Counseling, Rehabilitation Concentration in, M.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Master of Science in Counseling (MSC) degree provides graduates with the counseling knowledge and skills used in school, clinical mental health, and rehabilitation settings. Students study human development and behavior, individual counseling theory, group theory and dynamics, research methodology, and psychological measurement and evaluation, in addition to courses in individual concentrations-school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. The Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community (MHRT/C) post bachelor’s certificate program may be taken independently of the master’s degree (applications through Rehabilitation Counseling). Upon admission into the MSC in the Rehabilitation concentration the 5 MHRT-C courses can be transferred with a B grade in each. The certificate of advanced study in counseling is a post-master’s program for current counselors who are interested in pursuing advanced coursework which could qualify for the LCPC as well as CADC and CRC.

Depending on the MSC concentration, we offer face-to-face, online, hybrid, blended, or any combination of for synchronous and asynchronous course delivery. The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CLRC) hybrid track is the first MSC concentration which is offered with a low residency requirement that can be completed primarily (90%) in blended/online formats. Course instruction includes a variety of teaching and learning strategies, depending on the nature of the course, such as lectures, group discussion (synchronous and asynchronous), in-class exercises, supervised case review, cooperative learning, service learning, guided practice, introspection and critical thinking. In addition to coursework, each student must successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

All counselor education program concentrations hold accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). The new CLRC meets both clinical mental health and rehabilitation counseling standards and is dually accredited by both CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education) & CACREP until 2023.

Program Requirements

Rehabilitation Counseling

The concentration’s mission is to promote quality rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities by (1) preparing qualified rehabilitation professionals; (2) providing services to rehabilitation professionals and organizations; and (3) sponsoring rehabilitation-related research and training. This mission includes the following objectives: To teach students the basic philosophic tenets underlying rehabilitation process and practice, specifically that: (1) all people have inherent value, resiliency, and capability and must be treated with the empathy, respect and dignity they deserve; (2) all citizens should have access to and opportunities for full societal participation with individuals and in settings of their choice; (3) persons with disabilities should be equal partners throughout the rehabilitation process; (4) rehabilitation should focus on societal, systems, and/or setting changes as much as individual adjustment; (5) the rehabilitation process should promote hope, self-advocacy, resources and skills as well as social inclusion and support through public education and the community; and (6) rehabilitation students and professionals adhere to high quality, ethical practice and to the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors.

To provide practical knowledge and skills so that students become empathic, competent and ethical rehabilitation counselors in a wide variety of settings through the use of class and community experiences that acquaint students with rehabilitation philosophies, history, methods, and organizations; allow for sustained, direct instruction by individuals with disabilities, and offer varied, experiential and field-based learning in community rehabilitation settings.

To offer services, training and research to area rehabilitation agencies, consumer groups, and professional organizations through faculty and student service on local professional and consumer boards and committees, presenting at regional and national conferences, and providing local inservice training/consultations.

This program is designed to provide students with the essential competencies to provide rehabilitation counseling to a broad range of individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings, such as state vocational rehabilitation facilities, independent living centers, community mental health centers, rehabilitation hospitals, therapeutic facilities, medical centers, addiction recovery centers, postsecondary disability services, employment assistance programs, private industry, the veteran’s administration, and private-for-profit rehabilitation companies. The rehabilitation counseling specialty holds accreditation from Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).

Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling (54 credits)

The traditional rehabilitation counseling specialty requires a total of fifty-four credit hours of coursework. The specialty is intended to promote quality rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities through the education of rehabilitation professionals, providing services to rehabilitation organizations, and sponsorship of rehabilitation-related research and training. The graduate program’s primary goal is to help students acquire the basic foundation, knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to enter the profession of rehabilitation counseling and practice effectively and ethically as rehabilitation counselors.

The traditional rehabilitation counseling concentration focuses on the medical, psychological, vocational, and societal issues that surround people with disabilities and the practice of rehabilitation. Students are also offered practicum and internship experiences in community agencies that promote equity and empowerment of people with disabilities. Upon completion of their degree, students are eligible to take a national exam that qualifies them as certified rehabilitation counselors (CRC). Graduates become employed in public, private, and nonprofit rehabilitation agencies in Maine and across the country.

Students are eligible to receive the MHRT/Community certificate, the Employment Specialist certification and qualify to sit for the Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) exam from the state of Maine during their graduate program of studies.

Core Courses (27 credits)

Required Concentration Courses (27 credits)

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (63 credits)

The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MSC degree) track within the Counselor Education program holds joint accreditation by CACREP & CORE meeting both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling Standards. All graduates will be eligible for hiring in key federal programs, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and TRICARE, which have stipulated graduation from a CACREP-accredited program as an employment criterion.

The CLRC is a dual counseling speciality designed for rehabilitation counseling students who have an interest in working within the public mental health and addictions system, adhere consistently with the psychiatric rehabilitation model/principles and are meeting requirements of the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) state license and the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) national credential. Students can qualify for other credentials including the Employment Specialist, MHRT-C and CADC state certifications, as well as the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification.

Program Requirements (core courses of 27 credits and concentration of 27 credits)

In addition to the above required core (27 credits) and concentration (27 credits) courses in rehabilitation counseling, students are required to take an additional 9 credit hours:

HCE 640 - Professional Issues in Mental Health Counseling
HCE 643 - Psychopharmacology, Substance-Related Disorders & Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment
HCE 645 - Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
HCE 686 - Internship in Counselor Education (3 credits = 300 clock hours)
A clinical placement would cover 900 hours including 600 hours in the core curriculum

Transfer Credit Policy

A maximum of six credit hours may be approved as transfer credit, provided these credits were earned no more than three years prior to matriculation and grades of B or better were received. Additional transfer credit may be approved by the program chair in exceptional circumstances, including certificates of graduate study program courses. Students who complete the MHRT-C before admission may request up to the 15 credits taken for transfer upon admission to the Rehabilitation Counseling concentration provided they meet approval criteria.

Graduate students in master’s level counseling programs at other accredited universities may transfer into the program if they take their final 21 hours, including the internship requirement, in USM’s counselor education program.