Program Description

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. MSRC program is accredited by CORE.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program (MSRC) is to advance the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to work with persons who have physical, mental or emotional disabilities.

Learning Outcomes

• Obtain the necessary academic credentials for testing eligibility to take the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam.

• Demonstrate the skills necessary to access, 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.

Application Deadlines

• 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; therefore the program does not provide an equivalency provisions.

Degree Requirements

A total of sixty (60) 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 10- week summer session (9 credit hours total).

Courses

REH 5301 - Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling

  REH 5302 - Theories and Techniques of Counseling

  REH 5303 - Group Counseling

  REH 5304 - Vocational Assessment

  REH 5308 - Practicum

  REH 5309 - Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling

  REH 5310 - Culture & Disability

  REH 5311 - Introduction to Public Vocational Rehab

REH 5312 - Rural Rehab in Public Sector

  REH 5313 - Transition from School to Work

REH 5314 - Counseling Persons/Deaf/Hear

  REH 5315 - Advanced Vocational Evaluation

REH 5325 - Career Decision-Making in Rural Settings

REH 5316 - Special Topics in Rehab Counseling

REH 5318 - Helping Relationships & Techniques in Counseling

REH 6120 - Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling

REH 6301 - Vocational Placement

REH 6302 - Case Management & Vocational Rehabilitation Services Planning

REH 6304 - Human Growth and Development

REH 6306 - Research & Program Evaluation Methods

REH 6307 - Psychosocial & Cultural Diversity Issues

REH 6310 - Project/Rehabilitation Counseling

REH 6311 - Thesis/Rehabilitation Counseling

  REH 6313 - Vocational Evaluation/Transition

  REH 6314 - Family Collaboration/Intervention

  REH 6315 - Vocational Evaluation/Deaf & Hard/Hearing

REH 6316 - Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness

REH 6317 - Aural Rehabilitation

REH 6901 - Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling

  REH 7130 - Extension of Project/ Thesis in Rehabilitation Counseling

Areas of Emphasis (Electives)

MSRC program has four areas of emphasis: Rural VR, Transition, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Vocational Evaluation. Each emphasis area requires 9-15 credits of electives.

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. The internship can be completed in two semesters with 300 hours per semester.

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.

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 cumulative 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 counselors, work in the field of rehabilitative services, or plan to seek employment as rehabilitation counselors.