Couple and Family Therapy PhD Program: About the Program

The Couple and Family Therapy (Ph.D.) program is designed to prepare scientists-practitioners who are dedicated and trained to advance the knowledge base of couple and family therapy through education, research, and clinical services. The program is rooted in systems theory and therapy. Emphasis is on specialized training in couple and family therapy theory and technique.

Students are expected to demonstrate critical and analytical thinking with respect to the broad areas of systems theory and therapy, and to articulate their own theoretical approach to couple and family therapy. The program is committed to training students to be aware of and sensitive to such contextual issues as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation as well as the person of the therapist. The average class size is eight students, and the program has a ratio of six students per faculty member.