Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy

Earn a PhD in as little as 3 years | 54 semester credit hours beyond master's degree | Active and collaborative face-to-face mentorship

Become a leader in marriage and family therapy.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage & Family Therapy program is committed to providing accessible and inclusive training of couple and family therapy scholars from varying backgrounds and experiences. Through active and collaborative mentorship, students engage in individualized opportunities to prepare to be systemic leaders in their diverse communities as advanced clinicians, researchers, supervisors and educators.

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Why earn your PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy at TWU?

At TWU, we meet you where you are to help you achieve your personal career goals. We accept up to 30 credit hours transferred from a clinical master’s program and provide unmatched mentorship from faculty.

COAMFTE-Accredited

The PhD in MFT at TWU is one of only two public universities accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) in the state of Texas, and one of only twenty campus-based accredited programs in the United States. Even so, you can still get your PhD from Texas Woman’s University at a fraction of the cost of a private university.

COAMFTE Graduate Achievement Disclosure Table

Face-to-Face Learning

Students have opportunities for advanced training as supervisors and educators on campus that cannot be achieved through online learning. Opportunities include:

Teaching undergraduate and master's level clinical courses with live observation, training, and mentorship
Supervising master’s level students in clinical internship courses
Supervising master's level students at our on-campus Counseling and Family Therapy Clinic.

Full-time and Part-time Tracks

Flexible options for both full- and part-time attendance is available for non-traditional students. Work on your independent-level licensure while completing your PhD.

Inclusive Training

Our diverse students and the communities we serve create a training experience unlike any in the country. Diversity provides rich experiences in learning, research, clinical work, teaching and supervision. In the doctoral program, we aim to grow a diverse field of future MFT leaders.

Doctoral Internship

We have worked hard to create an internship that engages you where you are. There is NO clinical requirement beyond that required in a COAMFTE-Accredited MFT master’s degree. The doctoral internship is a nine-month mentored advanced practical experience in which doctoral students are researchers, educators, clinical supervisors, policy makers, administrators, clinical innovators and theoreticians.

Faculty Mentorship

The MFT faculty are supportive and knowledgeable with expertise in telehealth, medical family therapy, and marginalized populations. We have a student-centered mentorship philosophy focused on supporting students in their own research and career goals. Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at state, national, and international professional conferences.

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Career Opportunities in Marriage and Family Therapy

The PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy is a versatile degree that prepares students for a wide range of careers in:

Higher education
Non-profit agency
Intensive-outpatient leadership
Clinical directorship
Collaborative healthcare
School settings
Private practice

The program at TWU exceeded my expectations. Professors eagerly supported my clinical, research and educational goals. The program’s structure prepared me to be a systemic leader on national and international levels.

Karina Donald, Assistant Professor, Florida State University

Courses and Curriculum at TWU

Degree Plan for PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy

Course Rotations

Marriage & Family Therapy Doctoral Handbook

How to Apply to the PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy

NO letters of recommendation or GRE scores required.

Admission to the Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy

Department Admission Contact:

Anna Stokes, M.S.
940-898-2686
astokes1@twu.edu

Application Deadlines

Fall – January 15Spring – September 1

Admission Requirements

Clinical master’s degree (e.g., marriage and family therapy, counseling, psychology)
3.5 GPA on most recent master’s degree
Submit the following documents into the application:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Intent adhering to the following guidelines:
  - Use the style of a professional business letter, including date, name, and return address
  - Limit the body of the letter to 300 words
  - Discuss the following in the body of the letter:
    - Your interest in and reasons for wanting a doctorate in Marriage & Family Therapy. If you are not already familiar with the discipline of marriage & family therapy (as compared to other clinical mental health fields), we suggest you visit the website of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (aamft.org) and read the material available to learn more.
    - The strengths and skills you will bring to the Marriage & Family Therapy program. These may include elements of your life experience, personal characteristics, occupational background, academic accomplishments, etc.
    - How you will adapt your current life to make room for doctoral studies.
    - Your research interests.
    - Your professional goals for this degree.
An on-campus interview process is required through participation on Interview Day. The admissions coordinator will contact those applicants the department invites to interview.

Graduate Admission

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.

Apply online.
Apply to Graduate Programs via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.
Submit transcripts to TWU.
- Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details.
- International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
Submit Recommendation Requests
If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application.
Pay the application fee.
The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
2. Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - Payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
  TWU Admissions Processing, 304 Administration Drive, Suite 102, Denton, Texas 76204
  (include your full name and ID number).
3. Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (down the hall in ACT).
4. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
5. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for MFT Students

In addition to university-wide types of financial aid, there are also scholarships specifically for the Department of Human Development, Family Studies, and Counseling. Additionally, there are more opportunities for scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships for Marriage and Family Therapy doctoral students.

Contact program director Aaron Norton for more information. Additional aid opportunities are:

New Graduate Student Scholarship
Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarships
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Research Assistantships
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
[Wo]Mentoring Research Associates
Doctoral Fellowship through the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program
Student Research Support

Contact

Aaron Norton, Ph.D., LMFT-Supervisor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Marriage and Family Therapy Program Coordinator
940-898-2677
anorton@twu.edu

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Page last updated 10:04 AM, March 26, 2024