Rehabilitation Counseling, M.S.Ed.

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Associate Professor Lechowicz, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-5786, Joseph.S.Lechowicz@hofstra.edu

The Master of Science in Education in Rehabilitation Counseling is designed to prepare students as professional counselors with specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to assist persons with disabilities toward achieving their personal, social, psychological and vocational independence including appropriate employment and independent living. The program includes specialty courses by which students prepare for working in mental health and other specialized settings. Graduates work in a variety of rehabilitation settings including state-federal rehabilitation agencies, mental health centers, medical centers, private rehabilitation agencies, Veteran’s Administration hospitals, substance abuse programs, independent living programs, insurance companies, private practice or other organizations serving persons with mental, emotional, social and physical disabilities.

Prospective students with baccalaureate degrees can complete the comprehensive curriculum in two academic years. Acceleration is possible with the approved transfer of a maximum of 12 appropriate course credits. Part-time and nonmatriculated students, as well as those preparing for the CRC, are accepted.

Extensive fieldwork is an essential component of the academic training program. A number of rehabilitation facilities in the Long Island and New York metropolitan areas provide prepracticum, practicum and internship experiences and training.

The program has an outstanding record of graduates employed in the field; job placement and in-service education of graduates are actively promoted by the faculty. Application to the program is made through the Office of Graduate Admissions. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education and advanced students are eligible for certification as Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC).

Note: National Rehabilitation Association, National Rehabilitation Counseling Association or American Counseling Association sponsored liability insurance is strongly recommended for internship students. This insurance provides coverage while performing professional duties as a rehabilitation counselor in training. Information may be obtained from the Graduate Program Director.

Admission Requirements

Completion, with an acceptable grade point average, of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution.
Personal interview with department member.
Educational and professional references (four).
Voluntary or paid work experience in rehabilitation or with individuals with disabilities preferred.
Written statement of career goals.

Program Advisement

All matriculated students are required to meet with a department faculty advisor and complete a Graduate Student Advisement Record following admission to the program. A student may apply to the Program Director for modification of his or her program to 45 semester hours if either of the following is satisfied: The student can verify that he/she is working as a “rehabilitation counselor”; or the student possesses an undergraduate major in “Rehabilitation Services” of 24 semester hours or more from an accredited college/university.

Prerequisite Requirements, 6 s.h.

Two courses from the following areas may be taken concurrently with beginning level courses or may have been taken as part of undergraduate work. Prerequisite courses do not carry degree credit.

    •   Developmental Psychology
    •   Personality Theory
    •   Abnormal Psychology
    •   Statistics

Area 1. Rehabilitation Core Courses: 36 s.h.

COUN 210 - Counseling and Helping Relationships Semester Hours: 3
COUN 227 - Counseling for Career and Life Planning Semester Hours: 3
or REHB 268 - Occupational Information and Vocational Development in Rehabilitation
COUN 270 - Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling Semester Hours: 3
or REHB 231 - Techniques and Theories in Rehabilitation
COUN 277 - Group Counseling Semester Hours: 3
CRSR 246 - Appraisal and Assessment in Counseling and the Helping Professions Semester Hours: 3
or REHB 242 - Psychoeducational Assessment in Rehabilitation
MFT 204 - Individual and Family Life Cycle Development Semester Hours: 3
REHB 230 - Philosophy and Principles of Vocational Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
REHB 231 - Techniques and Theories in Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
or COUN 270
REHB 232 - Medical Information in Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
REHB 233 - Job Placement and Development in Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
REHB 236 - Practicum: Rehabilitation Counseling Semester Hours: 3
REHB 242 - Psychoeducational Assessment in Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
or CRSR 246 - Appraisal and Assessment in Counseling and the Helping Professions
REHB 267 - Rehabilitation Counseling for Persons With Severe Disability Semester Hours: 3
or SPED 249 - Understanding Physical, Sensory and Health Disabilities
REHB 268 - Occupational Information and Vocational Development in Rehabilitation Semester Hours: 3
or COUN 227 - Counseling for Career and Life Planning
RES 258 - Understanding Research Methodology Semester Hours: 3
SPED 249 - Understanding Physical, Sensory and Health Disabilities Semester Hours: 3
or REHB 267 - Rehabilitation Counseling for Persons with Severe Disabilities

Area 2. Internship: 12 s.h.

REHB 234 - Internship: Rehabilitation Counseling I Semester Hours: 6
REHB 235 - Internship: Rehabilitation Counseling II Semester Hours: 6

Area 3. Electives, under advisement: 3–12 s.h.

Area 4. Written comprehensive examination (no credit)

Written comprehensive examination (no credit) or oral examination by a screening committee of departmental members and consultants (no credit).

Substitution for some courses may be made with permission

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