Antioch University

What you'll study

Students complete coursework, weekly online professional seminars (group supervision), three five‑day residencies per year, and advanced practical experiences that integrate clinical, teaching/supervision/leadership, and research skills. By program end students build an academic portfolio demonstrating learning achievements in clinical theory, research (quantitative and qualitative), teaching, supervision, and leadership with an emphasis on social justice. Competency areas include advanced clinical CFT models, relational/systemic clinical theory, and specialization in a research‑grounded area of intervention.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a clinical master’s degree in a mental health field. Candidates without a CFT background will be required to complete additional prerequisite coursework. Students enter as a fall cohort and must be prepared to attend residencies; criminal background checks and vaccination verification may be required for practical experience placements.

Career prospects

Graduates work in academic positions (teaching in MFT and related programs), research, clinical leadership, supervision, and advanced clinical practice including private practice. The PhD is intended to prepare students for roles in research, teaching, supervision and organizational leadership within couple and family therapy.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Antioch offers the President’s Doctoral Fellowship to entering doctoral students who meet a minimum 3.40 GPA and demonstrate relevant work/life experience; the award is $12,000 distributed equally over the first two registered years for students who remain enrolled full time and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Additional institutional scholarship and financial aid information is referenced through Antioch’s admission and scholarships pages.