The University of Florida began in 1858 when James Henry Roper, an educator from North Carolina and an Alachua County state senator, opened the Gainesville Academy in Gainesville, Florida. However, as early as 1823, the Florida Territorial Legislature began planning a system of higher education. In 1851, the state established the West Florida Seminary and the East Florida Seminary. Both schools gained state support in 1853. The East Florida Seminary was established in Ocala, but the institution was forced to close during the Civil War.
In 1866, Roper offered Gainesville Academy and all its property to the state if the seminary would be relocated to the campus. The state agreed and parts of the seminary campus were incorporated into Gainesville Academy. Jordan Probst established the Florida Agricultural College in Lake City in 1884 which became the first land-grant college in Florida. In 1883, a charter passed merging the West Florida Seminary with the Tallahassee College of Medicine and Surgery, creating Florida University. In 1885, it was recognized as the University of Florida, but the state did not supply funding. The young school struggled and the medical college relocated to Jacksonville later that year. The school never officially adopted the university title.
In 1903, the Florida legislature repealed the designation of the Tallahassee school as the University of Florida and gave the title to the Florida Agricultural College. It remained the University of Florida until the entire university system was reorganized in 1905. At that time, four separate schools were merged into the University of the State of Florida. The schools included the University of Florida at Lake City, the East Florida Seminary, the St. Petersburg Normal and Industrial School as well as the South Florida Military College.
Today, the University of Florida is ranked among the top 20 public universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. It is ranked first among AAU Institutions for the number of master’s degrees and second for the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students. Corporations rank the university as the top ten places to recruit new employees. Last year, the university generated $700 million in research awards.
University of Florida Accreditation Details
The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation indicates that the university meets or exceeds criteria set forth by the accrediting agency and that they strive for improvement in all programs offered to students. In addition, industry-specific organizations and associations accredit programs throughout the college, indicating that the school strives for excellence in education at all levels.
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University of Florida Application Requirements
Freshmen who wish to attend the University of Florida must complete an online application and submit an essay as well as a resume. There is an application fee that is non-refundable. Students must complete a Self-Reported Academic Record and provide official ACT or SAT scores.
Students who have complete post-secondary education at other colleges or universities are considered transfer students. They must complete an online application and pay the application fee. Students must provide official high school as well as college transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Students must also submit SAT and ACT test scores as well as documentation they have successfully completed two sequential courses of foreign language. Students must be in good standing at their previous college or university.
Graduate students must complete an online application and pay the fee. Students must submit a statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation and copies of transcripts. Some programs have other requirements for applying. Students are encouraged to talk to a graduate admissions counselor before applying.
University of Florida Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time tuition for undergraduate students is $6,390 per year. Graduate tuition is $12,740 per year. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study. The University of Florida strives to make it easy for students to apply for financial assistance. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for any financial assistance. Transfer students must provide the university with financial aid transcript data from the National Student Loan Data System for all colleges or universities attended.
Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology
The Counseling Psychology degree program offered at the University of Florida is a general practice specialty in professional psychology. The program focuses on personal and interpersonal functioning of individuals across lifespans as well as the typical normal personality. Emotional, social, vocational, educational and developmental concerns are addressed related to how these issues impact psychology. Students are trained as scientists, scholars and practitioners, with skills provided in a wide range of occupational settings. They are able to contribute to society’s understanding of career development, individual differences and human life span development. In addition, they develop an understanding of psychological measurement and principles of psychological assessment. In addition, students are provided an understanding of situations and conditions that lead to development that may be considered atypical or disordered. Methods for managing individuals, families and groups with atypical or disordered behavior are also provided.
The training model views science and practice as inseparable components. The program encourages science and practice that take into consideration individual, developmental, multi-cultural and contextual practices designed to emphasize human strengths related to psychopathology.
Students must submit GRE scores and a minimum GPA score is required. Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in order to apply. Students who have completed their master’s degree may be admitted, but all courses taken may not automatically be accepted toward the doctoral requirements. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and has been since 1954.
Assistantships are available with all first-year students offered funding which is generally available through five years for all students making good progress. Fellows and graduate teaching as well as research assistants have their tuition costs waived, but must still pay fees.
The University of Florida has offered outstanding education for over 100 years, providing students with an education that can help them move into a new career or advance in a current career. The University of Florida also offers programs that are available in an online format as well that allow working adults to achieve their higher education goals while still meeting their work, social and family obligations.
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