Master of Science Program Mission & Objectives
The Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling was developed to meet a growing demand for professionally trained bilingual counselors in public and private rehabilitation agencies, mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation agencies, substance abuse centers and in industry. Rehabilitation counselors, through case findings and referrals, assessment, counseling, and job placement activities, assist persons with physical, intellectual, mental, and/or emotional disabilities to adapt/adjust to their vocational and personal lives. Program faculty prepare students for a professional career in rehabilitation counseling with the diversity to work in a variety of settings. Consistent with the Program's mission are the following objectives:
- To provide a comprehensive base of knowledge in the areas of socio-cultural foundations, individual and group counseling theory, medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, case management, job placement, rehabilitation research and vocational evaluation.
- To provide an experiential background for conceptualizing and implementing strategies, techniques and therapeutic procedures for individual, group, and family counseling within a multicultural context.
- To provide opportunities to develop an ethical and legal responsibility toward the counseling profession through appropriate readings, ethical case study simulation exercises, and personal experiences.
- To provide opportunities for self-development through course work, research, laboratory experiences, group and rehabilitation club interaction and facilitation, and supervised practicum and internship experiences.
- To provide support for professional development through inservice and other continuing educational programs, ready access to a variety of current professional literature and journals in rehabilitation counseling.
- To provide through classroom activities, access and skill building in relation to computer technology; specifically the world wide web, internet, CD-ROM, and other rehabilitation related software introduced via multimedia.
- To provide a working knowledge of the community social service system and how agencies refer and work with one another.
- To provide opportunities to conduct appropriate case intakes, assessments and develop IWRP treatment plans with familiarity with references such as the DSM-IV or other diagnostic resources.
- To provide opportunities to develop a strong sense of professional identity as a rehabilitation counselor through readings, exposure to experts in the field via conferences/teleconferences, membership and participation in state and national counseling associations (VRA, TRA, ARCA, NRCA, ACA, NRA, NARPPS).
- To provide the didactic and clinical experiences necessary to become competent Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) and meet the academic course requirements for License as a Professional Counselor (LPC).
