Doctoral Programs
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Family & Child Sciences offers Ph.D. programs in: The Ph.D. degree in Family Relations requires a minimum of 60 credits beyond the Master's degree, exclusive of the dissertation. The Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy requires a minimum of 74 credits which includes 33 hours of clinical preparation, but excluding dissertation credits. Because the Ph.D. is a research-based degree, students are provided with extensive training and experience in research methodology and statistics. The programs are based on the belief that theory serves as the foundation for research and that generating new knowledge through scholarly contributions to research is essential. Unique to the Marriage and Family Therapy doctoral program, students are required to demonstrate their competency through several clinical practica. Most full-time students can expect coursework to take approximately 2 years, and coursework must be completed within 5 years of enrollment in the programs. Course loads usually range between 9 and 12 hours per semester. The student must be continuously enrolled for a minimum of 24 semester hours in any period of 12 consecutive months while pursuing the degree. When the student has completed coursework, he or she then must complete a preliminary examination with an oral defense. Upon successful completion of the exam, the student enters into “candidacy,” where original research is undertaken, culminating in a dissertation and an oral defense. Although some students complete their dissertation within a year, others take longer. The period of candidacy is limited to 5 years. Application Deadline for Prospective Students
Registration Information for Current Students Please read the Graduate Student Registration Procedure for detailed instructions on how to register. |
