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the past three academic years. The dissertation Chair will formalize a research study with
the student and develop a timeline for moving through the process.
The Dissertation process is extensive and specific details about how students move
through this process and write their dissertation can be found in the DFT Dissertation
Guidelines available online at
Students must take a
total of 9 dissertation credit hours; three credit hours per term for three terms. Three
hours of dissertation credits is considered full time by the program. Students must
continually be registered for at least one dissertation credit each term until they complete
and successfully defend their dissertation, bind, and turn in their final document, and
register their dissertation with ProQuest, UMI.
The Dissertation process may entail taking more than the minimum of 9 dissertation credit
hours as required by the program. Once a student takes 9 dissertation credits over three
terms, they can register for one credit hour each term thereafter until completion of their
dissertation. If, for some reason, students cannot continue working on their dissertation,
they must apply in writing to their Dissertation Chair and the Program Director requesting
a leave of absence. The Leave of Absence form is located online and must be completed
with original signature in BLUE to remain in good academic standing. A student requesting
a leave for longer than one term (i.e., two or more), may be unable, upon returning, to
continue with the same dissertation chair and committee. The student must submit a
written request to their Dissertation Chair for approval to continue their work and all
dissertation forms must be updated. If a Leave of Absence is requested and approved, this
does not extend the 7 year timeframe for completing the degree program. Students not
enrolled in the program for more than three terms are considered inactive and are
required to reapply to the program. If approved for readmission, the student must be
continually registered to remain in good standing in the program. Three terms of a Leave
of Absence is the maximum for a student to remain active in the program. Students are
required to adhere to the dissertation guidelines and timelines. The complete DFT
Dissertation Guidelines can be found online at
Individual Supervision for State Licensure or AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Due to the AAMFT Code of Ethics principles related to multiple relationships and conflict of
interest, full-time faculty may not serve as the supervisor for licensure for students
enrolled in the program.
Concentration in Family Systems Health Care
Students in the Ph.D. program in Family Therapy may choose to pursue a concentration in
Family Systems Health Care. The concentration focuses on the relationships between
psychosocial medicine and biomedicine in the treatment and prevention of illness and
disease. Students learn the basics of biopsychosocial theory, practice, and collaboration.
The program prepares professionals to offer therapeutic services in a variety of medical
settings, including private medical practices, hospitals, community clinics, primary
care/specialists' offices, and agencies.
Students in the Family Systems Health Care concentration program have ample
opportunities to gain practical expertise through classroom learning and hands-on clinical,
research, teaching, and service experiences. Specific areas of study include: adjustment
patterns of clients and their families to chronic and acute illnesses; models of collaboration
between medical family therapists and other health care professionals; the role of medical
family therapists in the continuum of medical services; the politics and economics of
health care; understanding human systems in health care; and brief interventions and
systemic assessments useful in the treatment and care of patients and their families.
