ACCREDITATION
Institutional Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Specialized Accreditation
- ACU’s Primary and Secondary Education programs are accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International. ACU’s Master of Arts in Education is under review by ACSI, accreditation is pending.
State Licensure
- The Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE)
PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Affiliations
- Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)
- International Alliance for Christian Education (IACE)
Memberships
- The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
- The Arizona Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (AASFAA)
- The Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA)
- The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
- The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Arizona (ICUA)
- North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP)
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
- Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC)
- Frontier Conference (football) (NAIA)
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- American Council on Education (ACE)
- Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges (ABACC)
- Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
- College & University Personnel Association for Human Services (CUPA-HR)
- Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
- Citygate Network
Post Graduate Affiliations
- Cedarville University Graduate School
- Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS)
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
- Midwestern University
- Phoenix Seminary
Program-Specific Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure
Some of ACU’s degree programs have program-specific accreditations, certifications, or licensures. These are represented in the table below. Programs not included in the table below do not have additional accreditation, certifications, or licensures.
| ACU Program Name | Accreditation, Certification, or Licensure |
| Graduate Programs | |
| Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy | ACU’s Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy program is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners for meeting the requirement of LAMFT and LMFT licenses in the state of Arizona. To review this documentation, visit https://www.azbbhe.us/node/553 |
| Master of Arts in Education Concentration in Instructional Leadership |
ACU’s Master of Arts in Education: Instructional Leadership Programs are accredited by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). States vary in their certification requirements. ACU has made reasonable, good faith efforts to determine if its certified education programs meet the applicable education requirement for professional licensure or certification in all fifty states and several U.S. territories. This information can be accessed on the Professional Licensure General Notifications document linked in the Consumer Information web page. The Instructional Leadership concentration has three specific areas of emphasis: Instructional Coaching, Special Education, and Bible. Instructional Coaching qualifies you to come alongside teachers to help improve instruction at your school. The Special Education Emphasis may lead to Arizona Certification in Mild-Moderate Disabilities (Endorsement). The Bible Emphasis strengthens biblical knowledge and can lead to ACSI (Association of Christian School International) Certification. See the Education website for additional Education Program Benefits. Students can contact the program director for program-specific accreditation, approval, or licensure documentation. |
| Master of Arts in Education Concentration in Teaching and Learning |
ACU’s Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Learning Programs are ADE (Arizona Department of Education) approved and accredited by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). States vary in their certification requirements. ACU has made reasonable, good faith efforts to determine if its certified education programs meet the applicable education requirement for professional licensure or certification in all fifty states and several U.S. territories. This information can be accessed on the Professional Licensure General Notifications document linked in the Consumer Information web page. Students enrolled in the MAEd in Teaching and Learning can become Arizona certified teachers. They may choose from emphases in Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon completion of their degree requirements, and with the required GPA met, students will be issued an Institutional Recommendation (IR), as well as a document that can be redeemed for ACSI certification. See the Education website for additional Education Program Benefits. Students can contact the program director for program-specific accreditation, approval, or licensure documentation. |
| Undergraduate Programs | |
| Bachelor of Arts in Child Development | ACU is recognized as an institution that provides required coursework for Child Life Specialist certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). |
| Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies Including: Concentration in Early Childhood Concentration in Marriage & Family
|
ACU’s Family Studies programs with concentrations in marriage & family and early childhood are approved by the National Council on Family Relations and meets the requirements to prepare students to demonstrate knowledge in the 10 Family Life Education content areas to become a certified family life educator (CFLE). A degree in Family Studies from ACU is sufficient for students to be certified family life educators in all states in the U.S. and Canada. Students can view the checklist(s) of coursework that has been approved by NCFR to meet the CFLE requirements. https://www.ncfr.org/cfle-certification/become-certified/cfle-approved-application |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs | |
| Elementary Education Secondary Education |
ACU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs in Education are ADE (Arizona Department of Education) approved and accredited by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). States vary in their certification requirements. ACU has made reasonable, good faith efforts to determine if its certified education programs meet the applicable education requirement for professional licensure or certification in all fifty states and several U.S. territories. This information can be accessed on the Professional Licensure General Notifications document linked in the Consumer Information web page. Students enrolled in the Education Programs can become Arizona certified teachers. They may choose from emphases in Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon completion of their degree requirements, and with the required GPA met, students will be issued an Institutional Recommendation (IR), as well as a document that can be redeemed for ACSI certification. See the Education website for additional Education Program Benefits. Students can contact the program director for program-specific accreditation, approval, or licensure documentation. |
Questions About Admissions?
Contact the Office of Admissions at (602) 489-5300