Rehabilitation Counseling, MSEd

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Associate Professor Nerlich, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-6492

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 Admission. The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 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 - Semester Hours: 6

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

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 51

Area 1. Rehabilitation Core Courses - Semester Hours: 36

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

Area 2. Internship - Semester Hours: 12

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

Area 3. Electives, under advisement - Semester Hours: 3

Students may select one of the following courses to satisfy the elective requirement.

CMHP 203 - Foundation of Transition Semester Hours: 3
CMHP 204 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Community Partnerships Semester Hours: 3
CMHP 205 - Individualized Services for Diverse Student Needs Semester Hours: 3
CMHP 206 - Process and Techniques in Transition Semester Hours: 3
CMHP 249 - Motivation and Emotion in Education and Counseling-Based Contexts Semester Hours: 3
COUN 211 - Principles and Practices of Addiction Counseling Semester Hours: 3
COUN 262 - Treatment Planning in Mental Health Counseling Semester Hours: 3
COUN 278 - Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counseling Semester Hours: 3
COUN 301 - Counseling for Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Response Semester Hours: 3

Area 4. Comprehensive Case Study Portfolio and Oral Defense (no credit)

Prior to graduation, students are required to complete a written comprehensive case study portfolio assigned to them by the Rehabilitation Counseling faculty. Students build their case utilizing standards set forth by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Upon completion of the portfolio, students must orally defend the case study before the Rehabilitation Counseling faculty.

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