Date: March 14, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, Illinois, March 14, 2007 - “A jewel in the field of counseling education,” were the words used to describe the master’s degree program in counseling at Governor State University. The compliment came during a recent accreditation review of the program by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The Department of Psychology and Counseling at GSU recently announced the positive review and re-accreditation of its Community Counseling, Marital, Couples, and Family Counseling/Therapy, and School Counseling master’s degree programs by CACREP. CACREP is the national accrediting body whose periodic reviews ensure that university programs meet industry and educational standards of excellence.
The approval and commendation of CACREP was based on an extensive review of the program on various levels, including examination of self-study documents developed by GSU faculty, the visiting CACREP review team’s report, and the university’s response to the visiting team’s review and suggestions.
“Accreditation is important because it provides outside review and examination of our program. We demonstrated that each of our counseling master’s programs meets or exceeds the standards set by CACREP,” said Dr. Steven Russell Dean of the College of Education. “In fact, the review board found no aspect of our program that needed altering or improving. We are very proud of the counseling education opportunities we offer at GSU.”
According to Dr. Lonn Wolf, chair of the Division of Psychology and Counseling in the College of Education at GSU, the counseling program focuses on meeting the educational needs of its students and the counseling needs of the community.
“Upon graduation, our students are prepared for careers in counseling, in helping their clients, schools, and communities as trained and qualified professionals,” added Wolf.
The recent CACREP accreditation is valid through March, 2014. Because of the quality of the counseling program offered at GSU, the length of the accreditation period was extended an additional year beyond the normal accreditation period.
The Master of Arts in Counseling at GSU is one of the most sought after degrees at Governors State University. Twice a year, students are admitted into the program, which prepares them to work as individual and family counselors, school counselors, and counseling facility managers. It also prepares students to further their education in psychology doctorate programs.
For more information about the master’s in counseling programs, call (708) 534- 4840 or visit www.govst.edu/coe.
