Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching

Advisor: Jennipher Wiebold

The Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM) and Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching programs (RCTM) are jointly administered by the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies and the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology. Please submit application for the Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM) and Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) programs through the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies.

Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM)

The Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM) stand along degree option is a 53 credit hour program. Graduates are prepared for employment in public and private rehabilitation settings serving persons with disabilities. As rehabilitation counselors, graduates assist clients/consumers with adjustment to disability counseling; independent living skills training; career development counseling; vocational counseling and skills acquisition; and, job placement, modification and retention services. CERM graduates receive a single Master of Arts degree in Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling.

Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM)

The 76 credit hours Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) degree program option prepares rehabilitation counselors specialized in blindness and low vision to provide a full range of vocational rehabilitation counseling services to individuals with cognitive, physical, psychiatric, and sensory disabilities. Graduates are prepared for employment in public and private setting serving persons with blindness or low vision that provides both rehabilitation counseling and vision rehabilitation therapy services. Vision rehabilitation therapy services serve people with blindness and low vision by providing instruction in the following skills for employment and independent living, including communications, adapted computer technology, personal management, home management, minor household repairs, and leisure time activities. RCTM graduates receive two Master of Arts degrees (M.A. Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling and M.A. Vision Rehabilitation Therapy).

Required Courses

The 76 credit hours Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) program requires the satisfactory completion of the following:

BLS 5770 - Services for Persons Who Are Blind or Have Other Disabilities Credits: 1 to 2 hours
Credits: 2 hours required
BLS 5840 - Computer Technology in Rehabilitation Credits: 3 hours
BLS 5860 - Job Development and Placement Credits: 3 hours
BLS 5880 - Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Credits: 2 hours
BLS 5890 - Medical and Functional Aspects of Disability Credits: 2 hours
BLS 5900 - Physiology and Function of the Eye Credits: 2 hours
BLS 5910 - Braille and Other Tactual Communication Systems Credits: 3 hours
BLS 5930 - Methods of Teaching Adaptive Communications Credits: 2 hours
BLS 5970 - Principles Low Vision Credits: 2 hours
BLS 6010 - Small “N” Research: Design and Analysis Credits: 3 hours
BLS 6020 - Gerontology in Orientation and Mobility and Rehabilitation Teaching Credits: 2 hours
BLS 6050 - Practice in Low Vision Credits: 1 hour
BLS 6100 - Assisted Research Credits: 1 to 6 hours
Credits: 2 hours required
BLS 6360 - Teaching for Independent Living Credits: 4 hours
BLS 6640 - Principles of Rehabilitation Teaching Credits: 3 hours
BLS 6910 - Practicum in Rehabilitation Teaching Credits: 1 to 2 hours
Credits: 2 hours required
BLS 7120 - Professional Field Experience Credits: 2 to 12 hours
Credits: 2 hours required
CECP 5200 - Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6020 - Group Dynamics and Procedures Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6030 - Tests and Measurement Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6040 - Counseling Techniques Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6050 - Professional Issues and Ethics Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6070 - Multicultural Counseling and Psychology Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6080 - Counseling and Life Span Development Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6100 - Career Development: Theory and Practice Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6110 - Theories of Counseling Credits: 3 hours
CECP 6120 - Counseling Practicum Credits: 4 hours
CECP 6130 - Field Practicum Credits: 1 to 6 hours
Credits: 2 hours required
CECP 6220 - Psychoeducational Consultation Credits: 3 hours

Practicum

The Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching program includes two community based clinical practicum experiences (BLS 6910, CECP 6120) and two 600 hour supervised internships (BLS 7120, CECP 6130).

Accreditation

The Rehabilitation Counseling (CERM) program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). The Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) program is accredited by both the Council of rehabilitation Education and the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER). Graduates of both programs are eligible to become certified rehabilitation counselors through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Graduates of the Rehabilitation Counseling/Teaching (RCTM) program are eligible to become certified vision rehabilitation therapists (CVRT) through the Academy of Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). Graduate of both programs (CERM & RCTM) are also eligible for Michigan Licensure as Professional Counselors (LPC).