Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master's degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
All programs are also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
About CCNE
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. A specialized/professional accrediting agency, CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs preparing effective nurses. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing education programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education.”
CCNE accreditation aims to accomplish the following:
- Hold nursing education programs accountable to the community of interest—the nursing profession, consumers, employers, higher education, and students and their families—and to one another by ensuring that these programs have mission statements and goals and outcomes that are appropriate for programs preparing individuals to enter the field of nursing
- Evaluate the success of a nursing education program in achieving its mission, goals, and outcomes
- Assess the extent to which a nursing education program meets accreditation standards
- Inform the public of the purposes and values of accreditation and to identify nursing education programs that meet accreditation standards
- Foster continuing improvement in nursing education programs—and thereby in professional practice
Master of Public Health
The University of San Francisco Master of Public Health Program housed in the School of Nursing and Health Professions received notice on January 7, 2020 that the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH) has granted full accreditation status for the USF public health graduate program. Accreditation status is awarded for seven years through December 31, 2026.
The goal of CEPH is “to enhance health in human populations through organized community effort.” CEPH’s focus is the improvement of health through the assurance of professional personnel who are able to identify, prevent, and solve community health problems.
The objectives of CEPH are as follows:
- Promote quality in public health education through a continuing process of self-evaluation by the schools and programs that seek accreditation
- Assure the public that institutions offering graduate instruction in public health have been evaluated and judged to meet standards essential for the conduct of such educational programs
- Encourage—through periodic review, consultation, research, publications, and other means—improvements in the quality of education for public health
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD in Clinical Psychology)
The Program is accredited, on contingency by the American Psychological Association (APA). This status, available to new doctoral programs, is effective beginning 07/22/18 and was granted for five years. In the fall of 2021, APA’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) will review outcome data for students in the program and program graduates via a self-study and site visit, after which the program will be reviewed for full accreditation status.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
The Program is also accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and has Associate Member status in the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP).
Graduates of the PsyD program at USF, once they have completed required postdoctoral hours, are eligible for to apply for licensure in California (and other states) as psychologists.