Division of Counseling and Rehabilitation Science - M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling

In IIT's Council of Rehabilitation Education (CORE)-accredited M.S. program in Rehabilitation Counseling, you will receive outstanding and intensive training in all aspects of rehabilitation psychology. Ranked 9th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2011, the program will prepare you for a career in Rehabilitation Counseling practice. This is a rapidly-growing field that will provide you with many employment opportunities.

Mission and Objectives
The mission of the Division of Counseling and Rehabilitation Science is to prepare counselors who perform a vital role in the vocational, educational and personal adjustment of persons with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. The Rehabilitation Counseling Program prepares prospective rehabilitation counselors for employment in numerous settings including state federal rehabilitation agencies, private rehabilitation services, hospitals, correctional institutions, public schools, rehabilitation centers, social service agencies, and other organizations serving persons with mental, emotional, social or physical disabilities. It also provides advanced training for persons presently employed in agencies and facilities offering services to persons with disabilities.

There are two related objectives which are primary to the training program mission:

1. To train individuals in knowledge most relevant to the practice of rehabilitation counseling: counseling and evaluation skills, rehabilitation theory and research methodology; knowledge about occupations and job demands; medical and psychosocial implications of disabling conditions; case management skills utilizing community resources and multi disciplinary approach.

2. To develop mature, capable professionals who are able to relate constructively to clients, to understand normal and deviant behavior, demonstrate therapeutic interactive skills, and to facilitate the client's development of problem solving skills.

Coursework for the program includes core counseling courses (e.g., Theories of Psychotherapy) and rehabilitation-specific coursework (e.g., Vocational Assessment and Evaluation). These will provide you with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to Rehabilitation Counseling practice. You may also choose to pursue a specialization in either Psychiatric Rehabilitation or Assistive Technology. These programs allow you to develop expertise in one area of Rehabilitation Counseling.

Practica and internships will prepare you for work as a practitioner and provide you with valuable contacts in the field. They also allow you to learn skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. Your practica and internships will take place at rehabilitation and social service agencies in the Chicago area. You will begin working with clients in community facilities in the second semester and continue hands-on supervised experience throughout your second year. (Recent placements include the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs, and Chicago Lighthouse.)

Licensure is an important part of counseling practice. As an IIT Rehabilitation Counseling graduate, you will be eligible to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), a distinguished certificate recognized nationwide. You will also be eligible to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. Illinois accepts the CRC examination as a qualifying professional counselor licensure exam.

Part-time Program
If you are a Rehabilitation professional who currently provides direct service in community facilities and agencies, you may be interested in our working professionals program. This program takes applicants every two years, with the next cohort beginning Fall 2013.

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Curriculum/Course Information
Required courses and typical program of study
M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling Program Manual 2012-2014 (pdf)
Forms for Current Students
Program Outcomes Documentation

Eligibility for the Program
The College of Psychology accepts applications for Fall entrance only. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. However, applications and supporting documents must be received by March 15. Minimum requirements for admission include:

Bachelor's degree with general psychology courses
Minimum GPA 3.0
Letters of recommendation (3 - 2 academic, 1 employer)
Professional statement
Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions

All applications are evaluated on the basis of such factors as GPA, recommendations, and the professional statement. (GRE scores are not required.) Finalists will be contacted for a personal interview.

RSA Scholarship
A federal grant funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration provides training scholarships to qualified students enrolled in the master's Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Information on the RSA scholarship can be found here.

CORE Accreditation
IIT's Rehabilitation Counseling MS program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). For more information on CORE accreditation, please visit http://www.core-rehab.org or write to the address below.

Council on Rehabilitation Education
300 N. Martingale Road, Suite 460
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847.944.1345
Fax: 847.944.1324
Email: mkuehn@emporia.edu