M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling

Designed for:

• The program emphasizes five major components:
• individual and group counseling theory and technique;
• influence of career acquisition and personal independence on the daily lives of persons with disabilities;
• the social and psychological impact of disability on an individual and family; federal, state, and private service delivery systems for persons with disabilities;
• and self-awareness on the part of counselors-in-training.

The program offers two tracks:

• Rehabilitation counseling (RC/MHC) track (2 years on campus): Graduates of this option provide counseling and consultative services to the general population of persons who have disabilities. Mental health counseling (MHC): Graduates of this track are also eligible to seek licensure as a licensed professional counselor in mental health settings.
• Rehabilitation counseling for the deaf (RCD/MHCD) track (3 years online/hybrid): This is one of two deaf specialty programs in the United States. Students in this program plan to seek employment as counselors or consultants for culturally deaf people, deafened individuals, and persons who are hard of hearing. Mental health counseling with the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (MHCD): Graduates of this track will have their coursework emphasized with the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind population, are also eligible to seek licensure as a licensed professional counselor in mental health settings.

Where this degree can take you:

• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
• Case Manager with a vendor who serves vocational rehabilitation clients
• Youth Transition Specialist
• Community services coordinator for adults with disabilities
• Disabled students services
• Client Advocate
• Group or supported living coordinator
• Mental health counselor in a community or higher education setting

To start, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree
• 2 years of working experience is preferred

At Western Oregon University, helping students achieve academic success is always at the top of our priority list. Thanks to our many great major and minor programs, you get to decide where you want your college degree to take you in the future. WOU offers several bachelor’s (four-year) degrees – bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, bachelor of music and bachelor of fine arts – as well as certificates, advanced baccalaureates, master’s degrees and pre-professional tracks. Explore the pages below to find out what you might like to be when you grow up.