MA in Education and Education Specialist in Marriage and Family Counseling in Gainesville United States | University of Florida

A dual master's and specialist program designed for students passionate about supporting diverse families through counseling services, offering relationship counseling for couples seeking improved dynamics, or advocating for children in need.
The Marriage & Family Counseling/Therapy specialization focuses on an eco-systemic perspective to address human challenges and create solutions: Students develop skills to facilitate constructive dialogues among involved parties (stakeholders), encouraging mutual understanding, active listening, exploration of multiple solutions, and the development of collaborative narratives.
The M.Ed./Ed.S. and M.AE./Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling prepares students with foundational competencies for Registered Intern status, leading to Florida licensure as Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) or Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) after two years of supervised clinical experience. This 72-credit program trains entry-level therapists for roles in social services, healthcare, faith-based organizations, corporate settings (such as Employee Assistance Programs), and private practice.

Faculty in the Marriage and Family Counseling program are dedicated to helping students: (a) become evidence-based practitioners capable of delivering effective services and evaluating outcomes, (b) expand their professional expertise, (c) apply both individual developmental and systemic multicultural frameworks when designing interventions, and (d) experience diverse approaches to mental health service delivery.