Student Expectations, CACREP Accreditation, and Program Delivery

After being accepted and enrolled into the program, students will engage in an orientation to better understand program expectations. The student handbook will be discussed at orientation, including students’ ethical and professional obligations and personal growth expectations as counselors-in-training. Students must acknowledge that they have read and agree to the policies and expectations within the handbook. Students will also be informed of the eligibility requirements for practicum and licensure/certification.

Our program is currently working to align all components with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards in preparation for applying for accreditation. However, it is important to note that a program's willingness to obtain accreditation does not guarantee that it will be granted accreditation. Accreditation involves several steps, including a self-study and an on-campus site visit by CACREP. Once an application is received, accreditation can take 12-18 months. The program intends to start the accreditation process around the graduation of the first cohort, as student data, including alumni data, is needed for accreditation. To account for this, CACREP has a policy that allows students in a program seeking accreditation to be considered graduates of a CACREP program if they receive their degree eighteen (18) months prior to accreditation being conferred and the program can verify that the student completed the CACREP program requirements. More information on accreditation and its benefits can be found on the accreditation page.

Our online program offers a mixture of synchronous (virtual class sessions with real-time instruction) and asynchronous (completing work on your own time). During Pre-Practicum, students will demonstrate their counseling skills in person during an on-site mock clinical experience in the last week of the fall semester. All practicum and internship courses will meet synchronously via the university-approved virtual platform. Students will be expected to complete field hours in person at a site placement location approved by the program.