The Rehabilitation Counseling program provides students with the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and to become eligible to take the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination. The program welcomes employees of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, non-traditional students, students with disabilities, and students who are traditionally underrepresented.
Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals who are disabled with obtaining competitive employment and/or achieving independent living goals. Rehabilitation counselors have a multifaceted role that includes vocational services, case management, job development, and placement counseling. The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) is the accrediting body for graduate level rehabilitation counseling programs.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program (MRC) is to prepare graduates who are skilled, knowledgeable and effective practitioners and/or successful in advanced studies to become leaders in the field of rehabilitation.
Learning Outcomes
- Obtain the necessary academic credentials for testing eligibility to take the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam.
- Demonstrate background knowledge and understanding of the rehabilitation process based on a holistic, comprehensive service-to-people with disabilities concept.
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to assess, analyze, plan, and implement actions needed to facilitate employment and independent living services to people with disabilities.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize appropriate job technology and accommodations for employees with disabilities.
- Demonstrate the ability to establish effective, person-centered counseling relationships with service team members and consumers with disabilities.
- Demonstrate ethical behaviors as required of professionals in the field of rehabilitation counseling.
- Facilitate interactions with consumers that exemplify multicultural knowledge, respect for diversity, and professionalism.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for acceptance into the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling (MS) program, the applicant must have:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- A recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7
- An interview with graduate faculty, faculty from the Rehabilitation Counseling program, and representatives of public, community, or private rehabilitation.
First priority for admission will be given to applicants who currently work as rehabilitation couselors, work in the field of rehabilitative services, or plan to seek employment as rehabilitation counselors.
Application Deadline
Admission application deadline for fall (August) enrollment is April 15th.
Admission application deadline for spring (January) enrollment is November 15th.
Admission application deadline for summer (May) enrollment is April 1st.
Transfer Credits
In accordance with the policy of the School of Graduate Studies at Winston-Salem State University and the national accreditation standards for Master’s programs in Rehabilitation Counseling, applicants may be allowed to transfer up to nine (9) credit hours from an accredited graduate school program. Courses from undergraduate programs are not accepted for transfer into the MSRC program.
Degree Requirements
A total of fifty-one (51) credit hours with seven hundred (700) practicum and internship hours are required for the MSRC program. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing and complete the Certified Rehabilitation Counseling Exam and a thesis/project.
Time Limits for Completion
The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling curriculum may be completed in a minimum of two (2) years of full-time study (at least 9-12 credit hours per semester) and one 8-week summer session (6 credit hours total). A student may not take longer than six (6) years to complete the curriculum.
Professional Work Requirements
In addition to completing the coursework for obtaining an MSRC degree, students are also required to complete a 100 clock-hour practicum and a 600 clock-hour internship in an approved internship site under University supervision.
Career Opportunities
Rehabilitation counselors work in diverse settings, such as state and federal departments of rehabilitation services, independent living centers, special education/transition programs, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, developmental disability programs, substance abuse programs, hospitals, disability management programs in business and industry, and other private and public agencies.
Course of Study
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Faculty
| Chad J. Betters |
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
| B.A., University of North Florida; M.H.S., Ph.D., University of Florida |
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| Robert Dawson |
Adjunct Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling Assistive Technology Laboratory |
| B.S., M.S., Appalachian State University; Ph.D., University of Iowa |
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| Yolanda V. Edwards |
Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling Graduate Program Coordinator |
B.S., South Carolina State University; M.D.E.,
University of Maryland University College;
M.A., South Carolina State University; Ph.D., University of Iowa |
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| L’Tanya T. Fish |
Adjunct Instructor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
| B.S. Lenoir-Rhyne College; M.A., Gallaudet University |
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| Georgia Gulledge |
Adjunct Instructor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
B.A. North Carolina State University;
M.A. University of North Carolina-Charlotte |
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| Eva M. Houston |
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
B.S., Guilford College; M.Div., Candler School of Theology;
M.S., University of Louisville; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin |
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| Robyn L. Lowery |
Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling
& Fieldwork Coordinator |
B.S., Fayetteville State University;
M.A., George Washington University |
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| William A. Philadelphia |
Adjunct Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
B.S., Park University; M.S., Columbus State University;
Ph.D., Auburn University |
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| Shawn A. Ricks |
Adjunct Instructor of Rehabilitation Counseling |
| B.A., M.Ed., The Pennsylvania State University |
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