Program Learning Objectives:

• ??? Become familiar with the requirements for a certified rehabilitation counselor, the body of literature and research that is central to the field, and professional preparation standards which impact the field as a whole.
• ??? Become familiar with the typical characteristics of individuals and communities served by a variety of institutions and agencies that offer rehabilitation counseling services.
• ??? Develop knowledge and understanding of models, methods, and principles of program development and service delivery for a clientele based on assumptions of human and organizational development, including prevention, implementation of support groups, peer facilitation training, parent education, career/occupational information and counseling, and encouragement of self-help through coursework and supervised clinical experiences aimed at the acquisition of skills and the development of competencies related to the provision of services to people with disabilities
• ??? Learn to develop effective strategies for promoting client understanding of and access to community resources.
• ??? Develop knowledge and application of principles and models of biopsychosocial assessment, case conceptualization, theories of human development and concepts of normalcy and psychopathology leading to diagnoses and appropriate counseling plans through coursework and supervised clinical experiences aimed at the acquisition of skills and the development of competencies related to the provision of services to people with disabilities
• ??? Acquire knowledge of the principles of diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic tools, including the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
• ??? Learn to develop effective strategies for client advocacy in public policy and other matters of equity and accessibility.
• ??? Develop knowledge and application of appropriate individual, couple, family, group, and systems modalities for initiating, maintaining, and terminating counseling, including the use of crisis intervention, and brief, intermediate, and long-term approaches.
• ??? Acquire an understanding of ethical and legal considerations related specifically to the practice of rehabilitation counseling.

Program Overview:?

The Master of Education specializing in Rehabilitation Counseling at Ohio University is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). By maintaining CORE accreditation, the program strives to provide the highest quality of faculty and curriculum standards. The master?s program in Rehabilitation counseling consists of core coursework in counseling required for all counseling majors, including coursework in theory and techniques, appraisal, human development, research methodology, and group counseling.

The Rehabilitation counseling specialization requires additional coursework in foundations of rehabilitation, medical issues, psychosocial aspects of disability, and job development and placement. All students must complete a supervised practicum of 100 hours and an internship of 600 hours in an appropriate setting under the supervision of a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC). Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Upon successful completion of the academic requirements in the Rehabilitation Counseling program, the Counselor Education program will formally endorse the student for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)certification and/or employment appropriate to the rehabilitation counseling specialization.

Concentrations:

Students completing the rehabilitation counseling specialization may elect to complete coursework for specializations in other areas such a school counseling or rehabilitation counseling. This would require additional coursework and practicum and internship experiences.

Opportunities for Graduates:

Graduates will be eligible to apply for positions as certified rehabilitation counselors in organizations such as the Veteran?s Administration and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. Graduates with the CRC are eligible to apply for positions nationally.