UF
College of Education
Counselor Education Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Couple and Family Clinic

We believe that success in counseling is helped by having you understand what to expect from us and what we expect from you. The clinic is part of the Counselor Education’s professional training program. The clinic is staffed by a team of faculty, doctoral students and advanced counseling students specializing in couples and family therapy, and is located in Norman Addition, Room 1705.

Family during a counseling session

Internship Experience

Practicum and Internship experiences comprise the critical application component of entry-level and doctoral programs. Students enrolled in the M.Ed./Ed.S. program are required to complete one (1) practicum and one (1) internship. Practicum is completed in one academic semester, while Internship is typically completed within two academic semesters. The purpose is to allow students opportunities to demonstrate increased counseling competence while integrating theory and practice. Students will apply, refine, and synthesize knowledge, technique, and skills learned in the classroom.

Students are expected to complete a planned sequence of supervised clinical experiences. They are expected to demonstrate enhanced counseling competence and manage increasingly demanding and dynamic client caseloads. Students should be open to supportive and constructive feedback offered by site hosts, site staff, and supervisors, and students are expected to conduct themselves professionally in every aspect of their clinical placement, including timeliness, appropriate professional attire, and meeting required documentation deadlines. They are expected to abide by professional ethical counseling practice guidelines. Please see the following to refer to professional ethical codes: American Counseling Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, American Mental Health Counseling Association, and American School Counselor Association.

Selecting a clinical site for Practicum and Internship experiences is a collaborative process involving the student and the Practicum & Internship Coordinator. Students are expected to research clinical opportunities in the Alachua County area, and they should consider factors such as career goals, client populations with which experience is needed, the student’s need for structure and guidance, and desired work settings. The Department of Counselor Education maintains relationships with many mental health and marriage.

Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Counseling Honor Society

Both master and doctoral students are eligible to join Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), when other eligibility requirements are met by the individual.

Blog and News

UF College of Education Ascends to No. 8 Among America’s Best Public Graduate Education Schools

Building upon previous achievements, the College of Education at the University of Florida continues to ascend the ranks, leaping two spots to No. 8 among public education colleges in the 2024-2025 Best Graduate Education Schools by U.S. News & World Report. In specialty rankings, multiple programs received top-five designations in their respective areas, with the Counseling Education program given the nation’s top spot at No. 1.

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Norman Hall

Counselor Education’s participation in Gator Connect

With a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the University of Florida is launching Gator Connect, a project aimed at strengthening school-based mental health (SBMH) services in Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS).

Through this initiative, 15 graduate students from UF’s School Psychology, School Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling programs will receive enhanced training and assistantship funding. In return, trainees will serve high-need ACPS schools, addressing the rising mental health needs among children and youth exacerbated by the pandemic.

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