OSU-Cascades masters’ counseling program gains accreditation
Oregon State University – Cascades master’s in counseling degree recently received full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, the national body that accredits counseling and similar degree programs.
With accreditation, OSU-Cascades’ counseling degree program, and its concentrations in mental health and school counseling, are recognized as meeting the standards set by the profession. CACREP officials acknowledged the significance of the counseling program’s extended eight-year accreditation period, commending the program for its achievement.
In order to achieve CACREP accreditation, a counselor education program must fulfill specified standards. Areas reviewed include program mission and objectives, program content, practicum experiences, student selection and advising, faculty qualifications, governance, instructional support, and self-evaluation by teaching and research faculty as meeting the quality standards that produce graduates prepared to enter a global workforce or graduate school.
The counseling program partners with Central Oregon agencies and non-profits, as well as area school districts including Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Sisters and Jefferson County to provide practicum experiences for students.
The counseling program offers free counseling to community members through a counseling clinic. The free counseling sessions allow master’s students to implement and develop expertise under the close supervision of faculty and clinical supervisors.
More than 175 students have graduated from the program since 2007. Alumni work within school districts in Central Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest, as well as in clinical settings at Deschutes County Mental Health, BestCare, St. Charles Health System and in organizations around the state.
