Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision

About the Program

Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision is a specialization of the Disability Disciplines doctoral degree housed in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling in the College of Education. Rehabilitation Counseling has a dual identity, that of an allied health profession as well as a specialized area of general counseling. This is an on-site program, with most coursework and mentoring occurring in-person on the campus of Utah State University in Logan, Utah. 

The primary aim of this specialization is the preparation of professors for university programs in rehabilitation counseling and closely related fields. We expect the majority of Ph.D. graduates from our specialization will enter academic positions in colleges and universities, while others will enter research, administration, and clinical practice positions at universities, government agencies, and public and private rehabilitation agencies.

The degree is a 61-credit program. Training for this specialization is focused on professional roles in five doctoral core areas:

1. Counseling
2. Supervision
3. Teaching
4. Research and Scholarship
5. Leadership and Advocacy

It includes academic instruction in rehabilitation counselor education core areas (professional issues, leadership and advocacy; assessment; counseling and intervention; disability and human behavior; and college teaching and supervision), as well as supervised experience in clinical practice, clinical supervision, college teaching, research, and leadership and advocacy. All students will also receive extensive training in measurement, statistics, and research design. A diverse array of experiences and opportunities are also provided to complement and enhance student development. Research opportunities are plentiful and varied, with several projects always in progress. 

Program Mission and Goals 

The mission of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision specialization is to create, integrate, and disseminate new knowledge, theory, and research related to the health, well-being, and community participation of people with disabilities. Specialization faculty accomplish this mission by (a) preparing leaders, including researchers, university faculty, educators, practitioners, and clinicians; (b) conducting research and other scholarly activities to expand the knowledge base; and (c) serving as resources and advocates for people with disabilities and their families by working cooperatively with individuals, their families, public and private service delivery agencies, and schools as well as by actively participating in local, state, national, and international professional organizations.

The USU Rehabilitation Counselor Education and Supervision program recruits, admits, assists, and retains all qualified students who contribute to the general needs of the rehabilitation field and persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on recruiting those who are able to appreciate and understand the experiences of those who have been marginalized in society. The program is dedicated to the preparation of practitioners who will provide rehabilitation counselor education and supervision in accordance with the standards outlined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as well as adhering to the legal and ethical considerations outlined in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Code of Professional Ethics and Scope of Practice.

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