While the DMFT and the PhD do share coursework during the first two years in the program, the difference in the two degrees has to do with their areas of focus and application. The DMFT is more clinical in nature, and the final assignment in that program is the Doctoral Project. The PhD has more of a research focus, and the final assignment in that program is the Dissertation. An important question to ask yourself is “What do I want to do with this degree?” If you are interested in a) developing curriculum to use for psychoeducational purposes, as part of ministry settings, to enrich a specific population group, or b) getting specialized training in an area of clinical expertise, the DMFT will be a good fit for you. If you are interested in a) completing research in an area of interest to you, or b) teaching in higher education, the PhD will be a good fit for you.

Becoming licensed as a marriage and family therapist has 3 parts: 1) the educational requirements, 2) the post-education clinical hours and supervision, 3) the licensing exam. Our doctoral programs help students to meet the educational requirements (#1) and are not involved with students completing #2 and #3. Please note that licensing requirements vary by state. Our program meets educational requirements for the state of Pennsylvania. Because state requirements vary and can often change, prospective students residing outside of Pennsylvania and/or intending to complete a practicum outside of Pennsylvania, should contact the State Licensing Board in their respective state prior to enrolling in the MFT program. Educational and professional requirements and qualifications vary by state and country, and it is the student’s responsibility to seek the appropriate guidance before beginning any academic program. We are happy to consult with students in this process.

First, be sure to connect with your admissions counselor. Your admissions counselor will be the best resource for you as you work through the application process. Second, in your application, it is important that the admissions committee can see that you have thoroughly addressed the topics outlined in the statement of purpose and statement of faith instructions. Specifically, for the statement of purpose, be sure to incorporate the program goals that are found on the DMFT home page or PhD home page. Your application will stand out when you can clearly articulate how those goals coincide with your personal and professional objectives. Likewise, for the statement of faith, address both the impact of your family of origin and your faith journey. The more clearly you demonstrate your ability to respond to the topics and provide evidence of doctoral-level writing ability, the more your application will stand out.

Yes, all students in our program are required to take practicum three times, for a total of 300 direct client contact hours. We require all students to take practicum regardless of licensure status since we want to see them demonstrating skills learned in the program.

Eastern University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is a regional accreditation for all programs at the University. At present, the MFT programs do not have a program specific accreditation, such as COAMFTE, CACREP, or MPCAC.

Doctoral Projects:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy: A Culturally Attuned Model for Latino Couples
• The Spiritual Resilience Council for Formerly Incarcerated Black Males
• The African American Woman and the Need for Self-Care
• Narrative Therapy and its Use with Marginalized Persons
• Navigating Autism and Ambiguous Loss Together: When Divorce is Not an Option
• Recovery: Family Psychoeducation for Schizophrenia
• Colorism’s Adverse Impact on Black Women: The Role Colorism Plays in the Overall Lives of Black Women and How it Intersects with Shame
• Lifting the Veil:  Empowering the Church to Strategize Support Systems for Survivors of Sexual Trauma

Dissertations:

• Bereavement Experiences of African American Women Following Death-Related Loss
• Wearing a Mask to Supervision: A Phenomenological Exploration of Black Female Therapists and
• Covering in Cross-Racial Supervision
• “Going into the fire without getting burned.”. Use of Self-Preserving Approaches to Family
• Communication by Men Living with Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study
• Spiritually Active Veterans and Emotional Hardship
• Foster Children Grow Up: Former Foster Children’s Perceptions of Feeling Valued
• The Role of Supportive Relationships in the Parenting Experience of Mothers in the High Socioeconomic Status with High Adverse Child Experiences Score: A Qualitative Heuristic Study
• The Development of Compassion Fatigue in Peer Support Workers: A Mixed-Methods Study 
• Spiritual Bypass Among African Americans in Addiction Recovery Programs: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study