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 Graduate 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.

Rehabilitation Sciences Ph.D.

This mission of the Rehabilitation Sciences doctoral program is to prepare professionals to assume leadership positions in disability research, education, and administration. The program offers a tailored approach where core rehabilitation principles guide individualized instruction and mentored practice. Students are provided opportunities for supervised practice according to their post degree goals through conducting research, instructing undergraduates, and supervising master’s level rehabilitation counselors in training. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of applied research methods and statistics proficiency, producing graduates who are competitive in contemporary rehabilitation professions. Each student has the opportunity to direct their own specialization through a chosen cognate and focus their professional experiences in research, teaching, supervision, and/or administration. The current cognates being offered include: Research Methods and Statistics, Gerontology, Community Health, Business Management: Healthcare Administrative Specialization, or a self-designed cognate.

Admission: Applicants must meet the following criteria for preliminary consideration:

1. Hold a master’s degree form an accredited college or university, in Rehabilitation Counseling or an allied discipline. The appropriateness of the degree will be determined by the graduate faculty of the school.

2. Have two years of work experience (or equivalent, as determined by the school’s graduate faculty) in the field of rehabilitation or an allied discipline.

3. Submit a statement of interest (double spaced, no more than 12 pages) addressing the following:

a. Describe your educational history and how it relates to this doctoral degree.

b. Describe your employment history and how it shaped your decision to pursue this doctoral degree. Include your experience in the field of disability and/or rehabilitation through internships, work, volunteer, or community activities.

c. Describe your primary interest areas within the field of rehabilitation including (1) your research interests and (2) the cognate you propose to pursue as a specialization area for your plan of study.

d. What are your short-term and long-term career goals? What do you hope to be doing when you earn your degree? Please include your interests in conducting scholarly research, teaching, administering programs, or working in the field.

4. Provide a current resume.

5. Participate in a personal interview, upon request.

For degree and program requirements, see:

See "Rehabilitation Sciences Ph.D.".