Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy
Earn a PhD in as little as 3 years | 90 credit hours (60 credits post-master’s) | 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.
Connect with an MFT faculty member
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.
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.
Connect with an MFT faculty member
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.
Courses and Curriculum at TWU
Degree Plan for PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy
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
Program Contact
Aaron Norton, Ph.D.
940-898-2677
anorton@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall – December 1
Spring – August 1
Admission Requirements
- Clinical master’s degree (e.g., marriage and family therapy, counseling, psychology)
- 3.5 GPA on most recent master’s degree
How to Apply
- Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
- Submit the following documents as separate PDF files in ONE email to HDFSC@twu.edu:
- 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.
TWU Alumni Advantage Admission Requirements
Texas Woman's University Marriage and Family Therapy MS students or graduates who qualify may apply for an Alumni Advantage into the MFT PhD program. The Alumni Advantage Admission requires:
- Application for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
- TWU MS MFT degree completed within the past 5 years.
- Letter of reference from MFT faculty submitted to HDFSC@twu.edu
- 3.50 final master's GPA.
- Early conditional admittance for current MS MFT students, up to 2 semester prior to completing the MS program.
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
Page last updated 9:55 PM, November 14, 2022