What degrees are offered?
We offer a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC).
How do I apply?
Apply online through the School of Graduate Studies.
What are the admission deadlines?
Applications for the MRC program are due by October 15 for spring semester admission, and March 15th for fall semester admission.
Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required?
No, the GRE is no longer necessary as a component of the application.
What are the minimum requirements for admission?
3.00 GPA over the last 60 semester hours, three letters of recommendation, all transcripts, and letter of intent.
What does a rehabilitation counselor do?
A rehabilitation counselor is a counselor who specializes in disability, employment, and social inclusion. They are tasked specifically with helping individuals with disabilities achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals by addressing barriers and through the use of the counseling process. Rehabilitation counselors are found in a variety of settings, and their specific daily tasks will vary by setting. The Scope of Practice statement as established by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) states the following: Rehabilitation counseling is a systematic process that assists persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals in the most integrated setting possible through the application of the counseling process. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and beneficial growth or change through self-advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions. The specific techniques and modalities utilized within this rehabilitation counseling process may include, but are not limited to:
- Assessment and appraisal
- Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Career (vocational) counseling
- Individual and group counseling treatment interventions focused on facilitating adjustments to the medical and psychosocial impact of disability
- Case management, referral, and service coordination
- Program evaluation and research
- Interventions to remove environmental, employment, and attitudinal barriers
- Consultation services among multiple parties and regulatory systems
- Job analysis, job development, and placement services, including assistance with employment and job accommodations
- Provision of consultation about and access to rehabilitation technology
https://crccertification.com/scope-of-practice/
Where do Rehabilitation Counselors work?
Rehabilitation counselors have a unique skill set that adds value across a variety of work settings. Rehabilitation counselors are most commonly found in the following work settings:
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Veteran’s Affairs agencies
- Community rehabilitation programs
- High school settings specializing in transition youth and youth with disabilities
- College disability resource centers
- Mental health and psychiatric institutions
- Legal settings requiring expert witness testimony
What is the Job Outlook for rehabilitation counselors?
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm), rehabilitation counselors are in high demand, and expected to grow by 10% from 2019 to 2029. This is much faster than what is expected for job growth in general.
What did the past year look like for students enrolled in the program?
There has been a lot of concern about how education programs have delivered their coursework during the COVID 19 pandemic. As our program is distance-based, there was little to no interruption in the delivery of courses. Some adjustments were made (there is a typically an on-campus requirement) to allow students to continue towards graduation with little to no delays. We do no envision any difficulty in navigating the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic given the delivery style of the program.
What are the qualities of a successful rehabilitation counselor?
Rehabilitation counselors work with people with disabilities, a marginalized group within society. As such, they are aware of their own values, beliefs, and privilege within society. They advocate for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all areas of society, and so need to be kind, compassionate, and courageous. O*Net Online indicates rehabilitation counselors should be able to have concern for others, personal integrity, dependability, persistence, and more (https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1015.00#WorkStyles). They should value personal relationships and typically score high on the Social and Investigative areas of occupational assessments measuring Holland’s Occupational Codes.
How large is the USU MRC Program?
Enrollment varies from year to year, with the program serving both students seeking a master’s degree as well as students seeking an alternative certification route for the CRC exam available through CRCC (Category 3 - https://crccertification.com/get-certified/). Presently (Fall of 2021), there are 45 degree-seeking students, with an additional 19 students beginning their program in the Fall 2021 semester. There are 56 students taking coursework for the Category 3 option with CRCC. Students have been consistently served by the USU MRC program from the first cohort enrolled in 1989 to the present.
Are courses taught in the evening?
Courses are typically taught in the evening from 4:30-7:00 or 5:15-7:45 once a week. If we need to offer two courses in one day, start times for a course may be later in the evening (e.g., 7:15-9:45 pm).
What is coursework like?
The coursework is delivered via distance education in both live-broadcast (via Zoom) and asynchronous delivery methods. The USU MRC program is meant to be thought-provoking and challenging, but also manageable. Enrollment options vary from full-time to quarter-time, and a program of study is available for your review to know when courses are offered and the sequence in which you should enroll. The program is meant to prepare you for a career in rehabilitation counseling and to prepare you for certification exams often required for licensure and employment.
Where do I take courses?
Distance students take courses at their home or office. On-campus students attend courses in-person in the Education Building. Live, interactive courses are streamed through the Internet in a Zoom classroom. Students need only an Internet connection with a microphone and video.
Can I complete my entire program at a distance? Do I have to travel to Logan?
All courses are offered via distance education (Zoom classroom or online/asynchronous). There are no on-campus attendance requirements.
How long does it take to finish the program?
Students can go at their own pace through the program. Full-tiime students can complete in 5 semesters (20 months), Part-time in 8 semesters (32 months), or ¼ time in 11 semesters (44 months).
Can I take classes before I am admitted into the program?
No. We do not allow students who are not matriculated to take courses.
Is there an internship component?
Yes, there is a practicum and internship cycle that students will complete in the final year of their enrollment in the program. For students enrolled full-time, this will be in their second year within the program. For students enrolled on a part-time basis, this will be after they finish the required pre-requisites and are on track for graduation in the subsequent spring semester.
