PhD in Family Therapy
Texas Woman’s University
Educational Outcomes
Program Mission Statement: The mission of the Doctor of Philosophy in Family Therapy program is to prepare systemic
family therapists to contribute to family therapy scholarship and theory as advanced clinicians, researchers, supervisors, and
educators. We are committed to training students from diverse backgrounds in a multiculturally-informed and multi-systemic
perspective.
Program Goals:
1. Advanced Clinical: The TWU Family Therapy program will prepare students to integrate a systemic personal
philosophy of practice with advanced knowledge of clinical theory and current research.
2. Diversity in Clinical Work: TWU Family Therapy program students will demonstrate advanced systemic clinical
assessment and treatment skills with diverse populations.
3. Scholarship & Knowledge: The TWU Family Therapy program will focus on proficiency in advanced research
methods and analyses through authoring research proposals, publications, and presentations.
4. Supervision & Ethics: TWU Family Therapy program students will demonstrate skill in clinical supervision,
including an articulation of one’s own model of supervision and sensitivity to ethics and power and privilege
contextual variables within the supervisory relationship.
5. Teaching: The TWU Family Therapy program will engage students in diverse teaching experiences that inform the
development of a teaching philosophy.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Advanced Clinical:
1. Students will develop and author a Philosophy of Practice, aligned with AAMFT Core Competencies.
a. Benchmark: 80% of doctoral students will earn passing grades in FS 6243 Theories & Strategies for
Intervention in Family Therapy, focusing on the appropriate application and innovation of family therapy
approaches reflective of use of self.
b. Benchmark: 80% of doctoral students will pass the portion of the Comprehensive Examination tied to
advanced clinical theory, highlighting their personal systemic approach to practice, as reviewed and
approved by a majority of their doctoral committee.
2. Students will pursue and earn clinical licensure in the state of Texas.
a. Benchmark: 70% of students will take and pass the AMFTRB national examination for licensure.
b. Benchmark: 70% of students will earn and maintain clinical licensure in the state of Texas.
Diversity in Clinical Work:
3. Students will effectively integrate individual, family, community, and contextual factors into their clinical
assessment and treatment.
a. Benchmark: 80% of doctoral students will be deemed clinically competent in giving balanced attention to
multicultural and ethical factors, through faculty supervisor assessments on the TWU Practicum
Competencies III and IV (score of 3 out of 5 on rating of overall competency in their final semester of
Internship) or their clinical experience prior to the TWU program (as confirmed on the Hours
Verification Forms by prior clinical supervisors).
4. Students will accrue systemic clinical experience in clinical settings serving diverse client populations.
a. Benchmark: 70% of students will conduct systemic therapy at sites and in communities serving clients
from underserved and underrepresented populations, including those in juvenile detention, lacking health
insurance, engaged with the child welfare system, with intellectual delay or severe and persistent mental
illness, or broad variations in family structure.
Scholarship & Knowledge:
5. Students will contribute to the field of MFT through professional presentations.
a. Benchmark: 70% of students will complete presentations specific to MFT practice and research at
agencies, in training environments, at TWU research forums, and at state, national, or international
conferences.
PhD in Family Therapy
Texas Woman’s University
6. Students will complete and pass written research proposals for both qualitative and quantitative research projects
representative of current MFT literature.
a. Benchmark: 70% of students will write research proposals as part Advanced Quantitative Research
Methods and Advanced Qualitative Research Methods, and pass with a minimum grade of 80%.
Supervision & Ethics:
7. Students will develop and author a Philosophy of Supervision, aligned with AAMFT Approved Supervisor
standards.
a. Benchmark: 80% of students in Supervision in Family Therapy will write a Philosophy of Supervision
paper, which demonstrates knowledge of MFT supervision literature, and sensitivity to ethical, legal, and
multicultural factors, and pass with a minimum score of 80%.
8. Students will effectively share their Philosophy of Supervision through supervision demonstrations and a creative
teaching presentation.
a. Benchmark: 80% of students in Supervision in Family Therapy will pass a presentation of their
Philosophy of Supervision, effectively explaining how their philosophy is systemic, guided by MFT
theory, and integrated into their practice of supervision, with a minimum score of 80%.
Teaching:
9. Students who teach or have taught will report meaningful and beneficial experiences.
a. Benchmark: 80% of students who teach or have taught will report the Family Therapy program prepared
them for these teaching roles in specifically identified ways.
10. Students will complete and pass a conference-level teaching presentation, practicing a variety of teaching methods
and course evaluation strategies.
a. Benchmark: 80% of students in Family Therapy II will complete a teaching presentation focused on
content specific to their clinical and theoretical areas of specialty, with a minimum score of 80%.
11. Students will effectively teach peers regarding a specific area of supervision, engaging supervisors-in-training in
creative and active discussions regarding applications to their own practice of supervision.
a. Benchmark: 80% of students in Supervision in Family Therapy will conduct a discussion facilitation
regarding a chosen area of MFT supervision, and pass with a minimum score of 80%.