Practicum
The School Psychology Program (SPP) at the University of Florida offers a wide variety of practicum opportunities. All students are placed in a practicum site beginning the fall of their first year in the program. During the first and second years, students accrue a minimum of 300 hours in practicum and related activities per year. Students are supervised by practicing school psychologists in and around the Gainesville area. Ph. D. students in advanced practicum are supervised by Ph. D. psychologists. During practicum placements, school psychology students gain practicum experiences related not only to their course requirements, but also to the expertise of their supervisor and unique characteristics of the placement setting. Opportunities are available to develop expertise in diverse areas, such as early childhood, low incidence disabilities, bilingual school psychology, severe behavior disorders, pediatric psychology, forensic psychology, post-secondary education, and across the K-12 education spectrum.
First- and Second-Year Practicum
First and second year students, regardless of degree track, are assigned to a practicum placement with a practicing school psychologist in Gainesville and neighboring counties. During the first year, students develop skills in conducting Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), assessing and treating students with academic difficulties, and cognitive assessment. These requirements are met through course requirements to be carried out in the practicum placement setting. Typically, students spend 8 – 10 hours a week working in the practicum setting with the guidance of a supervising school psychologist. This allows students a depth of experience beyond course requirements alone.
Second year students are again assigned a practicum placement in a public school setting, with consideration given to students’ developing specialization interests. Second year practicum emphasizes skill development in social/emotional assessment, counseling, school consultation, and the execution of comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations. Students also work with their supervising school psychologists to further develop their expertise in providing psychological services to children in the school setting. For example, second year students often involve themselves in additional activities providing counseling, consultation, and assessment services.
Advanced Practicum
Students pursuing a Ph.D. degree participate in advanced practicum activities under the supervision of a doctoral-level psychologist for one or more years. Students select these practicum placements to reflect their own developing professional interests. These practicum settings range from intensive school-based placements to hospital settings. A list of past and current students’ advanced practicum settings is provided below.
A. Quinn Jones Center for Emotionally Disturbed Students
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
Corner Drug Store
Disability Resource Center, University of Florida Dean of Students Office
Eleanor H. Miller School (for children with low incidence disabilities)
National Rural Behavioral Health Center
Nemours Children’s Hospital
P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School
Private Practice: Schiavoni & Associates, Milestones in the Making Inc.
Public School Districts
Alachua County
Marion County
Putnam County
Union County
Shands Hospital, Obsesssive Compulsive Disorder Clinic, Departments of Pediatrics & Psychiatry
Shands Hospital Craniofacial Center Clinic, Pediatric Medicine
Shands Hospital Diabetes and Lipid Clinic, Behavioral Health Care Unit
Shands at Vista Behavioral Health Center, Child and Adolescent Clinic
Sidney Lanier Anchor School and Center for Students with Severe Disabilities
Three Springs Union County Residential Treatment Center, Juvenile Sex Offenders
University of Florida Child Protection Team
University of Florida GatorChild Law Clinic (pdf file)
University of Florida Multidisciplinary Diagnostic and Treatment Program
