Program at a Glance

Program: Doctorate
College(s): College of Community Innovation and Education
Department(s): Teacher Education, Schl of

In State Tuition
Out of State Tuition

$369.65 per credit hour

$1,276.48 per credit hour

Learn more about the cost to attend UCF.

U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Education Badge

Lead the future of professional counseling with UCF’s PhD in Education, Counselor Education track. This in-person, full-time CACREP-accredited program prepares aspiring counselor educators, scholars and clinical supervisors to advance the profession through teaching, research, leadership and advocacy. With advanced coursework, faculty mentorship and professional experiences, you’ll develop the expertise to shape future counselors and contribute new knowledge to the counseling discipline.

Throughout the program, you’ll build expertise in adult learning, counseling practice, clinical supervision, research and leadership while gaining teaching experience. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, you will also learn how to effectively prepare and mentor master’s-level counseling students developmentally.

In doing so, you’ll acquire advanced clinical and supervisory experience at the UCF Community Counseling and Research Center — which serves more than 1,400 Central Florida community members each year — where you’ll strengthen your clinical supervision skills by overseeing master’s students throughout their practicum experiences. You’ll also have opportunities to collaborate with faculty affiliated with the UCF Marriage and Family Research Institute.

Located in Orlando, the program connects doctoral students with leading healthcare systems, school districts, community agencies and nonprofit organizations that support research and professional partnerships. Working alongside nationally recognized faculty, you’ll contribute to research projects, write scholarly publications, present at professional conferences, and build a strong professional network while helping address the evolving needs of the community and counseling profession.

With a supportive cohort model and dedicated mentorship, you can complete the program in three years.

Highlights

Ranked No. 9 nationally by U.S. News & World Report among graduate counselor education programs

Learn and grow in a supportive, collaborative cohort model

Complete your degree in three years

Fall: December 1

Fall: December 1

Application deadlines subject to change, see the Graduate Studies website for up-to-date deadlines.

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Now that I’m an assistant professor at another institution, I can say confidently that UCF’s program prepared me for this new role and its expectations. I have made connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Victoria Siegel '26PhD, Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University

Career Opportunities

UCF prepares you for life beyond the classroom. Here, you’ll experience a wide range of opportunity, like learning diverse skills from world-renowned faculty to networking with top employers across Central Florida to gaining first-hand experience in internships nearby. Achieve your degree and more as a Knight.