Program Overview

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Overview of the Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling, MA Program

The Masters of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling is designed to prepare rehabilitation counselors to serve persons with disabilities in a variety of work settings. The rehabilitation counseling program is a 60 hour credit program and is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The curriculum provides both didactic and experiential learning opportunities and culminates in a 600 hour internship.

Admissions

In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, admission decisions are made based on submitted application materials. The following materials are required for the application to be considered complete:

• CV/Resume
• A Statement of Purpose, which should discuss:
  • Interest in pursuing an MA degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and related career goals
  • Aptitude for graduate-level study in a digitally delivered program
  • Approach to working with diverse populations and respect for cultural differences
• Three letters of recommendation consistent with goals of the program from individuals who can attest to potential for success in graduate school
• Official transcripts from all college-level coursework and degree programs

The application deadlines for admission to each academic semester are as follows:

• Fall admission – February 15th
• Spring admission – October 15th
• Summer admission – February 15th

Curricular Requirements

The Rehabilitation Counselor Education program is an online program. The curriculum includes a variety of practical, applied requirements, which are typically noted as "practicum" or "internship" on the Program Planning Records. The Rehabilitation Counseling program is 60 credit hours and meets accreditation criteria put forward by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Required Courses

The following courses are required for the program:

• BCE 512: Counseling Theory Proc
• BCE 513: Career Development
• BCE 514: Counseling Skills
• BCE 517: Professional Counseling
• BCE 521: Group Proced Coun Educ
• BCE 522: Indiv & Group Appraisal
• BCE 533: Special Topics (With title Work and Disability)
• BCE 540: Orientation to Rehab. Counsel.
• BCE 542: Med Aspects
• BCE 545: Case Man., Voc. Rehab & Placem
• BCE 611: Multicult. Approach Counseling
• BCE 613: Substance Abuse Counseling
• BEP 550: Life Span Development
• BER 500: Intro Educatn Research
• BER 540: Statistical Methods In Educ
• BSP 660: Psychopathology
• Elective Course (in consultation with advisor)
• BCE 546: Pract Rehab Counseling
• BCE 547: Intern Rehab Counseling

Transfer Credit

Information on transfer credit can be found in the Graduate School section.

Comprehensive Exam

The policy of the Graduate School is that a comprehensive examination or summary project must be completed by all students seeking to graduate from any University of Alabama graduate program. The content and scheduling of the master’s comprehensive examination in Counselor Education is consistent with this expectation.

Objective Section

The objective portion of the comprehensive examination consists of 200 multiple-choice items. Questions are taken from courses required for the degree. This includes questions from the research and the Life Span Development courses. Students must achieve a score of 70% (140) or higher on the objective section in order to pass this section.

Fieldwork/Practicum/Internship Requirements

The curriculum in the program features a variety of practical, applied requirements, which are typically noted as "practicum" or "internship" on the Program Planning Records.

Practicum

As an initial experience in applied work, students typically engage in closely supervised work with clients in courses noted as “practicum.” For rehabilitation counseling students, BCE 546 typically involves 2 hours of weekly group supervision and one hour of weekly individual supervision with client contact throughout.

Internship

The internship is considered to be the culminating academic experience and, consequently, occurs at the end of a student’s training program. Expectations for internships are rather demanding in terms of placement duties and hours of commitment. Essentially, students completing the internship have the option of either one full-time placement (40 hours per week for 6 hours of credit for Rehabilitation Counseling) or two (2) consecutive half-time placements (20 hours per week for 3 hours of credit per semester for Rehabilitation Counseling).

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Information on time limits for degree completion can be found in the Graduate School section.

Student Progress Requirements

Each student enrolled in a degree-seeking status in every degree level of study in Counselor Education is involved in a Student Performance review near the end of Fall and Spring semesters. The rubric used is the Faculty Review of Student Performance and Review of Student Dispositions. The faculty review professional and personal strengths and concerns, while monitoring progress.

Academic Misconduct Information

Information on academic misconduct can be found in the Graduate School section.

Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information

Information on withdrawals and leave of absence can be found in the Graduate School section.

Academic Grievances Information

Information on academic grievances can be found in the Graduate School section.

Grades and Academic Standing

Information on grades and academic standing can be found in the Graduate School section.

Graduate School Deadlines

Information on Graduate School deadlines can be found in the Graduate School section.

Application for Graduation

Information on the application for graduation can be found in the Graduate School section.