PhD

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 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 counseling 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 counseling 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, we are now offering an on-campus and online 69 credit post-master's program. Learn more about our course offerings below.

State Licensure Requirements

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 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

Admissions

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Faculty

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Degree Information

Concentrations

Chemical Dependency Concentration prepares you to work with those who have experienced addiction. This concentration area includes the 39 units that the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) requires for their accredited Chemical Dependency Certificate program.

Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) Concentration, a CFT 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.

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School Performance Fact Sheets

Career Prospects in the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy

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

What will I learn in the family therapy degree program?

The program can sharpen your knowledge on family dynamics and relationship issues. With the PhD family counseling degree in particular, you will be exposed to a range of counseling psychology topics, including applied counseling 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.

What scholarship and financial aid options are available?

Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your higher education, and Alliant International 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 degree 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. 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.

Why Alliant

At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.

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Why CSPP

Founded in 1969, CSPP was one of the nation’s first independent schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through graduate-level degree programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, and more.

Why CSPP

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PhD in Clinical Psychology

PhD in Clinical Psychology Program Overview in California

A PhD in Clinical Psychology is a great way to expand your knowledge and skills and increase your career options in the field of clinical science. The clinical psychology PhD program trains clinical students to conduct psychological assessment and research. With a focus on mental health and human behavior, the PhD program prepares you to understand the psychological processes underlying human behavior and the tools used to apply this knowledge in clinical practice, improving communities’ health and well-being.

Whether you’re helping patients with anxiety disorders or studying new advancements in cognitive-behavioral therapy, our APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD programs will help you gain the clinical skills needed to get to where you want to be in the mental healthcare industry. You will explore deeper into developmental psychology, community psychology, health psychology, social psychology, and cognitive psychology to name a few in the broad spectrum of psychological science. The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) offers four PhD degree programs in Clinical Psychology: Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco Bay Area, each accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Our experienced faculty members in the program teach challenging courses that meet a variety of guidelines outlined by the APA and offer unparalleled education within the mental health field. Explore our programs below.

To learn more about this program and other offerings, visit our CSPP-dedicated microsite. You’ll find videos featuring our university president, dean of CSPP, and faculty, along with numerous interactive features!

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Explore our program research opportunities, practicum partners, and student communities.

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Program Highlights

Accreditation

All CSPP clinical Psychology PhD degree programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association and taught by experienced faculty members.

Research Opportunities

Our Clinical PhD programs are unique in their focus on psychological clinical science research through rich and varied opportunities within the community to help you become a clinical psychologist.

Scholarship Paired with Practice

In our Clinical PhD programs, you will receive clinical training practicum opportunities and will be required to complete a doctoral internship. Depending on your doctoral program, you may also pursue teaching assistantships. All programs provide opportunities to prepare you for licensure and a successful career as a health service clinical psychologist upon graduation.

Admissions

Get the information you need in order to start your Alliant experience. See the latest admission requirements for your desired program.

Admissions

Faculty

Get the information you need in order to start your Alliant experience. Browse our list of diverse faculty members for your desired program.

Faculty

Degree Information

Specialization

The clinical psychology programs’ emphasis and experience areas include:

Clinical health psychology
Family/child and couple
Multicultural community-clinical psychology
Forensic psychology
Psychodynamic
Clinical health
Integrative psychology
Multicultural and international
Trauma, stress, resilience

Each campus-based APA-accredited program is unique, as are its emphases, specializations, and track offerings. Our clinical psychology program teaches the basic skills needed to work in the field of psychology. In the programs, you'll gain clinical practice experience, which helps to prepare you for entering the workforce as a clinical psychologist. Graduate students of the clinical program will be qualified to give psychological assessments in a clinical setting. Integrating psychological clinical science in the curriculum allows graduates not only to be well-versed in psychological services and public health, but also be prepared to contribute to the advancement of the field.

If you're looking for PhD and PsyD programs in California, please see the doctoral program pages for specifics on emphasis area offerings in the field of psychology.

Accreditation

Both the PhD program and PsyD programs are individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). APA accreditation not only serves as a benchmark for the PhD clinical psychology excellence but also contributes to the professional development of clinical scientists and the overall advancement of the field.

Financial Assistance

Alliant has created a comprehensive program that helps facilitate access and affordability. Financing is available in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans. The federal government, state government, Alliant, and private sources finance these programs. Explore the ways to finance your education here.

What are the benefits of earning this degree?

Graduates from our psychology department at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) go on to pursue careers in various fields, leaving a positive impact in both the private and public sectors.

Your acquired skills qualify you to work in hospitals and medical centers, community mental health clinics, private practice, and universities.
You will be equipped to pursue careers in clinical work, research, teaching, or a combination of all three.
With a specialization area, you can pursue higher positions in your psychology career

What's the difference between a PhD and PsyD in Clinical Psychology?

PhD-based psychology programs are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in research, making it an ideal option for those interested both in clinical practice and in academia. Graduates of the program have a wide range of career options, from conducting clinical research methods to administration and consulting.

On the other hand, a PsyD program is typically the preferred choice for individuals who are solely interested in the practical application of psychology. It prepares students for a career in clinical practice and provides them with the necessary skills to work in a variety of clinical settings. While a PsyD program places less emphasis on research and academia than a PhD program, it still offers a comprehensive education in the field of psychology.

What is the typical duration of a PhD program in Clinical Psychology, and can it be completed on a part-time basis?

The duration can vary, but on average, it takes around 5 to 7 years for a PhD student to complete the clinical program. This timeframe includes both coursework and supervised practical experience, such as internships or clinical placements. While some programs may offer part-time options, it's advisable to consult with your Psychology Department to understand the feasibility and implications of pursuing a Ph.D. on a part-time basis.

As an international student, may I apply for the graduate program?

Review the admissions requirements, housing, tuition and other information for international applicants. Learn more

"I couldn’t have asked for more of CSPP—the training opportunities, the practicum, the number of sites that you are given access to— it really delivers in terms of the clinical training…it’s spectacular."

Anna Jacques

CSPP Alumna