Degree Requirements

Clinical Hours

Students must complete 1,000 clinical hours to complete the doctorate. Students from COAMFTE-Accredited Master's Degree programs may waive up to 500 of those hours, and students who are already Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists may waive an additional 350 hours. Clinical hours are to be completed either in the Antioch Couple & Family Therapy Institute or in the Institute and a Clinical Internship.

Internship

Students are required to complete a 12-month internship. Students who have not completed their 1,000 clinical hours will be required to complete a clinical internship. Other students may complete a teaching or research internship.

Dissertation

Students are required to complete a research dissertation on a topic important to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, and only will be awarded the degree upon successful defense of the dissertation.

Qualifying Examinations

Student are required to successfully pass a series of qualifying examinations-exams which are used to assess readiness to be considered a candidate for the degree-at the end of the second academic year. These exams are in the areas of clinical theory, supervision, teaching, and research (both quantitative and qualitative). Each of these qualifying exams is in a portfolio format. Each of these exams also includes an oral presentation/defense.

Time Limit

Students have a maximum of seven years from initial enrollment to complete all course requirements, clinical hours, and dissertation.