Rehabilitation Counseling
Program of Study
The primary focus of preparing for a career in rehabilitation is on learning about theories and techniques of counseling, and their application; becoming an expert on disability and employment; and gaining awareness and sensitivity regarding people with disabilities. Another important component is gaining knowledge about employment law.
You can meet these requirements in graduate education at West Virginia University (WVU). Graduates of the program at WVU are awarded a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
The courses meet the requirements set forth by the Council on Rehabilitation Education which accredits our program. The program of study includes 51 credit hours or coursework including eleven didactic courses, a practicum (150 hours), then an internship (600 hours) in the final semester. Students take a comprehensive examination (an in house examination or passing score on the CRCC examination) in their final semester.
All students are required to take the following core courses. An elective course is part of the program course requirements.
- REHB 600. Introduction to Rehabilitation Services. I. 3 Hr. PR: Consent. Introduction to comprehensive rehabilitation, its history and development as a philosophy process, and professional area. Professional and ethical issues in rehabilitation counseling. Other services involved in various rehabilitation settings.
- REHB 610. Medical Aspects of Rehabilitation. I. 3 Hr. PR: Consent. An overview of medical aspects and implications of disability for the handicapped person in the rehabilitation process. Studies of the more common severe disabilities and their remediation also will be included.
- REHB 612. Psychological Aspects of Disability. II, S. 1-3 Hr. PR: REHB 610 graduate standing and consent. The impact of disability considering cultural, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors. Methods of assisting persons to adjust to problems of disability.
- REHB 620. Career Development and Job Placement. II. 3 Hr. PR: Consent and graduate standing in social sciences or education. Principles and methods involved in the vocational counseling and placement of disabled persons. The use of occupational and educational information. Theories of career development, occupational analysis, and job placement in rehabilitation.
- REHB 624. Rehabilitation Client Services. I. 3 Hr. PR: REHB 620. The planning and management of client services focusing on serving the public and private sectors. The human service and rehabilitation service systems will be explored considering both career and independent living issues.
- COUN 501. Counseling Theory and Techniques 1. I, II, S. 3 Hr. PR: Consent. Development and application of basic counseling skills including interviewing, clinical observations, and a general orientation to counseling theory and settings. Evaluation will be based on strengths and deficits in intra- and interpersonal skills and on demonstration of counseling skills in checkout situations. In-setting laboratory experience required.
- COUN 505. Theory and Practice of Human Appraisal. I, II, S. 3 Hr. An overview of standardized evaluation methods commonly utilized in educational and rehabilitation settings. Experience is provided in selection, administration, ethical standards, and interpretation of selected instruments.
- COUN 606. Counseling Theory and Techniques 2. II, S. 3 Hr. PR: COUN 501 and consent. A study of counseling approaches commonly used in public schools, colleges, and rehabilitation agencies. Application of theory emphasized.
- COUN 609. Group Counseling Theory and Techniques. I, II, S. 3 Hr. PR: COUN 606 and consent. Theories of group counseling and demonstrations of specific group techniques. Ethical standards. Evaluation will be based on expertise in group facilitation.
- EdPsy 612. Research. 3 Hr. This course is taught by the Educational Psychology department and focuses on understanding research design and basic statistical applications that apply to research and testing.
- REHB 672. Counseling Practicum. I, II, S. 1-4 Hr. PR: Graduate standing, liability insurance, and consent. Supervised experience in the application of counseling techniques in the rehabilitation process. Demonstration of high professional standards, counseling skills, and personal characteristics appropriate to the counseling relationship are essential.
- REHB 675. Clinical Practice. 1-15 Hr. PR: Consent. Clinical practice (internship) in selected agencies, rehabilitation centers, clinics, or hospitals conducting an organized program of services for the physically, mentally, emotionally, or socially handicapped. Practice will be under direct supervision of faculty and agency personnel.
Please Note: Students can choose to enroll in additional coursework with the intention of completing their degree with 60 credit hours. This option appeals to students who are interested in pursuing licensure as professional counselors. Careful study of licensure regulations in the appropriate state(s) can help students choose electives that meet the requirements.
- COUN 664. Ethical Issues in Counseling. I, S. 3 Hr. PR: COUN 501 and COUN 505, and COUN 606. Surveys the legal and ethical issues and professional ethics codes in the counseling profession. Ethical principles applied to schools, agencies, and private practice.
- COUN 634. Cultural Issues. II, S. 3 Hr. Impact of cultural differences on the counseling process; gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, counseling styles and cross cultural counseling methods; group and experimental activities are required.
- COUN 640. Addictions Counseling. II, S. 3 Hr. PR: (COUN 501 and PR or CONC: COUN 606) or consent. Specific techniques and models that apply to counseling the addicted client will be explored. Chemical addictions, food addictions, relationship addictions, sexual addictions, and ethics will be addressed. Demonstration of counseling clients with various addictions is required.
- COUN 645. Couples and Family Counseling. I, S. 3 Hr. PR: COUN 501, COUN 606 or consent. Techniques and methods of couples and family counseling. Emphasis on ethics, diversity, theory, and practice of couples and family counseling. Demonstration of counseling skills for couples and families is required.
- COUN 665. Abnormal Behavior. This course is designed for non-medical counselors. Students will be presented an overview of the treatment and understanding of mental disorders, a review of neuroanatomy, and a review of pharmacological terminology. Boundaries of practice and practical issues of encouraging adherence to medication regimens, assessment, and referral will be provided.
In addition, we offer coursework (pending sufficient enrollment) that will support application for the national Certification for Vocational Evaluation. These include the following courses:
- REHB 621. Vocational Evaluation Systems and Techniques. II. 3 Hr. PR: REHB 600. An introduction to vocational evaluation. Formal and informal vocational evaluation systems and procedures will be explored with the goal of preliminary development of individualized evaluation plans.
- REHB 622. Advanced Vocational Evaluation Techniques. S. 3 Hr. PR: REHB 621. Advanced vocational evaluation systems including empirically based and informal systems will be studied. Emphasis will be on administration, scoring, and interpretation, particularly as it relates to people with disabilities with specific evaluation problems.
- REHB 623. Seminar in Vocational Evaluation Services. S. 3 Hr. PR: REHB 621 and consent. Supervisory and professional issues in vocational evaluation services with an emphasis on standards, methods, procedures, and resources for developing and maintaining vocational evaluation services.
Accreditation
The Master of Science degree program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). CORE is accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (http://www.chea.org) and a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) (http://www.aspa.org). CORE accredits graduate programs in Rehabilitation Counselor Education.