Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling

Mission Statement:

The mission of the M.S. program in Rehabilitation Counseling is to educate individuals to be socially responsible professionals who will work competently, creatively and collaboratively in community settings in the field of counseling with a specialization in rehabilitation so that people with disabilities are empowered to pursue career and other related goals with success and satisfaction.  We also seek to address New Jersey’s ongoing needs to prepare counselors with specialized expertise in providing counseling in community settings for people with disabilities of all types, including psychiatric, physical and developmental.  The increased availability of counselors with this expertise is expected to benefit persons with disabilities as well as their families and their communities by providing community-based counseling services that will enable persons with disabilities to enhance their quality of life within the community including their ability to live independently, get and keep employment, gain an education, and form social relationships and networks.  The mission of the M.S. program in Rehabilitation Counseling is consistent with that of the Department, SHRP and UMDNJ.

M.S. Program in Rehabilitation Counseling Objectives:

Objectives for the M.S. program in Rehabilitation Counseling include:

1. Preparing at the master’s degree level highly qualified counselors with a specialization in rehabilitation counseling who are prepared to work in a variety of community settings.
2. Increasing the supply of qualified professionals with special counseling expertise in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities to provide community-based counseling services for New Jersey and the surrounding region.  As the only university in New Jersey offering graduate counseling education with a specialization in rehabilitation counseling, we have designed this degree to address the long-standing shortage of master’s level counseling practitioners with this expertise to serve communities in New Jersey.  This includes increasing the supply of qualified practitioners throughout the state by offering the degree regionally at two campuses.
3. Evaluating and improving curriculum and other program elements to assure Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards continue to be met. 
4. Increasing awareness of the M.S. program in Rehabilitation Counseling in the counseling community as well as in the larger New Jersey community and surrounding regions to recruit and enroll adequate numbers of students.
5. Developing certificate programs and/or courses to meet the needs of counseling professionals who wish to upgrade their qualifications and credentials in working with individuals with disabilities.     
6. Providing a career ladder for individuals who have obtained a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and are interested in completing preparation as a counselor with a specialization in counseling individuals with disabilities.
7. Seeking funding including grants to assist students with tuition.
8. Expanding affiliations to provide students with a variety of community counseling practice opportunities .
9. Developing faculty practice with an emphasis on community service.

Statement of Philosophy and Expectations of Students:

The Rehabilitation Counseling faculty at UMDNJ affirms its commitment to rehabilitation counseling as a specialization within the field of counseling providing an effective process to assist individuals with disabilities to choose, get and keep roles they value in the community.  Among the roles individuals are interested in attaining and maintaining are worker, student, independent community resident, and member of a social network.  Through professional practice, the process of finding or renewing purpose and meaning in life is enhanced as individuals with disabilities gain or regain roles that they prefer and value in the community. 

To accomplish the mission of the program and to prepare program graduates to work in a variety of settings including community agencies, government agencies, and other community based services, we seek to provide students with a broad knowledge of the counseling field including theory, research, ethical practices and decision-making, a well-developed set of interpersonal and counseling skills as applied to the helping relationship, and specialized knowledge of counseling individuals with disabilities in the community.  The curriculum is designed to educate students in the knowledge base of the field including current research combined with supervised clinical experience in counseling to practice that knowledge base.  It is recognized that an interaction between these elements is essential. 

Counselors who specialize in working with individuals with disabilities have extensive contact with other helping professionals, paraprofessionals, and self-help groups.  The faculty is committed to the development of program graduates who can work competently, creatively and collaboratively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.  As part of accomplishing this, students are encouraged to learn about existing community resources for assisting individuals with disabilities and make maximum use of them.  

Program graduates are also prepared to work with the wider environment as consultants, advocates and change agents.  Besides proficiency in working with individuals with disabilities to modify their behavior to accomplish goals, proficiency is developed to interact with the environment to negotiate and, if needed, modify the environment in the interests of providing high quality services to clients.     
     

Faculty members seek to promote an open environment for the consideration and discussion of a wide variety of theories and points of view.   As part of this orientation, information and methodology from a range of disciplines are presented and discussed.  In promoting understanding of the complexity of human behavior, all the behavioral and social sciences need to be considered.  In teaching professional counseling skills, many faculty members have training and experience in cognitive and behavioral counseling approaches such as the Boston University approach for assisting individuals with disabilities to choose, get and keep goals of their choice in the community.  Key tenets emphasized in this approach include active involvement of clients in planning and goal setting, behavioral improvement in the environment of need in the community as a critical client outcome, and a primary focus on improving client competency to assume community-based roles.  The uniqueness of the individual is also emphasized with choice identified as a core value.  Services are individualized for the needs and preferences of each client as part of the counseling relationship with a focus on the identification and use of personal strengths. 

The faculty encourages applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds who are interested in studying for this degree.  We recognize the need for diversity as part of preparing to serve a diversified and varied population of clients and welcome applications from a wide variety of personal, social, ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.   

All Department faculty strive to create an environment rich in opportunities, experiences, and knowledge that enhances the education of our students. We are committed to the highest standards of excellence in preparing the professionals of tomorrow.  We seek out the latest research to inform our academic and professional practice, and share our knowledge in a stimulating, friendly and professional atmosphere. 

As a student, you are expected to maintain high standards of personal and professional integrity, a caring attitude, and a motivation to learn and succeed.  You are expected to participate as an active learner in your education. To be an active learner means to:

• Take advantage of learning opportunities
• Dedicate time and energy to your studies
• Accept responsibility for learning, and for seeking clarification, assistance, and resources to address learning difficulties
• Contribute to your own learning and that of other students
• Build an enduring base of knowledge and skill

We want you to grow and advance in your chosen field of study and to contribute to the advancement of the profession.  Whether you come to us with years of experience or you are new to the field, we welcome you to an environment of mutual learning and professional growth.

Accommodations:

We invite applications from all individuals who are interested in studying for the M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling including individuals with disabilities.  If you have a disability and need an accommodation, contact Dr. Janice Oursler at (908) 889-2462 for the Scotch Plains campus or William Green at (856) 566-2785 for the Stratford campus.  You can also contact the Disability Compliance Coordinator at (973) 972-8594.  Additional information including information about the process for applying for accommodations and other services for students with disabilities is available at http://shrp.umdnj.edu, click on Current Students and then select Student Services and Requesting Accommodations for Disabilities. 

The Department has available supported education services for students with disabilities.  Students who are interested in these services should contact Prof. Michelle Mullen at (908) 889-2453 or by e-mail at mullenmi@umdnj.edu.