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.
Advanced registration required. Please watch the program introduction video and bring your questions to the Q & A session. We will answer individualized questions during the last 40 minutes.
If you have a disability that may require some accommodation in order to participate in a Western Oregon University class or activity, please notify the Office of Disability Services at 503-838-8250 or ods@wou.edu at least three (3) business days in advance.
Prepare rehabilitation and mental health professionals who are skilled in advocating for and with persons who are deaf or have disabilities and who are competent counselors knowledgeable about the development and dissemination of innovative and culturally sensitive rehabilitation practices and policies.
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). CACREP Program Evaluation Report for 2022-2023 results and 2023-2024 results.
Priority Application Deadline: January 15th
Applications received by the priority application deadline of January 15th will receive priority consideration.
Review Process: Applications will be reviewed beginning January 15th and then monthly until the cohort is full.
Interview Notification: Applicants who submit completed applications by the priority deadline will be notified by February 1st of their interview date.
After Priority Deadline: Completed applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a rolling basis until the cohort is full.
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.
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. Please review the RMHC Student Handbook for more information.
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.
Professor
503-838-8038 | nic@wou.edu | RWEC 135
Associate Professor
503-838-9305 | linc@wou.edu | RWEC 141
Assistant Professor
| texidormaldonadoc@wou.edu |
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP). 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 RMHC 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.
Prepare rehabilitation and mental health professionals who are skilled in advocating for and with persons who are deaf or have disabilities and who are competent counselors knowledgeable about the development and dissemination of innovative and culturally sensitive rehabilitation practices and policies.
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). CACREP Program Evaluation Report for 2022-2023 results and 2023-2024 results.
Priority Application Deadline: January 15th
Applications received by the priority application deadline of January 15th will receive priority consideration.
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.
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. Please review the RMHC Student Handbook for more information.
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.
Professor
503-838-8038 | nic@wou.edu | RWEC 135
Associate Professor
503-838-9305 | linc@wou.edu | RWEC 141
Assistant Professor
| texidormaldonadoc@wou.edu |
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP). 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 RMHC 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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