Consideration is given to the applicant’s previous academic and professional experience. There should be in each applicant’s background a pattern of experience that supports his or her expressed desire to pursue advanced graduate studies in rehabilitation counseling. Appropriate evidence of such experience should be reflected in the applicant’s letters of recommendation.
The following are factors significant in determining ultimate acceptance as a candidate:
Applicants with grade-point averages of less than 3.00 (B) in their last two years of undergraduate study must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test (subject test scores not required). Additional application information and materials can be found on the CEPSE Department’s application page.
Counseling Core
CEP 861 – Counseling Theories (3 cr.)
Selected counseling theories. Foundations of ethical decision-making. Professional standards, guidelines, and issues concerning the training and work of the counselor. Legal issues and precedents. Students will grasp central elements of each theory, learn philosophical foundations of counseling & ethical behavior, learn applicable codes of ethics, analyze real & hypothetical cases, and identify implications of legal doctrines & precedents.
CEP 862 – Individual Counseling and Helping Relationships (3 cr.)
Counselor skill in individual counseling. Forming, working with, and ending sessions, with clients, building relationships, handling obstacles, and developing & carrying out agendas in counseling. Simulated individual counseling practice will be stressed. Students will understand helping process as it relates to various relevant populations, learn basic individual counseling skills and techniques, and demonstrate learned skills through taped & live simulations.
CEP 864 – Career Counseling (3 cr.)
The application of career development theories and labor market and occupational information in the assessment and planning aspects of career counseling with various populations. Students will develop an understanding of theories and patterns of career development, knowledge of resources for career exploration, and skills in assisting individuals in vocational decision-making.
CEP 878 – Group Counseling & Group Work (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview and basic knowledge of group work, group theories, counseling theory, dynamics, approaches, process, development, characteristics, as well as types of groups. In addition, knowledge on pertinent factors that affect effective groups, including therapeutic factors of group leaders will be discussed. Unique factors and critical issues, including ethics, culturally relevant, disability and special population that affect group design and facilitation will be discussed. Finally, experiential opportunities to practice as a group leader as well as a group member will be incorporated throughout weekly lectures and assignments.
CEP 887 – Human Development for the Counseling Professions (3 cr.)
This course is designed to introduce students to human development content of professional practice of the counseling profession, including: theories of human development; learning and personality theories; the stages of human development; human behavior including an understanding of development crises, disability; counseling strategies and interventions facilitating optimum development across the lifespan.
Rehabilitation Counseling Core
CEP 868 – Medical Aspects of Disability (3 cr.)
Course focuses on functional implications of physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities for rehabilitation. Students will develop an understanding of the medical and characteristics of impairments frequently encountered by rehabilitation professionals. Students gain familiarity with medical terminology and the roles of health personnel.
CEP 870 – Foundation of Rehabilitation Counseling and the Counseling Profession (3 cr.)
This introductory course provides an overview of the different counseling and human services professions, with a focus on the rehabilitation counseling profession. An overview on the historical development, legislation, philosophical foundations, roles and functions, professional identity, professional organizations and credentials related to rehabilitation counseling and different professions will be introduced. Specific paradigms of practices, such as assessment career counseling, mental health counseling, community-based interventions and service delivery will be discussed and compared. Other topics and concepts such as psychosocial, familial, environmental, cultural aspects of disability, ethics, advocacy, technology, accommodation/universal design, ergonomics, case/disability management will be discussed. It also provides an understanding, knowledge, and influence of disability in the practice of rehabilitation counseling and other related professions.
CEP 871 – Cognitive & Psychological Aspects of Disability (3 cr.)
Psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness and disability. Students will develop an understanding of cognitive and psychological characteristics of impairments frequently encountered by rehabilitation professionals. Course examines personal attitudes, feelings, and behavior toward persons with various characteristics. Content includes mental health diagnosis, etiology, and treatment models and methods.
CEP 872 – Social & Cultural Diversity (3 cr.)
Social and political factors that limit individuals with disabilities. The Independent Living movement, philosophy, legislation, and services. Use of accommodations and enabling technology. Attitude change and client empowerment. Students will develop understanding of independent living and rehabilitation from a consumer perspective and come to recognize their responsibility to advocate for social and political change as well as provide professional counseling services. Develop basic knowledge of and skill in using assistive technology.
CEP 873 – Employment Strategies of Individuals with Disabilities (3 cr.)
Public policy, resources, and intervention strategies for assisting persons with disabilities to achieve vocational outcomes, and for assisting employers in accommodating and retaining employees with disabilities. Students will develop knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to assist clients in seeking and maintaining employment; identify employment opportunities; develop reciprocal relationships with employers, and provide reasonable accommodations.
CEP 874 – Counseling Ethics (3 cr.)
Ethical issues in counseling and provides general and specific guidance for ethical conduct in clinical practice, awareness and skills for thinking ethically and ethical decision-making through reading, in-depth group discussion, and analysis of ethics cases.
Research and Evaluation
CEP 822 – Approaches to Educational Research (3 cr.)
Rationale for empirical studies in education and rehabilitation counseling. Emphasis on alternative approaches and uses of inquiry through case examples. Students will be able to distinguish among alternative approaches to conception, design, analysis, and use of research via case examples.
CEP 877 – Assessment in Counseling (3 cr.)
Advanced assessment techniques and strategies for rehabilitation and community settings. Applied research and program evaluation in rehabilitation and community counseling. Measurement concepts as a foundation for selecting and interpreting tests.
Practicum and Internship
CEP 894A – Practicum in Counseling (3 cr.)
Students obtain supervised counseling experience in a rehabilitation and related service setting to develop skills, knowledge and behaviors appropriate for effective counseling relationships. Group seminars practice skill development in problem identification, problem solving, and assessment and case management based on the identification of client assets, needs and preferences. Students gain experience with various disabling conditions and are coached in the use of interviewing and counseling behaviors in order to develop effective strategies for client services. Note that CEP 894A Counseling in Practicum is a prerequisite for CEP 893A Counseling in Internship.
CEP 893A – Internship in Counseling (12cr.)
Supervised internship in rehabilitation or related service systems for persons with different types of disabilities. Students develop and demonstrate clinical and case management skills along with the appropriate professional interrelationships required of interdisciplinary rehabilitation, mental health and human services practices. Competencies in all areas of the clinical process such as assessment, evaluation, counseling, service provision, resource utilization, community liaison, job development and placement, follow-up, program development and documentation must be demonstrated within the course of the internship. Participation in monthly seminars and current topics forum provide group supervision for clinical and case service as well as exploration of emerging professional and ethical issues.
Field placements must be approved by the department
Electives
Graduate Level Electives (6 cr.)
Graduate level coursework as approved by program and student’s faculty advisor
