A long-standing Michigan State University doctoral program has a refreshed name and redesigned courses. The Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program replaces the former Rehabilitation Counselor Education program.
Notable changes include consolidating the overall credit hours (from 74 to 66), redesigning courses to broaden the scope of training in counselor education and incorporating an option to pursue a formal specialization in rehabilitation and disability.
The program continues its commitment to preparing future researchers, practitioners, educators and leaders while broadening its impact on the counseling profession.
“This is a redesign of our doctoral program that leverages all of the elements MSU is best known for,” said Gloria Lee, professor and program director.
This includes, said Assistant Professor Hung Jen Kuo, MSU’s “ranking among the best in the nation, at #2 for rehabilitation counseling, according to U.S. News & World Report.”
Evolving programming
“This modification allows the program to meet new accreditation standards and evolving changes within the larger field of counseling,” said Andrew Nay, assistant professor of rehabilitation counseling and accreditation liaison.
To develop the refreshed program, the rehabilitation counseling faculty reviewed national trends and conducted an extensive self-study and accreditation process. In addition, they analyzed advisory council feedback and input from a faculty retreat to fuel changes in curricula and training.
“All of these activities pointed to the direction of broadening our training of counselor educators beyond our expertise in rehabilitation,” Lee said.
At MSU, students will still find:
- A commitment to hands-on experience in research, teaching, supervision and counseling;
- Faculty with diverse clinical experience and innovative research, as well as national and international networks; and
- Robust collaborative opportunities in various areas across counseling, disabilities and other disciplines
Expanding career outcomes
The Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program also opens new opportunities.
The change begins at enrollment. Previously, the program could only admit master’s level students with a rehabilitation counseling specialty. The reimagined program now can admit master’s level students from any of the eight counseling specialties defined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). MSU’s master’s and doctoral-level counseling-related programs are both accredited by CACREP.
The changes also impact prospects and outcomes for graduates. Under the previous program, most graduates became faculty members in rehabilitation at higher education institutions. In the new program, graduates will be equipped to pursue career paths including university-level jobs in other counseling fields, such as mental health counseling, in addition to community-based jobs in non-profits or statewide agencies.
“This allows us to expand our training to a broader range of prospective students and prepare them for more options in their career paths,” Kuo said.
Though “rehabilitation” isn’t in the doctoral program’s name anymore, Lee stresses that rehabilitation remains an important component of MSU’s program. The added rehabilitation and disability specialization allows flexibility for students who are interested in having this credential in their diploma.
Note: U.S. News last ranked their Best Rehabilitation Counseling programs in 2023. Learn more from U.S. News.