Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation Counseling M.A.

The goal of the Rehabilitation Counseling Master's Degree Program at the University of Northern Colorado is to provide graduate students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to function as rehabilitation counseling professionals.

Therefore, the mission of this program is to educate master's students in the area of Rehabilitation Counseling to assist and support individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses to achieve maximum potential, meaningful employment, and full community integration. In doing so, the program focuses on encouraging students to pursue a life-long commitment to learning, critical thinking skills, creative problem solving, and an appreciation of the skills and abilities of individuals with disabilities. 

Admission. The student must send directly to the school:

1. Two letters of recommendation using the UNC Letter of Recommendation for Graduate School form.
2. Provide a current resume.
3. A statement of interest covering the following topics (maximum of ten pages doubled-spaced).
   1. What factors and events motivated your interest in rehabilitation? Discuss your attitude and philosophy in general. Describe your attitude or philosophy toward research, community change and advocacy.
   2. What are your career and educational goals? Why have you chosen rehabilitation counseling as your area of study? In what role and in what organizational setting would you ultimately like to be employed?
   3. What past exposure have you had to rehabilitation? Include any coursework or work experience (paid or volunteer) you have had. If you have had none, provide a justification of your current interest in the field.
   4. How would you describe your strengths and weaknesses? This should cover such areas as academic ability, capacity to work with others, leadership and ability to cope with stress.

Objectives

1. Students will develop an appreciation for cultural diversity and political values.
2. Students will develop life-long habits of scholarship and service.
3. Students will acquire knowledge and skills that prepare them for careers in Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Evaluation, and/or advanced scholarly work.
4. Students will master methods of inquiry to acquire deeper understanding of their discipline.
5. The professional service activities of students will be a resource to the community, state, region and nation.
6. The professional activity of faculty, staff and students extends beyond the boundaries of Colorado, to the region, the nation, and the world.
7. All students who graduate will be eligible to earn the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation.
8. All students who graduate will be prepared to enter the professional Rehabilitation Counseling field in public and/or private rehabilitation programs.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Rehabilitation Counseling M.A.

Human Rehabilitation Ph.D.

The mission of the doctorate in Human Rehabilitation is to educate individuals in research and instruction in order that they may be prepared to assume leadership and university faculty positions upon graduation. Students are provided opportunities to practice knowledge they attain in courses by conducting research, instructing at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and performing counseling supervision for masters rehabilitation counselors-in-training. The intimate size of the program affords students a chance to work closely with faculty individually and in small seminars.

Admission into the doctoral program in Human Rehabilitation is determined by the graduate faculty of the school, with final approval of the graduate dean.

All doctoral applicants must meet the following criteria for preliminary consideration:

1. Hold a master's degree from an accredited college or university, in Rehabilitation Counseling or a closely allied discipline. The appropriateness of a degree in a related discipline will be determined by the graduate faculty of the school. If the student is deficient in rehabilitation counseling content, the equivalents determined by the student's program committee will be included in the plan of study.
2. Have two years of work experience (or equivalent, as determined by the school's graduate faculty) in the field of rehabilitation. This must include the minimum of one year's experience before receipt of the master's degree and completion of a minimum of two years of work experience before receipt of the doctorate.
3. Participate in a personal interview on request. Admission decisions are based on multiple criteria, without fixed weights for any individual criterion.
4. Please submit a statement of interest (double spaced, no more than 12 pages) addressing the following:
   1. State why you are interested in pursuing a doctorate in the field of rehabilitation. Did any life experiences motivate you to seek this degree?
   2. What is your career history and what, if any, role did it play in your decision to pursue doctoral studies?
   3. What are your short-term and long-range educational and career goals? What do you hope to be doing in five years? In ten years? Beyond?
   4. Express your personal attitudes towards individuals with disabilities.
   5. Who do you envision your future consumers to be once you graduate?
   6. Discuss your interest in conducting scholarly research, providing community service, and/or teaching in the field.
   7. Explain your exposure to the field of rehabilitation. Please talk about any coursework, volunteer activities, or fieldwork you have experienced.
   8. Identify your top three strengths or assets as a doctoral student. What are the primary areas in which you need to improve? We are interested, among other things, in academic, interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, planning, organizational, and work ethic skills and abilities. Do you consider yourself to be a people person? Are you creative, visionary, goal-oriented? How do you deal with stress? In short, tell us about your aptitudes as well as strengths you hope to develop.
5. Provide a current resume.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Human Rehabilitation Ph.D.