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

A dual-degree 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 solution-focused discussions among involved parties (stakeholders), encouraging mutual understanding, active listening, exploration of multiple resolutions, 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 future therapists for roles in social services, healthcare, faith-based organizations, corporate settings (such as Employee Assistance Programs), and private practice.

Our faculty are dedicated to helping students (a) become evidence-based practitioners capable of delivering effective clinical services while assessing outcomes through research, (b) expand their professional expertise, (c) apply both individual developmental and systemic multicultural frameworks when designing mental health interventions, and (d) experience diverse approaches to mental health service delivery.