Program Director: Zephon D. Lister, PhD
The PhD degree in Systems, Families, and Couples follows the scientist-practitioner model in which students are expected to develop expertise in research, teaching and professional practice. The three-to-four year, 92-unit curriculum includes two years of coursework, professional development and clinical practice leading to licensure or certification, and one year of supervised dissertation experience. The purpose of the curriculum is to develop family science scholars and practitioners who will advance theory, research, practice, and teaching in the fields of couple and family therapy and family social science. Students will be prepared for academic, professional, and clinical positions in universities, community mental health, and medical settings. PhD students develop expertise in conducting original research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches; teaching in academic and community settings; and advanced clinical practice.
The PhD program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the accrediting body for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The core academic curriculum is composed of 53 units of coursework in the areas of research, theory, and practice. Students also take 9 units of religion. Students will then choose 18 elective units from the following content areas:
Requirements of the program include:
Course Schedule Course Descriptions
Applicants must meet Loma Linda University and School of Behavioral Health admissions requirements and give evidence of academic ability, professional comportment, and mature judgment. The PhD degree curriculum represents advanced study over and above a standard master's degree curriculum in the field. Admission is based on an integrated evaluation of the following criteria:
The admissions committee uses the above criteria to evaluate applicants on each of the following equally weighted criteria:
The Systems, Families, and Couples PhD program has been a life-changing experience for me. Faculty and administrative staff are so supportive of clinical growth as well as advancement in scientific practices. They are truly dedicated to whole-person healing and I feel blessed to learn alongside them.
The Systems, Families, and Couples program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the accrediting body associated with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The Systems, Families, and Couple PhD program also meets the requirements for certification as a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
For information on our student demographics, as well as student and faculty achievement information, please click here.
The program is consistent with Loma Linda University's vision of transforming lives through whole person health care. Our mission is to bring health, healing, wholeness, and hope to individuals, families, and communities through education, research, clinical training, and community service. The PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples program accomplishes this by preparing scientist-practitioners who will advance the body of knowledge through which marital and family scientists and marital and family therapists promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The program is organized around nine guiding concepts: relational systems, wholeness, social forces, healing power of relationships, diversity, empirical process, education and prevention, spirituality, and worldwide focus. The student learning outcomes flow from these guiding concepts.
Faculty within the department are not only leaders in this field, but they are kind, supportive, and invested in the development of future clinicians. Students who study at the School of Behavioral Health will be prepared to work with diverse clients in integrated care settings.
Students entering an MS degree program within the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences in academic year 2023-2024 who are interested in obtaining certification in Play Therapy or Drug & Alcohol Counseling will receive a tuition waiver for the certificate program of their choice. Students interested in this benefit are required to enroll in elective courses specified by their academic advisor. Given available spaces, students enrolling in the Systems, Families, and Couples PhD program may also take advantage of this benefit. Tuition waivers do not apply to any units used to support the student's primary degree program.
*Applications received by the priority deadline are reviewed first and receive admission responses earlier. Applications received after the priority deadline and before the standard deadline are reviewed as they are completed until the program has reached capacity. If you have any questions about when your application might be reviewed, please contact the program director.