February 8, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education concentrations in community and school counseling have been awarded full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Both concentrations were granted eight-year accreditation terms.

CACREP, founded in 1981, is the national accrediting body for counselor-education programs, including career, college, community, mental health and school counseling plus marital, couple and family counseling. Its designation means that the content and quality of the program have been evaluated and meet the standards of the profession.

"Having the accreditation assures our students that they can compete nationally with other students from similar programs," said Larry Tyson, Ph.D., program coordinator for the UAB Counselor Education Program, which is housed in the School of Education Department of Human Studies. "It also reflects the fact that we are offering our students cutting-edge training in terms of course requirement and clinical experience."

The UAB Community/Agency Counseling concentration prepares students to work in diverse settings such as mental health agencies, private practice, substance-abuse rehabilitation facilities and nonprofit agencies. The UAB School Counseling concentration gives students the skills needed to work as counselors in K-12 settings.

About the UAB Department of Human Studies

The UAB Department of Human Studies, housed in the School of Education, offers programs in counselor education, heath education, community health, physical education, exercise science and fitness leadership.