The Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program offers a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling degree with a mental health counseling concentration. Graduates of this option provide counseling and consultative services to the general population of persons who have disabilities. Graduates of this track are also eligible to seek Oregon licensure as a licensed professional counselor in mental health settings. This program provides the freedom to complete the program in as little as 2 years while attending full-time, or 2.5-3 years for students who need additional flexibility due to work demands or distance. The flexible format combines fully online classes with hybrid courses that only require students to meet on our WOU:Salem campus 1-2 Saturdays per month during the term. This makes the RMHC program a great option for students who may live outside of the Salem area.
The program emphasizes five major components:
You will receive training to provide individuals who are Deaf and/or have disabilities an opportunity to live fulfilling, productive, and independent lives. FAQs
The program is certified by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP) through July 31, 2025.
Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.
Program core course requirements for the RC/MHC track begin the fall term each year and require a minimum of seven sequential terms, including one summer term.
CAUTION: Due to the intensity of full-time graduate coursework and assignments, students are asked NOT to work more than 20 hours per week during their first year of study. The internship (winter and spring terms of year 2) requires 32-35 hours a week to successfully complete 600 clock hours including 240 direct client contact hours. Clinical Handbook
Once admitted to M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling program, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.
Core Courses
Exit Evaluation RequirementStudents must complete the following exit evaluation in order to receive their degree:
Total Credits: 90Note:All RC 609 and RC 610 sections will be P/NC grading only. A “P” grade represents work of at least “B” level. |
Over the past five years, 96-100 percent of our graduates were employed in appropriate professional fields within six months of graduation. Retention in the field of rehabilitation remains at 94 percent up to five years after graduation.
Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-9305 | linc@wou.edu | RWEC 141
Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-8038 | nic@wou.edu | RWEC 135
Chair, Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-9341 | thewd@wou.edu | RWEC 134
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP). The RCD track has been selected by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) as an exemplary program in the 15 cooperating states that are part of this commission. Our faculty prides itself in being a National leader in Rehabilitation Counseling Education. Please let us know if we can help answer questions about this program, your career, or application requirements.
WOU’s RCE program is currently receiving funding from Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), U.S. Department of Education to assist students with their tuition expenses. RSA scholarships cover a portion of the tuition and may be awarded for one or two years, depending upon continued funding. Not all admitted students are funded through RSA scholarships. To receive support through RSA, the recipient must commit to work for a state Vocational Rehabilitation Division (VRD) or a related agency through which the individual has a service arrangement with the State/Federal vocational rehabilitation agency to provide needed services to vocational rehabilitation consumers. For every academic year of scholarship support, RSA requires the recipient to work two years as a professional in the rehabilitation counseling field.
The program emphasizes five major components:
You will receive training to provide individuals who are Deaf and/or have disabilities an opportunity to live fulfilling, productive, and independent lives. FAQs
The program is certified by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP) through July 31, 2025.
Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.
Program core course requirements for the RC/MHC track begin the fall term each year and require a minimum of seven sequential terms, including one summer term.
CAUTION: Due to the intensity of full-time graduate coursework and assignments, students are asked NOT to work more than 20 hours per week during their first year of study. The internship (winter and spring terms of year 2) requires 32-35 hours a week to successfully complete 600 clock hours including 240 direct client contact hours. Clinical Handbook
Once admitted to M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling program, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.
Core Courses
Exit Evaluation RequirementStudents must complete the following exit evaluation in order to receive their degree:
Total Credits: 90Note:All RC 609 and RC 610 sections will be P/NC grading only. A “P” grade represents work of at least “B” level. |
Over the past five years, 96-100 percent of our graduates were employed in appropriate professional fields within six months of graduation. Retention in the field of rehabilitation remains at 94 percent up to five years after graduation.
Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-9305 | linc@wou.edu | RWEC 141
Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-8038 | nic@wou.edu | RWEC 135
Chair, Associate Professor, Deaf Studies & Professional Studies
503-838-9341 | thewd@wou.edu | RWEC 134
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP). The RCD track has been selected by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) as an exemplary program in the 15 cooperating states that are part of this commission. Our faculty prides itself in being a National leader in Rehabilitation Counseling Education. Please let us know if we can help answer questions about this program, your career, or application requirements.
WOU’s RCE program is currently receiving funding from Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), U.S. Department of Education to assist students with their tuition expenses. RSA scholarships cover a portion of the tuition and may be awarded for one or two years, depending upon continued funding. Not all admitted students are funded through RSA scholarships. To receive support through RSA, the recipient must commit to work for a state Vocational Rehabilitation Division (VRD) or a related agency through which the individual has a service arrangement with the State/Federal vocational rehabilitation agency to provide needed services to vocational rehabilitation consumers. For every academic year of scholarship support, RSA requires the recipient to work two years as a professional in the rehabilitation counseling field.
Over the past five years, 96-100 percent of our graduate were employed in appropriate professional fields within six months of graduation. Retention in the field of rehabilitation remains at 94 percent up to five years after graduation. Our graduates are currently working as state vocational rehabilitation counselors all over the United States. In addition we have graduates working at the Commission for the Blind, Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, and the Veterans’ Administration. We also have graduates working in mental health fields as addictions counselors, community mental health, criminal justice counselors, and independent living counselors. The variety of opportunities for careers with this education are endless.
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