January 21, 2021
Ursuline College’s graduate program in Counseling and Art Therapy has received accreditation from a national organization.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE), announced in mid-January it has awarded initial accreditation to the program, which was previously approved by the American Art Therapy Association. The program is also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).
“This new accreditation by CAAHEP provides students with additional assurance that our Counseling and Art Therapy master’s program has been reviewed by an outside source and that it is in compliance with the nationally recognized standards for the profession,” said Patricia A. Sharpnack DNP, dean of Ursuline's Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions. “In addition, regardless of where our graduates pursue their careers, their future employers and clients will be pleased to see that they have completed a program that meets national standards.”
Gail Rule-Hoffman, MEd, LPC-S, ATR-BC, director of the Counseling and Art Therapy program, said prospective students looking for an art therapy master’s program will now find Ursuline listed on the CAAHEP website as the only such accredited program in Ohio.
“We attract students from across the country, and seeing our CAAHEP accreditation, they know we have met the gold standard for quality of curriculum, instruction, facilities, and student outcomes,” she said.
In his announcement of the accreditation, CAAHEP President Glen Mayhew said, “The recent peer review conducted by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education and CAAHEP’s Board of Directors recognizes the program's substantial compliance with the nationally established accreditation standards… The commission commends (Ursuline administration and faculty) for your commitment to continuous quality improvement in education, as demonstrated by your participation in program accreditation.”
CAAHEP’s next evaluation of the program will occur no later than 2026. Meanwhile, the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education will regularly monitor the program’s compliance with the outcomes assessment.
Students who complete Ursuline’s Counseling and Art Therapy program meet the educational requirements for counseling licensure in Ohio, for the National Certified Counselor, and for national registration and board certification for art therapists through the Art Therapy Credentials Board. Further information is available here.
