Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling

Admissions | Performance Outcome | Accreditation | Academic Advising | Practicum and Internship

The Counseling program offers the Master of Arts Degree accredited by the CACREP. The mission of the graduate program in rehabilitation counseling is to provide a graduate education that will prepare students to meet the needs of a culturally diverse community and increase the number of well-trained, competent counseling professionals. At UDC, a shared multicultural perspective among students and faculty shapes the learning environment. Students are acutely aware of the impact of healthcare disparities among lower-income, minority populations. To that end, they are committed to working with disabled individuals from underserved and underrepresented populations. Students and faculty also embrace the approach of healing the whole person, the family, and the community at large. The Counseling Unit, which embraces the core values of the institution, will fulfill its mission by providing students with an education that integrates theory and practice by maintaining excellence in teaching, supporting faculty development, and ensuring that the curriculum reflects the changing needs of a highly technological and multiethnic society.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate mastery reflecting the following core competencies:

• Clearly articulate understanding of professional identity, code of ethics and legislative issues that are core principles of the profession
• Integrate behavior health services addressing psychosocial and medical aspects that impact functioning.
• Employ multicultural counseling competencies that reflect diversity perspectives.
• Demonstrate an understanding and a working knowledge of human development across the life span.
• Demonstrate counseling skills that includes diagnostic processes, case management, job-development and placement, advocacy, integration of assistive technology, and integrating family systems applications.
• Demonstrate competency in working with counseling groups
• Application of evidenced-based practices as identified in research and competently perform social science research and program evaluations.
• Demonstrate effectiveness in providing vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities, including private rehabilitation, community-based rehabilitation programs, and the state/federal vocational rehabilitation program in the United States that facilitate recovery and successful rehabilitation outcomes.

Curriculum

Graduate-level coursework in rehabilitation counseling includes theoretical and applied training in several course areas: foundation of rehabilitation, psycho-social and medical aspects of disabilities, career theories and development, appraisal, social and cultural foundations, research and evaluation, counseling techniques, assistive technology, case management, diagnosis & treatment planning and ethical and legal issues. In addition, students are required to complete 9 credit hours of supervised clinical experience in counseling.

Graduates of the program are employed in rehabilitation agencies, educational, judicial, mental health and drug treatment facilities, as well as in government and corporate settings throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  Many graduates have successfully passed state license board exams, certification exams, or have entered advanced training programs.

The Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling includes a curriculum of 60 semester credit hours which include mostly face-to-face classes.

Program of Study, PDF | DOC

Course Descriptions

Practicum and Internship

Related:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• Learn more about applying for admissions to the rehabilitation counseling master’s program
• Find out about scholarship opportunities for the rehabilitation counseling master’s degree students
• Office of Graduate Studies

Student Organizations and Activities in the UDC Counseling Program

The Graduate Counseling Club organizes activities designed to enhance the professional identity of students as professional counselors, including Licensure Professional Counseling (LPC) post-graduate exam preparation, career planning and leadership opportunities.

Chi Sigma Iota is an international honor society for qualified graduate students, professional counselors, and counselor educators. The organization was founded to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership, advocacy and excellence in counseling.

Students are encouraged to become student members of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and/or the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). Students majoring in school counseling are encouraged to become student members of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Students majoring in rehabilitation counseling are also encouraged to become student members of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE), the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), or the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA). Student membership in these organizations offers opportunities for educational and professional development and leadership opportunities for students to develop as a professional counselor.

Faculty Spotlight: UDC Rehabilitation Counseling Programs

• Faculty in the Division of Education, Health, and Social Work
• Find Faculty in the University Directory

The admissions committee reviews candidate applications for entrance into the Fall term. Graduate students are selected from the candidate pool. Students who are admitted must attend the new student orientation and receive their initial program advising. The average estimated time for completion of the 60-credit hour program is 2.5 years for students enrolled full-time.

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• 2023 CACREP Vital Statistics (PDF)
• 2022 CACREP Vital Statistics (PDF)
• 2021-2022 Annual Report (PDF)

Rehabilitation Counseling Program Student Outcome Rates – Academic Year 2022-2024

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The Rehabilitation Counseling Degree is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The accreditation runs through October 2023 (Note: The Rehabilitation Counseling program was first accredited by CORE in 2014).  Since the merger of CACREP and CORE, the program has been accredited by CACREP since July 1, 2017.

Accreditation Status

Certification

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) after completing 75% of program coursework. The CRC exam is the graduate program’s comprehensive exam. After successful completion of this examination, the individual will be credentialed as Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
Information concerning CRC certification can be obtained through CRCC at:

Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
1699 E. Woodfield Road Suite 300
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847.944.1325 (p)
847.944.1346 (f)
info@crccertification.com

Licensure

Graduates of the 60-credit-hour program are also eligible to prepare for state licensure as a licensed professional counselor. Graduates are advised to contact the state of interest, Board of Licensing for specific postgraduate, clinical experience requirements and state licensure examination requirements.

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Faculty advisors are available during registration periods, office hours, and by appointment to assist students with course selection. Advisors are also available to respond to concerns relative to personal and professional development. Office hours are posted on office doors and can be found in the course syllabus.  Students are encouraged to make appointments for comprehensive academic advising or counseling. Registration periods are extremely busy and generally used for course selection, with limited time to discuss program requirements and academic problems.

Although the faculty is available to aid, it is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with program requirements, course descriptions, and academic policies and procedures.  Faculty are responsible for assessing student suitability for the program. If evaluations of student academic performance and other areas of concern indicate that the program is not a suitable choice, the student will be advised to pursue another field. The faculty member will aid the student with their transition from the program. The faculty also reserves the right to make program changes that reflect compliance with university policies and state and national credentialing requirements.

Students are advised that a felony conviction can affect the graduate’s capability to take the CRC or the state licensure exam.

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