensure in clinical counseling is not required to pursue this degree. Our program is designed to advance your skills and knowledge, whether or not you are in a licensed clinical counseling role.
• The integrated dissertation process allows you to work on this part of your education while completing other coursework. You will receive a clear, step-by-step path to finishing your doctoral studies in as little as 2.5 years.
• This EdD program contains content that will apply towards numerous marriage and family counseling certifications including Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts (SYMBIS) and Prepare and Enrich (PE).

What Will You Learn in Our Marriage and Family EdD in Counseling?

Throughout this program, our professors provide a robust foundation in research while preparing for the integrated dissertation project. You will study counseling topics such as applied counseling theories and teaching and learning techniques. You can learn how to apply your new skills to advanced counseling theories and real-world human services problems.

The EdD in marriage and family therapy will focus on specialized assessment tools and methods to help your clients develop better relationships and build stronger families. This degree will help you advance your counseling skills and apply theories to specific issues for married couples, families, and the counseling field in general.

Featured Courses

• EDCO 806 – Premarital and Remarriage Counseling
• EDCO 811 – Marriage Counseling
• EDCO 815 – Family Development
• EDCO 817 –  Trauma and Current Issues in Marital Counseling

Highlights of Liberty University’s Community Care and Counseling Program

• We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility . Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America . Earning your online degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
• By completing an integrated dissertation project, you can demonstrate your expertise and ability to apply advanced counseling theories to practical problems.

Degree Information for Liberty University’s Online Marriage and Family Therapy Doctorate

• This Ed.D. program falls under the   School of Behavioral Sciences .
• Download and review the   Degree Completion Plan .
• View the   Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides   (login required) .
• View the   Ed.D. in Community Care and Counseling Handbook   for more information on the dissertation process and other aspects of this online marriage and family counseling doctoral degree.

Apply Now        Request Info

Military Benefits for Our EdD in Community Counseling Degree

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe. Whether you are a current service member, discharged or retired from service, or the spouse of a service member or veteran, we are here to support you every step of the journey.

As a thank-you for your dedication and service to our country, Liberty is honored to serve and support you in your pursuit of online education by offering the following benefits: 

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

Potential Careers with an EdD Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling 

Some of the careers you may be equipped to pursue upon graduation include:

• Academic researcher
• Church counselor
• Marriage and family counselor
• Outpatient care therapist
• Social worker

Admission Requirements for Our EdD in Community Care and Counseling

A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA is required for admission in good standing. Please visit our admission requirements page  for more detailed admissions-related information.

All applicants must submit the following:

• Admission application
• Application fee*
• Official college transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is other than English)

Applicants lacking a graduate-level statistics course will be required to complete CEFS 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3 c.h.), or EDUC 518 Educational Research and Assessment (3 c.h.), or its equivalent prior to EDCO 735 in the Ed.D.

*There is no upfront application fee; however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required.

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, Non-Degree Seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and Certificates.

Apply FREE This Week*

Other programs you may be interested in

Master of Arts (MA)

Human Services Counseling: Dobson Center Marriage and Family Studies

Next Start Date: May 13, 2024

Human Services Counseling: Marriage and Family

Marriage and family therapy, pastoral counseling: marriage and family, looking for a different program.

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