ATLANTA – Mercer University's Penfield College recently received full eight-year accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for its Master of Science programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. The College also received early accreditation from the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) for its Master of Science in clinical rehabilitation counseling.
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students to function as counselors in a variety of community settings, including mental health centers, community agencies, hospitals, private practices, residential treatment centers, the Department of Corrections, drug treatment centers and other helping or human services oriented programs.
The M.S. in School Counseling is designed to prepare students to function as professional school counselors in public and private P-12 school settings and be certified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) at the S-5 level.
The M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is designed to prepare students to provide rehabilitation services aimed at helping individuals with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential.
All three graduate programs are offered on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta.
“We are very proud of the dedication and commitment to excellence that all of the faculty have displayed in producing three great counseling programs that are evidenced with such high accomplishment,” said Dr. Karen Rowland, associate professor, chair of the Department of Counseling and Human Sciences and coordinator of the School Counseling Program. “Receiving CACREP accreditation for eight years and early CORE accreditation demonstrate that our counseling programs are among the best in the state and nationwide. It is indeed a worthy accomplishment.”
CACREP was established in 1981 to promote the professional competence of counseling and related practitioners through the development of preparation standards, the encouragement of excellence in program development and the accreditation of professional preparation programs. For more information, visit www.cacrep.org.
CORE is a specialized accreditation organization that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). CORE accredits graduate programs that provide academic preparation for a variety of professional rehabilitation counseling positions, as well as undergraduate programs in rehabilitation and disability studies. For more information, visit www.core-rehab.org.
About Penfield College of Mercer University
Penfield College of Mercer University, established as the College of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2003, is committed to serving non-traditional learners and currently enrolls more than 1,300 students. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to working adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Educational programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary programs that integrate theory and practice. The College offers general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer. Another initiative called the Bridge program transitions students enrolled in Mercer's English Language Institute and other international students to undergraduate programs throughout the University. Areas of study include organizational leadership, counseling, human services, human resources, informatics, criminal justice leadership, nursing preparation, liberal studies, psychology, communication, homeland security and emergency management, and healthcare leadership. Programs are offered on Mercer's campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as multiple regional academic centers in Douglas County, Henry County and Newnan, and online. To learn more, visit penfield.mercer.edu.
