Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling
The master's program in Rehabilitation Counseling provides a clinical foundation for serving persons with disabilities facing physical, mental, emotional, or social challenges. Rehabilitation counselors facilitate research-based services fostering hope and empowerment in addressing employment and independent living. For individuals and their families, the rehabilitation counselor serves as a source of expertise, personal support and guidance thus enhancing their quality of life. Graduates of our program are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential exam, the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential exam, and are eligible to pursue the Licensed Professional Counselor credential (LPC).
Highlights
Scholar-Practitioner Faculty: Learn from faculty members who are active in the field and can provide their own real-world experiences and uncommon insights.
Convenient Schedule: Courses are scheduled once a week in late afternoons and evenings (Monday-Thursday) to accommodate the schedules of working professionals, and for internship experiences.
Nationally Ranked and Accredited: The GSEHD Counseling program combines rigorous course content with supervised, clinical experience working with a diverse population from the metropolitan area. This program is accredited by Middle States.
Mission
The Rehabilitation Counseling program philosophy is to help prepare professionals to empower persons with disabilities to help themselves. The Rehabilitation Counseling program emphasizes the philosophical foundations of rehabilitation; organizational structure of public, not-for-profit and private vocational settings; individual, group and family counseling theories; behavior and personality theory; human development; multicultural counseling; attitudinal and environmental barriers for the people with disabilities; rehabilitation services; case management; medical and psychosocial aspects of disability; job development, development and placement; and ethical standards for rehabilitation counselors.
Curriculum (48 credit hours)
GW’s Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling is a 48 credit master’s program.
- CNSL 6151 Professional and Ethical Orientation to Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6153 Counseling Interview Skills (3 credits)
- CNSL 6154 Theories and Techniques of Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6155 Career Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6157 Individual Assessment in Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6161 Group Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6163 Social and Cultural Dimensions of Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6185 Internship in Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6186 Advanced Internship in Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6269 Practicum I in Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6376 Foundations in Rehabilitation Counseling (3 credits)
- CNSL 6378 Disability Management and Psychosocial Rehabilitation (3 credits)
- CNSL 6380 Job Placement and Supported Employment (3 credits)
- CNSL 6381 Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities (3 credits)
- CNSL 6114 Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Counselor Education (3 credits)
- HDEV 6108 Life Span Human Development (3 credits)
Faculty
| Beveridge, Scott | Associate Professor, Counseling |
| Froehlich, Robert J. | Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development |
| Hergenrather, Kenneth | Professor, Counseling |
| McGuire-Kuletz, Maureen | Associate Professor, Counseling |
Career Outlook
The Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from the George Washington University (GW) prepares you for a career in a variety of career settings that include rehabilitation agencies, hospitals, living centers, substance abuse agencies and education systems.
The U.S. Bureau Labor Services reports that roles for rehabilitation counselors will grow 20% by 20221, faster than the average occupation. As the nation’s elderly population grows, more adults will need rehabilitation counselors to help them adapt to disabilities and injuries and learn strategies for independent living. Rehabilitation counselors will also be needed to serve the ongoing rehabilitation needs of other groups such as veterans and people with disabilities, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and substance abuse problems.
Rehabilitation Counseling Career Opportunities
- Advocates and client assistance program managers
- Assistive technology specialists
- Case managers
- Community, state and private agency managers
- Independent living program coordinators
- Parole officers
- Rehabilitation counselors
- Supported employment specialists
Potential Employment Settings
- Colleges
- Community-based rehabilitation programs
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
- Hospitals
- Independent living centers
- Insurance companies
- Job training centers
- Private rehabilitation companies
- Public schools
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Substance abuse agencies
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm
Program Data
2019-2020*
Retention rate: 98%
Average time to complete the program: 2.5 years (7-8 semesters)
2019-20 Cost: On-campus $1,765 per credit; Online $875 per credit
Scholarships: Federal long term rehabilitation counseling training scholarships and merit based scholarships
Employment rate (at 6 months post graduation): 100%
Employment settings: state VR agencies; community-based rehabilitation programs; private rehabilitation companies; insurance companies; public schools; hospitals; colleges; independent living centers; employee assistance programs (EAP); job training centers
Licensure eligibility: Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) for 60 credit program; Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) requirements vary by state
CRC passing rates: 100%
Accreditation status: Accredited through 2022 by CACREP.
Annual Fall Enrollment: 37
*Retention and Enrollment data reflects combined MA in Rehabilitation Counseling and MA in Rehabilitation Counseling with Licensure Eligibility
Survey Data
2017-2019
- 2018/2019 Academic Program Assessment Report
- Fall 2019 Doctoral Alumni Survey
- Spring 2019 Alumni Survey
- Spring 2018 Alumni Survey
- Spring 2017 Alumni Survey
- Spring 2019 Employer Survey
- Fall 2018 Employer Survey
- Fall 2017 Employer Survey
Admissions
- On-Campus Program Entry: Fall
- Online Program Entry: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Prerequisites: Bachelors Degree
- Campus: Online
Application Requirements
- Online Application
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- GRE or MAT
- Transcripts (unofficial)
- Application Fee
*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants. For more information on any of these requirements, please visit our Admissions FAQ page. The next deadline to apply for the on-campus program is June 30th. Applications for the online program are currently being accepted on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
If you have questions about submitting your application, please contact our Admission Office at gsehdadm@gwu.edu or at 202.994.9283.
Student Resources
- 2019-2020 Internship Handbook
- 2019-2020 Counseling Practicum Handbook
- 2019-2020 Counseling Student Handbook
Transformation Begins Here
Learn more about the MA in Rehabilitation Counseling program online. Please note: applicants within a 50 mile radius of GW's main campus are only eligible for the main campus program. If you have questions about this, please contact us.