Our program is accredited by CACREP as a rehabilitation counseling program and this means all students complete 700 hours of practicum/internship. Students will complete REH 6140 Counseling Practicum in a summer semester and will complete 100 total hours in their practicum, with 40 of those being direct client contact hours. For internship (REH 6170 Counseling Internship I & REH 6175 Counseling Internship II), the 600 hours are split across two semesters. This typically allows students to easily get the required client contact hours of 240, and 600 total hours of experience in a variety of settings. For students who attend classes on-campus, a few campus based internship options include Aggies Elevated (https://aggieselevated.usu.edu), The Employability Clinic (https://cpd.usu.edu/services/employability-clinic), and the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Clinic (https://cehs.usu.edu/scce/services/clinical-rehabilitation-counseling). For distance students, our practicum/internship coordinators will work with you to find a suitable site.
Is a thesis required?
No, a thesis is not required to graduate from the program, although students are required to take and pass the CRC Exam prior to graduation as a part of their program of study. This is typically done in their final semester in the program and faculty and staff will help remind you of these deadlines. Graduates of the USU MRC program have typically maintained a 90% or higher pass rate on the CRC exam. For those that do not pass the CRC, an alternative, program-based exam will be offered to allow the student to continue towards graduation.
Do you offer on-line or night courses?
Yes, all classes are typically held in the early evening (start time of 4:30 PM Mountain time or later). This can make for some long evenings, particularly for students in different time zones. All classes (except one) are offered via live broadcast using Zoom or asynchronous platforms. REH 6000 Professional Counseling Seminar is a weeklong course held on the USU Main campus. Students are required to come to campus for this course.
Can I attend part time?
Yes, and for some students this can be ideal. Many of our students are working and caring for families. A full-time enrollment status can create difficulty in managing awork-life-school balance. Students can maintain their standing in the program with half-time and quarter time enrollment options.
Can I transfer credits from another institution?
Yes, under certain circumstances, graduate coursework from other institutions can be applied towards the USU MRC degree. The USU Office of Graduate Studies only allows for a transfer of 12 graduate credits, and we typically like to see these credits come from a counseling program accredited by CACREP. Upon acceptance into the program, faculty and staff will do their best to work with you on this.
How many total credits do I have to take to complete the program?
The MRC degree is 61 credits.
What materials are expected of me as I apply to the program?
You will need to have three letters of recommendation and a purpose statement. We strongly prefer letters from academic instructors and employers. Please do your best to avoid letters from personal friends, ecclesiastical leaders, or family unless they have a uniquely qualifying perspective to your fit for the program. There are a series of questions to which you will respond in the application process asking about your view and philosophy in approaching and serving people with disabilities. The USU School of Graduate Studies has established a 3.0 GPA as the minimum level for entry. However, these admissions requirements are not absolute. In the case of a GPA below the preferred minimum, please provide any useful context or explanation for this GPA and why the USU MRC program is the right fit for you in your purpose statement. This can help provide perspective to faculty and staff as they consider admissions. Again, a GRE is NOT REQUIRED for the USU MRC program.
I have been out of school for a long time, and I am not sure my professors will remember me. What should I do for letters of recommendation?
Again, academic letters are preferred, but we recognize this may not always be feasible. The general rule here will be to seek out letters from employers, professional contacts, and others that can speak to your potential to succeed in a graduate degree program. Sometimes this is from teachers, mentors, supervisors, community leaders/politicians – essentially people who know you best and from a professional viewpoint.
What is the acceptance rate of the program?
The acceptance rate into the program varies based on the number of applicants and the number of qualified applicants. The average admittance rate is approximately 82% over the past four admission dates. More information can be found on the admissions page.
How do I apply for Financial Aid?
Many graduate students have to take out student loans as Pell Grants and other funding options typically for undergraduate studies are not available to graduate students. The USU Financial Aid Office website is https://www.usu.edu/financialaid/. As a program, we have had some success in securing scholarship monies available from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Long-term Training Grant Funds. This funding carries a pay-back requirement in terms of specific employment settings. If you have questions on the RSA Scholarship, please contact Kris Wengreen (kris.wengreen@usu.edu).
How can I find housing in the area?
There are a variety of on-campus and community-based housing options available for you to consider.
For those interested in attending courses on campus, the USU School of Graduate Studies has put together some resources to help you find housing: https://gradschool.usu.edu/graduate-blog/living-in-logan/finding-housing-in-logan/
What is parking like on campus?
Parking is generally available, but perhaps not in the closest proximity to the buildings where classes originate from. With many of the classes in the evening, a parking pass is not necessarily required (but can be purchased through the USU Parking Office). There are also free busing options available through the USU Aggie Shuttle Bus (https://parking.usu.edu/aggie-shuttle/) and the community-based Cache Valley Transit (https://cvtdbus.org).
I have a disability and will require accommodations. How do I arrange this?
The USU Disability Resource Center will work with you to ensure all accommodations are in place for your coursework. We encourage you to reach out to them prior to or early on in the semester as accommodations are not retroactive. Their website is https://www.usu.edu/drc/.