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Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Family Therapy
Vision Statement
The Ph.D. Program in Family Therapy strives to develop students who are committed to
advanced academic and clinical practice and who are prepared for leadership in the field of
Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy. The application of systemic/relational theory is the
foundation for such training and is utilized to support a vision in service to culturally and
sexually diverse populations in a variety of settings. Our program further strives to uphold
all professional standards in the field.
Mission Statement
The Ph.D. Program in Family Therapy strives to develop students who are committed to
advanced academic and clinical practice and who are prepared for leadership in the field of
Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy. Research, supervision, teaching, and clinical
theory and practice are the primary components students in the program will encounter.
In addition, students in the Ph.D. program committed to servicing the community with
ethical professionalism as we focus on the relational strengths and resources of both
students and clients with an appreciation of and respect for inclusion, social justice and
cultural and sexual diversity.
Program Description
The Ph.D. in Family Therapy program prepares graduates for careers as academicians,
researchers, supervisors, and senior clinicians.
The Ph.D. in Family Therapy is a 96-credit-hour program designed for individuals holding
master's degrees who wish to fully grasp both the historical as well as cutting edge theory
informing the current practice of family therapy. The program is dedicated to
understanding the relationship between theory and clinical practice through a variety of
established as well as emerging schools of family therapy. The program is designed to
enhance students’ clinical skills in order to become top level practitioners, while at the
same time demonstrating the importance of qualitative and quantitative research in this
pursuit. Graduates of the program should look forward to productive careers in academic,
supervisory, clinic, and community-based employment settings.
The Department of Family Therapy has full time faculty and supervisors as well as part-
time faculty and supervisors that represent racial diversity as well as diversity in gender,
age, religion, culture, and sexual orientation. The student body of the doctoral program
reflects the rich cultural diversity of South Florida and across the nation as far as race,
religion, gender, sexual orientation, and age.
The Ph.D. in Family Therapy core curriculum includes the following:
Research
(21 credits or more)
SFTD 5410 Quantitative Research I
SFTD 6410 Quantitative Research II
SFTD 6430 Qualitative Research I
SFTD 7350 Qualitative Research II
SFTD 6900 Dissertation
Advanced Clinical Theory
(18 credits)
SFTD 5006 Introduction to Systems
Theory
SFTD 5120 Thinking Systems
SFTD 5110 Language Systems
SFTD 6750 Clinical Portfolio
