First Accredited Program:
Dr. James Sherohman, St. Cloud State University,
accepts a plaque in recognition from Dr. Harry Perlstadt,
Chair of the Commission.
The Commission on Applied and Clinical Sociology was established
in 1995 by the Society for Applied Sociology and the Sociological
Practice Association to develop, promote and support quality sociological
education and practice in applied and clinical areas.
The Commission’s priorities are to:
accredit clinical and applied sociological
practice
programs in post-secondary sociology
departments.
register graduates who have successfully
completed
accredited programs in clinical
and applied sociology.
advocate for sociology in the areas
of occupational
licensing and certification.
disseminate program models and
resources to
departments interested in developing
applied and
clinical program.
Many sociology
departments realize that more of their graduates are entering
applied and clinical practice than are working in academic
or pure research settings. Accreditation is one way to strengthen
the sociological training and placement of students.
Accreditation
can be combined with a periodic institutional review or assessment
of departments and programs. An accredited program should have adequate
administrative structures and resources to support teaching, research
and experiential learning for students. Accreditation is one way
of securing and maintaining funding and positions for a sociology
program.
The accreditation standards are based on learning
outcomes and seek to integrate sociological theory, knowledge,
methods, skills, and professional orientation and ethics. In addition,
students must have a meaningful practice experience, such as an
internship. These should provide better job opportunities for
graduates.
The accreditation process combines a program self
study and site visit. The Commission has published Standards for
Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology and Guidelines for
Completing the Self Study Report to assist programs seeking accreditation.
