PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The College of Education offers CACREP accredited graduate degrees in Counselor Education (with tracks in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling) and Marriage and Family Therapy. The School Counseling track is designed for the student who plans to seek certification as a professional school counselor in Pre-K through post-secondary school settings. The Mental Health Counseling track prepares students for licensure in mental health counseling and to practice in agencies, private practice, and other settings. The Marriage and Family Therapy program prepares students for licensure in marriage and family therapy and to practice in agencies, private practice, and other settings. The College of Education offers CACREP accredited graduate degrees in Counselor Education (with tracks in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling) and Marriage and Family Therapy. The School Counseling track is designed for the student who plans to seek certification as a professional school school counselor in Pre-K through post-secondary school settings. The Mental Health Counseling track prepares students for licensure in mental health counseling and to practice in agencies, private practice, and other settings. The Marriage and Family Therapy program prepares students for licensure in marriage and family therapy and to practice in agencies, private practice, and other settings.
As part of the program's pragmatic approach to preparing counselors, in addition to classroom studies, all students complete clinical experiences in the UCF Community Counseling Clinic and field-based experiences in the community. The UCF Community Counseling Clinic serves as a hub for training and research in the program, with graduate students providing services to over one thousand individuals each year through child, adult, couples, and family counseling.
Because the programs in Counselor Education (Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling Tracks) and Marriage and Family Therapy are CACREP accredited and prepare students for licensure and/or certification as professional counselors, students must be formally admitted to the program in order to take any program area courses. There are three exceptions to this restriction: (1) non-degree seeking students interested in exploring the program prior to admission may take MHS 5005 Introduction to the Counseling Profession, pending available space after admitted students have been placed in the course; (2) individuals who already possess a master's degree (or above) and are taking courses toward a certificate program (e.g., Play Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Career Counseling) may take the necessary courses upon being accepted into the appropriate certificate program, and; (3) individuals who already possess a master's degree (or above) and are taking courses toward Florida licensure in MHC or MFT may take MHS 6070 Diagnosis and Treatment, MHS 6450 Addiction Counseling, and/or MHS 6470 Human Sexuality and Relationships, pending available space after admitted students have been placed in those courses.
The Master of Arts in Counselor Education--School Counseling track is a state-approved initial teacher preparation program that is subject to any change in the Florida Administrative Code (State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.066). Students enrolled in this program should remain in close contact with their adviser to keep informed of any program changes implemented to comply with new state requirements.
Please note that Marriage and Family Therapy is a separate degree but still part of the Counselor Education program.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
Applicants must choose a track (i.e., School Counseling or Mental Health Counseling) in this program. Applicants for the Marriage and Family Therapy program should apply to that program by selecting this program alphabetically from the listing. Tracks may have different requirements.
FINANCIALS
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see
Funding for Graduate School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The
Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see Fellowships, which includes descriptions of UCF fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.