2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Disability and Addiction Rehabilitation
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Main Office
Chilton Hall, Room 218
Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #311456
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2488
Web site: www.unt.edu/dar
Linda Holloway, Chair
Denise Catalano, Graduate Director
Faculty
Master of Science with a major in rehabilitation counseling
The primary goal of the rehabilitation counseling graduate program is to prepare a diverse group of students for the profession of rehabilitation counseling who can assist and advocate for individuals with disabilities to live and work as independently as possible. The graduate program curriculum provides students with the opportunity to obtain the essential knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to function effectively as ethical and competent practitioners in the field of rehabilitation counseling. Graduates from this program are eligible for national certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) as well as licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Texas (LPC). A graduate certificate in rehabilitation counseling is also available for professionals in related human service fields interested in obtaining national certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor and who meet the eligibility requirements.
Career opportunities
Rehabilitation counselors typically work with adults or adolescents who are 16 years of age or older. Rehabilitation counselors have historically worked with individuals who had physical disabilities; however, today’s rehabilitation counselors work with a variety of populations who have an impairment or disability, including clients with developmental, cognitive, emotional, sensory, psychiatric and addiction disabilities, as well as young adults who are preparing for future careers. Rehabilitation counselors find employment with state and federal agencies that provide rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with disabilities (e.g., Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Veteran Affairs), private rehabilitation agencies, independent living centers, employee assistance programs, hospitals and clinics, mental health organizations, public school programs, employer-based disability prevention and management programs, substance and alcohol abuse treatment centers, and college and university disability accommodation offices.
Description of program
The Master of Science (MS) degree with a major in rehabilitation counseling requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of academic preparation, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship during the last year of the student’s course work. The curriculum combines academic theory and technique courses with hands-on practicum and field-site internship experiences and the program is nationally accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Opportunities for hands-on experiences are also available through the department’s Wellness and Employment Lab (UNTWELL). A very high value is placed on the exposure of students to a broad spectrum of rehabilitation services, professional organizations, interdisciplinary professional activities, as well as advocacy and consumer groups in the field of rehabilitation. The core curriculum for the Rehabilitation Counselor Education program consists of basic preparatory studies in disability, educational and occupational information, counseling, case management, and the vocational rehabilitation process. All graduate students are required to have an approved degree plan developed in consultation with their academic advisor and pass a comprehensive examination or national certification exam (CRC) administered during the last semester of their course work in order to be approved for graduation.
Admission requirements
Admission to the master’s degree program with a major in rehabilitation counseling is contingent upon admission to the Toulouse Graduate School. Criteria for admission are detailed in the Admission section of this catalog and include a competitive score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students graduating from the UNT Honors College with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are not required to submit standardized test scores, such as GRE scores, for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School. Applications to the graduate program in rehabilitation counseling are reviewed throughout the year, but students are encouraged to enter the program in the fall term/semester.
All applications should include the following:
- Rehabilitation counseling graduate program application (available at pacs.unt.edu/dar);
- self-statement regarding interest in field and program and career goals;
- two letters of recommendation, one from a former instructor and one from a previous employer;
- current resume; and
- evidence of a work history with the equivalent of one year of full-time employment.
Upon admission by the Toulouse Graduate School and receipt of the above documents, applicants will be scheduled for an interview with members of the rehabilitation counseling faculty. All applications are reviewed by the rehabilitation counseling graduate faculty, who make recommendations for acceptance of applicants to the program. Acceptance or denial of applications is determined by composite rather than a single criterion. Students are notified by letter of the faculty’s recommendation on their application.
ProgramsMaster’s DegreeGraduate Academic CertificateCoursesRehabilitation
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