UNK-The University of Nebraska at Kearney Community Counseling Program has been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Community counseling is a 48-hour master’s program that educates counselors for a variety of work settings in the community and is a division of the UNK Department of Counseling and School Psychology.
UNK began working on meeting the 145 standards set by CACREP two years ago, according to Marlene Kuskie, College of Education associate dean. The entire program was revamped to meet all of the standards, she said.
“The quality of education increases when standards are set and met,” Kuskie said.
For UNK students, accreditation is an assurance that the educational curriculum of the program will prepare them for the national boards examination and a better knowledge of the professional track of community counseling. Accreditation is also a catalyst for self-directed program improvements and strengthening the program self-evaluation by the review and council provided through the accrediting body.
The Department of Counseling and School Psychology has more than 200 active graduate students and promotes a field-based practitioner model of training. Interaction and consultation with practicing professionals and direct work with an outstanding faculty are the focus of these educational experiences. UNK graduates are working in a wide variety of professional settings, including: elementary and secondary schools, educational service units, college counseling students/student services, private counseling services, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, vocational rehabilitation services, mental health agencies and churches.
