Panel Discussion: Accrediting Your Undergraduate or Graduate Program in Sociological Practice: A Workshop on Process, Benefits, and Outcomes By the Commission on the Accreditation of Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology (CAPACS)

Professionalizing Sociology begins with the accreditation of a program in sociological practice (applied sociology, clinical sociology, engaged public sociology, translational sociology, and forensic sociology) by the Commission on the Accreditation of Programs in Applied and Clinical Sociology. Graduates of CAPACS-accredited programs complete a carefully designed curriculum, ensuring employers they possess a full spectrum of knowledge, skills, and practice experiences that distinguish them from other job applicants. Creating a highly educated and trained pool of sociological practitioners furthers Sociology's professionalization, as they possess educational qualifications, training, and field experiences to support the acquisition of association credentials in interdisciplinary fields such as behavioral health care, social service administration, criminal justice, forensic consulting/counseling, and public policy. In Part 1, the Commission Chair and Vice-Chair will present an interactive slideshow with handouts providing an overview of CAPACS and its history and mission as an independent accreditor of sociological practice programs in higher education worldwide and highlight the accreditation review process and site visit timelines for traditional and virtual accreditation reviews under CHEA, USDE, and international guidance, along with the benefits of accreditation. In Part 2, an invited panel of sociology program leaders of the B.A. Honours Program in Sociology, Industrial Sociology and Urban Studies at the University of Johannesburg, SA, will discuss their insights and experiences in developing a program in sociological practice. Specific attention will be paid to curriculum development, the incorporation of learning objectives into courses, and the assessment and evaluation of program goals and student learning outcomes for continuous quality improvement.