Couple and Family Therapy PhD Program: Curriculum

A minimum of 72 post-master's semester hours are required for the Ph.D. program.

The curriculum includes study in the following areas:

• Theory and research in couple and family therapy
• Research methodology, including statistics, research design, and computer applications
• Specialized instruction in couple and family therapy
• Domestic violence, school-based settings, diverse family structures, and forensic family therapy
• Supervised clinical experience
• Supervision of supervision

Clinical Training Students must be actively engaged in clinical practice throughout the program. After completing all coursework, they are required to do a clinical internship. The internship must be 9 to 12 months long and at least 30 hours per week. During the clinical internship, students must obtain a minimum of 500 direct client contact hours (250 of the 500 hours must be with couples and/or families) and a minimum of 100 hours of supervision. Individual and group supervision is required. At least 50 of the 100 hours of supervision must be based on raw data (live observation and/or videotapes), and at least 50 of the 100 hours of supervision must be group supervision. Clinical internships are arranged by the students and approved by the program. They may be national or international, provided that they meet program standards. Local clinical internships include Head Start, Philadelphia prison, family court, mental health agencies, outpatient psychiatry, substance abuse facilities, and private group practice.