733863 - Marriage & Family Therapy (PhD)
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Application Deadline
Fall: December 1
Contact Information
234 TLRB
801-422-5680
mftptsec@byu.edu
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
• Transcripts
• Resume of relevant social service experience and research experience (max of 1 page)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• 2 video responses
• 3 short essays (capped at 750 characters each)
1.) Sam (24-year old single adult) has been diagnosed with depression and says he just “can’t seem to snap out of it.” He lives at home with his parents and recently lost his job. What systemic factors should you explore as part of treatment?
2.) A couple seeks therapy because one partner (Alex) is described as “too controlling” about their child’s daily schedule and diet. What systemic factors should you explore to help you understand what’s happening in the relationship and family?
3.) Let us know what your research experience consisted of - in terms of the following options. If your experience can be described as c, d, or e, please provide additional details.
a) No experience
b) Wrote research papers in classes
c) Worked in a research lab, but did not engage in any professional writing.
A. Please describe what you did in the research lab
d) Worked in a research lab and did participate in some professional writing.
A. Please describe what you did in the research lab and what you wrote
e) Wrote academic paper(s) that were submitted for publication with a professor.
A. Please describe your contributions to the published paper(s)
• 1 long essay (capped at 325 words)
One part of the mission of the BYU program is to train PhD students to contribute as MFT scholars. Please answer the following questions (no more than 325 words total). If you no longer have access to these articles through your university, please contact the MFT office for pdf versions (mftptsec@byu.edu).
o Based on these 3 articles, what can you conclude that we know about the alliance in couple therapy?
o And what do we still need to know about this topic?
NOTE: Articles 1 and 3 are only available through the library's databases, so you will have to log on to the library website first.
BYU MFT Programs Admissions Guidelines
Please read over the MFT program mission statement and Admissions Guidelines prior to completing your application.
MFT Programs Mission Statement
In harmony with our sponsoring organization (i.e., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and the mission/aims of Brigham Young University, the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs focuses on “balanced development” in all student growth areas. This development is carried out in an environment of compassion, inclusion and diversity in order to prepare students to be a healing influence in a world struggling to create safe and meaningful relationships. Both programs utilize a relational perspective (regarding the practice and science of healing) to improve the well-being of individuals, couples, and families. Finally, we strive to be an international leader in process research in order to understand how change occurs and to extend our healing influence beyond campus borders.
In fulfilling our mission statement, the MFT program is designed to fulfill the mission and aims of BYU, as an educational organization (https://aims.byu.edu/), including the creation of an “Enriched Learning Environment” (https://multicultural.byu.edu/node/whatwedo). Therefore, our admission decisions will be based largely upon applicants’ capacities to contribute to the program and their ability to grow in the following areas:
To intellectually enlarge – Applicant capacity to contribute in terms of intellectual enlargement will be assessed largely through GRE scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement description of their educational path.
To spiritually strengthen – Applicant potential to contribute to the programs’ spiritually strengthening atmosphere will be assessed through the personal statement, video responses, any personal/professional experience (work/volunteer service presented on the resume), and their ecclesiastical endorsement.
To build character – Applicant potential to contribute to a character-building environment will be measured largely through the personal statement (in terms of a description of jobs they have had, how they financed their education, personal struggles they are dealing with), letters of recommendations, and the video responses.
Capacity for lifelong service and learning – This will be measured through the personal statement (description of their achievements in this area to date), letters of recommendation, and any personal/professional experience and service described in the resume.
Enriched Learning environment – This will be measured largely through the video responses, personal statement, and personal experiences related to gender, ethnic, racial and other forms of diversity (Please discuss your personal experiences with diversity outside of your mission).
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
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.
Coursework:
Credit Hours (69): minimum 45 course work hours beyond completion of the master's degree coursework and clinical experience.
Required courses:
course (3 credits) Advanced Research Methodology in MFT
course (3 credits) Supervision in MFT
course (3 credits) – Advanced Topics in MFT
course Advanced Clinical Specialization in MFT
course (3 credits) – Supervision Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy
course (3 credits) – Clinical Internship
course (3 credits) – MFT Outcome and Process Research
course (3 credits) - Structural Equation Modeling in the Social Sciences
course (3 credits) – Advanced Statistics or an approved substitute
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 and 100 hours of supervision with approved supervisor.
Practicum (18 credits): course/course Practicum/Advanced Practicum in MFT
Dissertation (18 credits): course Doctoral 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
