The Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education offers programs that prepare students for human services positions in K-12 schools, colleges/universities, and mental health agencies.
Accreditation
The Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education offers programs that meet the highest professional standards:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) and Professional School Counseling (M.A.) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Graduates are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) to become National Certified Counselors.
- Marriage and Family Therapy (M.A.) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). View Graduate Achievement Data.
- Higher Education and Student Affairs (M.A.) follows the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Guidelines and aligns with the ACPA/NASPA Competencies for Student Affairs Educators (2015/2016) to ensure rigorous preparation for graduate-level student affairs professionals.
Continuing Education Commitment
Each year the department will sponsor various professional development workshops for graduate students as well as professional counselors and therapists. Continuing education credit will be made available for some of these workshops.
Appalachian State University's Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 3001. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Appalachian State University's Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.