Rehabilitation Counseling, M.S.

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling (MSRC) is a graduate degree program offered through the Department of Rehabilitation in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Rehabilitation counseling is a thriving professional field and graduates of our program can look forward to employment opportunities in both the public and private sector. Graduates will find numerous opportunities for employment in counseling, rehabilitation and a growing number of human services and allied health settings. Our Rehabilitation Counseling program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP).

Objective of the Program

The mission of the MSRC is to train well qualified rehabilitation counselors who are prepared to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds with physical, developmental, psychosocial, and sensory disabilities. A second part of that mission, which is no less important, is to assist our graduates to develop an inclusive and holistic approach to rehabilitation which values the individuals’ right to fully participate in the decision making process regarding their development. This approach takes into consideration how all the components of that person’s life, (including vocational, psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, and emotional components) may impact their lifestyle and overall quality of life.

The Goal

The goal of the MSRC program is to prepare rehabilitation professionals to effectively assist individuals with disabilities to achieve their highest degree of vocational, psychological, economic and social independence and the greatest quality of life possible. It is essential to our process that students are grounded in the belief that their central role as rehabilitation professionals will be to serve as advocates for individuals with disabilities. As advocates for individuals with disabilities they must recognize and support the reality that rehabilitation is a holistic process which includes addressing the physical, psychological, familial, social, vocational, cultural and spiritual components which influence their lives.

To successfully pursue our mission and goal, it is the objective of the MSRC faculty to expose students to the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to become highly competent rehabilitation practitioners. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to state of the art knowledge and procedures which carefully integrate theory with substantial experiential components.

The Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling does address the critical and compelling need for trained rehabilitation professionals in the state of Maryland, the mid‐Atlantic region and the nation. The graduate program will not only produce needed professionals in rehabilitation but will also offset the continuing education needs of regional rehabilitation, human services and allied health personnel

Characteristics of the Program

1. Educational Objectives: The graduate program is designed to provide rehabilitation and counseling education training to meet the needs of a diverse and global labor market.

2. General Requirements: The UMES Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling has established a program based on the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) guidelines and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists licensure criteria. Emphasis is placed on competencies that prepare graduates for a career path that includes direct service competencies and administrative functions. The CACREP-based curriculum prepares graduates to apply to be a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and professional counselor licensure (LPC).  Work settings for graduates of the Rehabilitation Counseling program include federal/state public rehabilitation, private practice, community rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, industry, insurance companies, legal offices, corrections, treatment programs, centers for independent living (CILs), and rehabilitation centers. Additionally, students will be prepared to comply with the federal mandate on Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) for the state-federal system of vocational rehabilitation.
   
   The curriculum is consistent with the standards of the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Standards of Practice as set forth by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Graduates following the ascribed curricula are eligible to apply for certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). For more information on rehabilitation counseling certification visit the CRCC website: https://www.crccertification.com/about-crc-certification.
    
3. Credit and Courses: The academic program will require 60 credit hours (20 courses) which can be completed in two and 1/2 years or approximately five semesters by full‐time students. Although priority will be given to full‐time students, part‐time students and non‐rehabilitation graduate students may register for courses if space is available. The length of time it will take for a part‐time student to fulfill requirements for graduation is contingent upon how many credit hours he/she takes each semester. The course sequence is such that courses are also taken during the Winter and Summer sessions. Students may be required to attend classes during the weekend for some of the clinical courses, including but not limited to RECN 642 , RECN 701 , RECN 714  , and RECN 720 . This schedule allows students the opportunity to take only RECN 712  during their final semester. Students are then afforded the possibility of doing their Rehabilitation Counseling Internship at a location outside of the immediate Princess Anne/Salisbury area. Students must maintain a cumulative grade of B (3.0) in all graduate level courses taken for credit toward a graduate degree.
    
4. Comprehensive Examinations: In addition to completing the CACREP‐based curriculum, the requirements for the master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling will include a final written examination, to be completed in the semester before the student enters the internship. In order to qualify for the comprehensive examination, students should have completed all course requirements excluding the internship. Students must be successful on the comprehensive exam before being allowed to enroll in the internship (RECN 712 ). Students are responsible for meeting with their advisor before planning to take the comprehensive exams to ensure that all curriculum requirements have been met.

Courses for Licensure

The students who started in Fall 2020 in the 60 credit hour program as described on page 4 at the end of the academic program will meet all the academic requirements stipulated by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors andTherapists for the License for Professional Counselor (LPC). The following five three-credit courses will be offered for students and/or professionals that have completed a 48 credit hour program in Rehabilitation Counseling who are interested in pursuing the Maryland State License for Professional Counselors (LPC).

RECN 702 Legal Aspect and Ethical Issues in Counseling & Behavioral Health  
RECN 714 Marriage and Family Counseling   
RECN 715 Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Diagnosis and Psychopathology 
RECN 716 Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Counseling 
RECN 721 Human Growth and Development: The Life Span   

Admission Criteria

1. A Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4‐point scale is required for regular admission. Provisional admission will be considered for students with a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 as long as all other requirements have been fulfilled.
2. A personal interview.
3. By accepting admission into the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling program, the applicant agrees to:
   1. complete pre‐requisites in the time frame given;
   2. maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA over all coursework;
   3. practice professional conduct in accordance with UMES policies, CRC Code of Ethics, and local and state laws.

Failure to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA will result in a probationary period or termination as determined by the Department of Rehabilitation Graduate Committee and Graduate School policy.

Denial of admission may be made for reasons, which will be outlined for potential future amelioration. Acceptance is based on the listed criteria above and the availability of limited space. These criteria are designed to establish high standards of service and instruction consistent with accreditation recommendations.

Prerequisite Undergraduate Coursework

1. An introductory course is needed in Human Services, such as the UMES course REHA 201 ‐ Introduction to Rehabilitation, or Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and/or Introduction to Sociology.
2. A basic statistics course is needed.
3. Comparable undergraduate courses will be reviewed for equivalencies.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester – March 1
Spring Semester – November 1

Retention‐Dismissal – Reinstatement/Readmission Policy

1. A cumulative GPA. of 3.0 each semester is required.
2. A maximum of two (2) grades of ‘C’ in a semester or session results in academic probation. Students have two consecutive semesters in which to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0, or be subject to academic dismissal.
3. A grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ is subject to academic probation and/or dismissal from the program. Readmission or reinstatement is provisional and contingent upon repeat of the class with grade of ‘A’ or ‘B’.
4. A request to repeat a course because of a deficient grade earned is provisional and must be a written petition submitted to the Department Chair with the signature and recommendation of the advisor.
5. Students engaging in any unethical practices or violation as outlined by the policies of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the Rehabilitation Counseling Department Program Student Handbook, or the Guidelines of Ethical Conduct for the Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling Profession and State or Federal laws may be dismissed from the program.
6. Readmission or reinstatement is at the discretion of the Department of Rehabilitation Graduate Committee.
7. A successful completion of an internship is required.

Transfer and Waiver Courses

Students have up to a 6 credit hour limitation for transfer of equivalent courses, unless those courses were completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in a comparable CORE accredited program. Evaluation and approval of graduate transfer courses will be up to the Department of Rehabilitation Graduate Committee.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Leslie M. Santos, Ph.D., CRC
Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Rehabilitation
Hazel Hall, Room 1115
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Phone: 410 651 6262
Email: lsantos@umes.edu