Program Description

The Master of Science degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is a fully online 61-semester hour program within the Department of Counseling. The program is professionally accredited by CACREP.  The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and Case Management program prepares students to increase and enhance the employment, advocacy, social, educational, and independent living opportunities of individuals of all disability types. This 61-credit hour graduate program will assist students to acquire a thorough understanding of the medical and psychosocial impact of disability on all areas of the consumer’s life, including vocational and independent living, as well as provide students with a solid skill and knowledge base in counseling theories and techniques, case management, service coordination, career exploration, job development and placement, and assistive technology. .

Further, students will become familiar with the historical components and the various legislative and philosophical underpinnings of the Vocational Rehabilitation System. Graduates of the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program are eligible to sit for the national certifying exam to obtain the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential. Eligibility also exists to pursue state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) through the Georgia Licensing Board. For additional information about rehabilitation certification, visit the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification at http://www.crccertification.com and for professional counseling license at www.sos.ga.gov.

The mission

 

The mission of the Fort Valley State Clinical Rehabilitation counseling and Case management program is to prepare and promote the effective delivery of rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. The Rehabilitation program philosophy is to help prepare professionals to empower persons with disabilities to help themselves. We seek to prepare graduates who have demonstrated through academic and practical achievements the skills, knowledge and attitudes that they will need to serve the ongoing needs of those who are disabled. Such mastery includes the rehabilitation services provision to individuals with different types of needs. 

Program Outcomes 

Students who are preparing to specialize as rehabilitation counselors will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to address varied issues within the rehabilitation counseling context. Rehabilitation counselors work collaboratively with individuals with disabilities, their support systems, and their environments to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and vocational goals.

 

The goal of the program:

 

The Rehabilitation Counseling Program focuses upon providing training for students who are interested in working with the physically and emotionally disabled. The  objective of the program is to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve, to the fullest capacity, vocational, social, psychological and economic independence, and improved quality of life. The vigor of the program is one of both autonomy and empowerment in which individuals with disabilities exercise the utmost control over their lives. 

 

 

Field experience Requirements

Students will have to complete both a practicum and a Internship course. The practicum and internship experiences must include working with individuals with various disabilities (i.e., physical; mental).

The practicum and internship will be during the regular workday, given that vocational rehabilitation outcomes (e.g., job development and placement) are necessary components of the experiences based on accreditation mandates.

Students cannot use their regular, full-time job for the experiences unless they complete different activities than their usual duties that satisfy the necessary outcomes. Students will find it extremely difficult to work full-time in a current position and complete the required hours for their experiential components, especially the internship.

The Practicum requires 100 hours (40 hours of direct service to consumers), and the internship requires 600 hours over one semester (240 hours of direct service to consumers) or two semesters of 300 hours (120 hours of direct service to consumers per semester).

Students must have the appropriate technology to be admitted and participate in program activities. These required technologies include a working mic and webcam. Additionally, students must use a paid proctoring service (e.g., Ex amity) to sit for the Comprehensive Examination.

Students who wish to sit for state licensure or certification after completing the CLRC program and obtaining their national certification as Rehabilitation Counselors should contact their respective state licensure boards for additional requirements.

Admission Requirements

Course Requirements

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution to meet prerequisites and meet the following requirements. The applicant should follow instructions for General Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study as shown above. A cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of at least 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale is required. Formal interview (face-to-face or phone) is required.

 

Admission Application Requirements

A Completed Graduate Application

Application Processing Fee (non-refundable)

$20 – Domestic Applicants

$75 – International Applicants

A Professional Resume

A Statement of Purpose

The statement must be between 550-600 words. The Statement of Purpose should be in essay format and include personal characteristics/disposition, professional goals, academic background, research, work/volunteer experience and why you wish to pursue a graduate degree in the respective area.

Three Professional Recommendations

Letters of recommendation must be submitted using the FVSU Recommendation form for Graduate Admission.

Submit Official Transcripts from each postsecondary institution (College/University) attended showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. The transcript should show all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades earned.

Immunization records

International Transcript Evaluation: Transcripts from educational institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) (https://www.naces.org/members.html) with a course-by-course evaluation and grade point average (GPA) included. The transcript must be received directly from the evaluation service/agency.

Transfer Credit

A graduate student may transfer graduate credit from a regionally accredited institution for up to fifteen (15) subject to the approval of the program and Academic Dean.

The institution offers the graduate degree program for which the student has been admitted at Fort Valley State University. (Not required for transfer of ACE transcript credit.)

An official transcript is sent directly to the program from the institution in which the graduate work was taken.

The credit was earned no more than 7 years prior to the date of completion of the graduate degree.

The student’s advisor or major professor has to approve the transfer credit as a part of the student’s approved program of study.

A student pursuing a graduate degree at Fort Valley State University who plans to take graduate courses at another institution as a transient student must complete a Transient Permission Form, which must be approved by the advisor or major professor prior to enrolling in the transient courses. This procedure insures that courses taken as a transient student at another institution will constitute a part of the planned program of study. Students who take courses without prior approval are doing so with the possibility that the course may not count in the degree program.

A degree candidate may not graduate at the end of a term in which (s)he is enrolled as a transient student at another institution.

No grade lower than a “B” in a course earned at another institution may be accepted in transfer credit to count toward a graduate degree at Fort Valley State University.

Evaluation of a student’s performance and disposition is conducted throughout their matriculation of the program.  A student may be withdrawn from a course and/or program if the welfare of the students, peers, field experience clients or the functioning of a site is in jeopardy based on a student’s behavior and/or actions. It is the determination of the Counseling Department faculty. 

Students in this program are expected to follow the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics as well as the policies and procedures of the department.  (See Department Handbook and Practicum and Internship Manual). 

 

Fully Online Program

Students may pursue Rehabilitation Counseling as a fully online program. For details especially related to being an online student, refer to www.fvsu.edu or go directly to http://fvsu.edu/online_education.

 

Summer Scheduling: Courses offered in the summer term are determined on a yearly basis, and published during the spring term. Students should be aware that summer school courses may be canceled if the minimum enrollment is not met.