Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy

Where rigorous education and clinical training meet first-rate doctoral faculty support.

Becoming a marriage and family therapist is more than just a job—it’s about helping individuals, couples and families navigate the natural stressors of life and come out better and stronger than before. If you’re serious about pursuing a career as a marriage and family therapist, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northcentral University will provide you with a quality education and training that will challenge you to develop your critical thinking and research skills to a higher degree, while applying what you learn to professional practice.

PURPOSE: Provide you the opportunity to pursue a PhD in MFT in a specialized area where you are able to complete your coursework online and your clinical training and doctoral research in your local community.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, employment in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is expected to grow much faster than average (41%) for all occupations. Whether you are a working mental health professional or a new therapist, NCU’s online PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy program is designed to help you acquire the knowledge, skills, practical application and values that will shape you into competent, ethical and culturally sensitive marriage and family therapist. Within the PhD in marriage and family therapy degree program, you will choose from five specializations to better focus your education to match your career goals.

OUTCOMES: Throughout the program, you will develop advanced clinical skills in a specialization of your choosing through doctoral practicum and internship work and doctoral-level research methodology and theory, and will be prepared to find employment in the marriage and family therapy field.

Within this rigorous program, you will complete a variety of requirements, including:

  • MFT standard curriculum courses
  • Focused specialization clinical content courses
  • Advanced clinical training through doctoral practicum and internship work
  • Integrated research training throughout the curriculum
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam and final clinical presentation
  • Doctoral dissertation

ACHIEVEMENTS: As a PhD in MFT graduate, you may choose to follow one of four career paths or a combination of the following roles: clinician, administrator, academic and researcher.

Clinician: Many graduates will take their advanced clinical training and pursue state licensure and provide mental health services in a private practice, community-based non-profit agency, or governmental or educational institutions. Our graduates often work as clinical supervisors in these organizations.

Administrator: Many graduates will use their PhD to advance their current employment status, often within the same organization in which they are currently working. The degree helps them advance into an administrative role over mental health or social services organizations/departments.

Academic: Many graduates will pursue full-time or part-time employment as faculty/instructors in universities and graduate programs.

Researcher: Some graduates will pursue a professional career as a researcher in the area of social services, mental health, or human services.