Offering Campuses
Argosy University, Salt Lake City; Argosy University, Twin Cities
Program Overview
The Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) degree program is a 60-credit-hour terminal, practice-oriented degree. The program seeks to build upon students’ prior learning and professional experience by expanding and deepening their knowledge of human development, family dynamics, systemic thinking, interactional theories, traditional and contemporary marriage and family therapy theories and practices, and the cultural contexts within which these are embedded.
The DMFT degree program curriculum is designed to provide opportunities for advanced study and research of systemic concepts and methods as applied to clinical work with children, couples, individuals, and families as well as to larger systems of organizations and communities. In addition to supporting the continuing development of clinical skills, the focus of the curriculum includes the development of skills related to leadership and service to the field in the areas of teaching and supervision.
In regard to training in supervision, the DMFT degree program curriculum is generally designed to meet the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) requirements to become an Approved Supervisor. (Those students who are already AAMFT Approved Supervisors may petition for an alternative learning experience equivalent to the 9 credit hours devoted to training and supervision.)
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Outcome One
Students will integrate both historical and current systems thought to develop a personal, practical, broad-based theoretical advanced level of knowledge. The advanced level knowledge base will include, in part, components of individual and family processes and development as well as demonstrate social and cultural influences.
Program Outcome Two
Given various clinical settings, students will critique appraisals, and apply appropriate assessments and diagnosis based on the integration of theory and practice.
Program Outcome Three
Given a supervisory scenario, students will integrate current theories and practices in the field to form and apply clinical supervision and teaching skills.
Program Outcome Four
Given a clinical situation, students will apply the appropriate laws and ethics of their respective state and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy to demonstrate their personal and professional development (professional identity) as a clinician,
Program Outcome Five
Given principles and strategies of research and evaluation, students will analyze both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence to advance theory, research, clinical practice, program evaluation, supervision, and involvement in the community.
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or related field of study from a regionally accredited institution, nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Behavioral Sciences, or an appropriately certified foreign institution with a minimum of two three-credit hour graduate level courses covering basic family theories and concepts of intervention, as well as one course on individual or group psychotherapy. An applicant who has not had one or more of these three courses or their equivalent may be accepted into the program, but may not register for courses in the DMFT degree program curriculum until this prerequisite has been met. A plan of study incorporating these prerequisite courses may be made available during the admissions interview.
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) in work leading to a master’s degree and in any subsequent graduate study.
- A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, “English Language Proficiency Policy .”
- Completion of an interview with a member of the program Admissions Committee
All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative is available to assist interested applicants in completing the following required documentation:
- Application fee (Non-refundable, except in Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
- Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
- Current resume
- Three completed Applicant Recommendation forms
- Official transcripts from the institution that conferred the master’s degree and any institutions where graduate coursework was subsequently taken. Bachelor’s level transcripts are not required
Applications to Multiple Campuses
Applicants who are undecided with respect to the location they wish to attend should submit an application and full set of application materials to their location of first choice. Applicants who are accepted into their location of first choice and who, prior to beginning the program, determine they want to complete the same program at a different location, should notify the initial location of record of that intent. Provided that the same program is available, all previous approvals and credits accepted will remain in force. If an individual requests to change programs, he or she will need to meet all admission requirements of the new program.
Graduation Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including 54 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of Applied Clinical Project.
- A grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0), and a grade of “B-“or better in all required courses
- Satisfactory performance on Comprehensive Qualifying Exam
- Successful completion of internship
- Successful completion and defense of the Applied Clinical Project
- Completion of these requirements within seven years of matriculation into the program
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration.
Program Requirements
The DMFT degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours distributed as follows: core requirements, 18 credit hours; research requirements, 9 credit hours; practicum experiences in supervision and teaching requirements, 15 credit hours; customized concentration requirements, 12 credit hours; Applied Clinical Project requirements, 6 credit hours.
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