The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and has three interrelated emphases: Clinical Practice, Teaching and Clinic Supervision, and Research.  The PhD program offers two tracks: 1) Academic/Research and 2) Clinical Administration/Private Practice.  Electives are offered within each of these categories to help students meet their individual goals. These emphases will be facilitated and directed within an environment of understanding and respect for multicultural diversity.

BYU offers two options for the Ph.D. degree in MFT. The first option, for students who already have an MFT master’s degree from an accredited institution, takes approximately three years to complete with the first two years comprising of coursework and clinical hours and the third year primarily focusing on dissertation and internship. The second option is for students with a non-MFT master’s degree program in a clinical field such as Social Work or Counseling Psychology. For this option the students work with their graduate advisor to map out which courses are needed to meet the master’s curriculum and takes approximately one year to complete MFT Master’s Degree curriculum not present in the previous clinical program. The additional courses required of these students allow the students to meet MFT licensing requirements as presented in the Master’s Degree requirements. When all educational requirements for licensure in MFT are completed, they begin the Ph. D. curriculum. In this circumstance, the program may require approximately four years for graduation.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit Hours (63): minimum 45 course work hours beyond completion of the master's degree coursework and clinical experience; 6 hours of internship and supervision mentoring; plus 18 dissertation hours (MFT 799R) Dissertation. 
• Required courses: MFT 751 Advanced Theory in MFT; MFT 753 Advanced Clinical Specialization in MFT; MFT 754 Advanced Theory in Family Therapy for Children and Adolescents; MFT 750 Supervision in MFT; MFT 700 Advanced Research Methodology in MFT; MFT 793R Research Seminar in MFT; MFT 603R Research Practicum; Soc 606 or its equivalent; and 6 hours of Advanced Statistical Methods and electives as determined in consultation with graduate committee.
• Minor: any minor approved by graduate committee, but not required.
• Clinical requirement: a minimum of 500 hours of direct client contact after completing the MFT MS requirements.
• Dissertation.
• Examinations: All doctoral students are required to successfully defend their dissertation orally, complete the Doctoral Portfolio papers, presentations, and publications in clinical practice, teaching/supervision, and research which serves as a comprehensive examination.
• Professional development internship