Accreditations, Endorsements and Distinctions

The mark of any quality higher education institution's academic programs is its ability to receive and maintain accreditation, endorsement or distinction by nationally known and respected agencies, accrediting bodies and ranking programs. Among these measures of quality and distinction are those below (rankings listed are among those in the rater's current ranking/evaluation cycle)

Organization	Affected Area(s) or Disciplines
University-wide
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)	Bachelor's, first professional, master's, educational specialist and doctorate degrees
College-wide
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)	All programs preparing teachers and other professional school personnel
Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE)	All programs preparing teachers and other professional school personnel
National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC)	All programs preparing teachers and other professional school personnel
U.S.News and World Report "2011 Best Graduate Programs"	No. 66 nationally (top 25 percent of 278 schools and 50th among public institutions) in 2010 [more]
Curriculum and Teaching
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)	Music Education programs
Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology
University Council for Education Administration, full member (UCEA)	Educational Administration programs
Kinesiology
American College of Sports Medicine, University Connection Program endorsement (ACSM)	Health Promotion program
National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK)	No. 22 nationally for its doctoral programs in 2010
Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling
American Psychological Association (APA)	Counseling Psychology doctoral program; you may contact the APA Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association at: American Psychological Association, 750 First St, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-4242; (202) 336-5979 or (202) 336-5979
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)	Rehabilitation Education graduate program
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)	School Counseling master's program; Community Agency Counseling master's program; Counselor Education doctoral program
U.S.News and World Report Health Disciplines/Rehabilitation Counseling	No 17. nationally (14th among public institutions; current ranking period: 2007-2009) [more ]

Last Updated: Oct 05, 2012