Department of Rehabilitation Services

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www.umes.edu/rehab

Dr. William Talley, Chairperson

Mission

The mission of the undergraduate programs in the Department of Rehabilitation is to prepare graduates for entry-level professional employment in a variety of human services and rehabilitation-related settings, especially those serving individuals with physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities. The programs are also designed to prepare its graduates to enter graduate level programs in rehabilitation, psychology, physical therapy, related allied health fields, and human service professions.

Objectives

The objectives of the Department of Rehabilitation undergraduate programs are to:

1. offer instruction which reflects the philosophy and mission of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education or American Psychological Association;
2. meet the academic requirements established by the University;
3. meet the professional requirements and standards set by rehabilitation, psychology and related professional organizations;
4. provide courses and learning experiences which prepare students for employment in rehabilitation and psychology, as well as the allied health and related human service professions;
5. guide students in the development of leadership skills through participation in rehabilitation or psychology-related programs and student organizations;
6. provide course offerings and professional programs to the University and the general community;
7. provide an intellectual environment designed to facilitate academic growth and creative development and;
8. prepare students for graduate school and continued professional development.

Certification

Courses offered leading to State Chemical Dependency Provisional Certification

General Program Requirements

The admission of students to the undergraduate programs in the Department of Rehabilitation is based upon the general admission requirements of the University.

Departmental Requirements

Rehabilitation Services Major–The Rehabilitation Services major must complete at least 120 credit hours of University courses. Included in the 120 credit hours are a minimum of 42 credit hours of Rehabilitation courses. A minimum grade of “C” must be achieved in these courses. For those students pursuing a graduate degree in the Allied Health fields, , a minimum of 129 credit hours is recommended. These additional credits are courses that are normally prerequisites for graduate study in the Allied Health fields.

Rehabilitation Psychology Major—The Rehabilitation Psychology major must complete at least 120 credits hours of University courses. Included in the 120 credit hours are a minimum of 54 credit hours of Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Psychology courses. A minimum grade of “C” must be achieved in these courses.

Career Opportunities

While “rehabilitation” is a term used in many fields, for our field it primarily means the vocational rehabilitation of individuals who have disabilities and need assistance as they pursue their vocational goals. While our historical and legislative roots are firmly embedded in vocational rehabilitation, the field has greatly expanded. Graduates may go on to provide a variety of services to people with disabilities in many areas. The four year course of study prepares students to become entry level rehabilitation professionals and to successfully assume the role of care professionals in hospitals, mental health centers, developmental disability centers, residential chemical dependency treatment centers, etc.

Students interested in pursuing careers in the human services orientation of rehabilitation, e.g. as a case manager or counselor, should follow the Rehabilitation Services course sequence. Students interested in pursuing careers in psychology, e.g., as a rehabilitation psychologist or clinical psychologist, should follow the Rehabilitation Psychology course sequence. Students interested in pursuing careers in allied health fields, e.g. as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or physician assistant, should follow the Allied Health concentration. It should be noted that many professional positions, especially in the psychology or allied health areas, also require a graduate degree in their respective areas of specialization.

Directory of Faculty

Blackmon, Jonathan, Lecturer/Sign Language Interpreter
B.A., Lenoir-Rhyne College, M.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Faubion, Clayton, Associate Professor
B.A., University of Texas; M.Ed., Southwest Texas State; Ph.D., University of Arkansas; Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.)

Lankford-Purnell, Kutresa, Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator

B.S., and M.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.), Licensed Clinical Drug Alcohol Counselor (L.C.D.A.C.)

Rahimi, Maryam, Associate Professor
B.S. Jundishapour University, Iran; M.S., Ph.D., Florida State University; Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (L.C.P.C.); Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.)

Santos-Roman, Leslie, Graduate Program Director and Clinical Coordinator

B.A., University of Puerto Rico, M.A., University of Puerto Rico, Ph.D., University of Iowa, Post-Doctorate, University of Florida, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.)

Talley, William, Associate Professor, Chair
B.A., South Carolina State University; M.A., South Carolina State University; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.)

Zheng, Lisa, Assistant Professor
B.A, Hwa Nan Women’s College, China; M.A., Fuzhou University, China; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programs

• Rehabilitation Psychology, B.S.
• Rehabilitation Services, B.S.

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