Prospects after graduation
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.

• RC 609 Practicum (4) Provides an opportunity to apply basic counseling skills in a relatively safe environment. Will meet weekly and includes analysis and feedback regarding students’ counseling skills development as well as peer review.
• RC 610 Internship (10) Students perform two full terms (9 credits per term) of on-site placement with a state or community rehabilitation counseling agency or social service agency charged with meeting the specific rehabilitation needs of clients. Total internship of 18 credits, which includes 600 hours of counselor-in-training experience and 240 hours of direct client contact. CRC supervision is a required portion of internship experience.
• RC 611 Counseling And Helping Relationships (4) Study of problem-management counseling approach to counseling that can be applied to numerous disciplines in rehabilitation counseling when working with clients who are deaf or who have disabilities.
• RC 612 Theory and Techniques of Counseling (4) Overview of a variety of contrasting theoretical counseling models underlying both individual and group practice in counseling. Emphasis is placed on the appropriateness of selected theories when counseling persons with disabilities.
• RC 613 Career Development Theories and Job Development and Placement Techniques (4) Explores the foundational issues of work, principles of human and career development and major career counseling theories as applied to different stages in life (early childhood to senior adult). Addresses the significance of lifestyle and career decision-making processes. Special attention will be given to the impact of developmental, environmental and attitudinal barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the career development process.
• RC 625 Research And Program Evaluation (4) Develops the required skills in research that are needed for evidence-based practice. Students gain knowledge and skills in the following areas: literature review; research critique; basic statistics; research methods; and ethical, legal and cultural issues related to research and evaluation.
• RC 626 Critique Analysis and Evidence Based Practice Research (2) This course is a study of theory and research as a base for counseling (Rehabilitation and Mental Health) practice. Published research studies are critically analyzed with regard to implications for clinical practice. The course is planned for collaborative peer examination of the research process through critique of counseling studies.
• RC 630 Group Counseling and Group Work (4) Increases student knowledge of background, theory and processes in groups. In addition, the student participates in 10 hours of group sessions to experience practical application of group theory and techniques facilitated by a counseling professional.
• RC 631 Human Growth And Development Theories (4) Provides an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels, from birth to old age. Family systems will be explored. Topics include overview of the expanded family life cycle, explanation of Erikson’s psychosocial developmental stages, introduction of family counseling theories and clinical application, use of genograms to track family history through the family life cycle.
• RC 632 Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities (4) Overview of medical and functional aspects of disability in rehabilitation in addition to analysis of the psychological and social impact of disability from an individual, family, community perspective. Analysis of how persons with disabilities are affected by the psychosocial influences, cultural and spiritual beliefs, attitudes, values and environmental factors. Examines the most common illnesses and disabilities encountered for case management in rehabilitation-related settings. Overview of environmental/attitudinal barriers of various disabling conditions, focusing on young adult through mature adult populations; basic medical terminology, etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and health issues resulting in disability.
• RC 633 Social And Cultural Foundation in Counseling (4) Discussion of issues and dynamics when providing rehabilitation counseling across social, cultural and community lines. Students will explore the nature of society and culture and how these impact the rehabilitation counseling process. Students will examine their own cultural identity, attitudes and biases.
• RC 634 Diagnosis/Treatment Planning and Psychopharmacology of Mental Disorder (4) Broadens students’ knowledge and conceptual understanding of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in a counseling setting. Students learn how to read a psychological evaluation and make general diagnostic decisions using the current DSM. Focuses on the diagnosis of valent mental illness disorders encountered by rehabilitation and mental health counselors. General psychopharmacology will be integrated in the course.
• RC 640 Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Counseling (4) This class includes the basic historical and theoretical foundations of crisis intervention and treatment of the effects of trauma. The main focus of study is current theory and practice models as well as the application of skills and techniques utilized in crisis interventions. The effects of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events will be differentiated across the lifespan. Principles of crisis intervention for people during crises disasters and other trauma-causing events will be examined utilizing a worldview context. Counselor self-care practice will be integrated into crisis and trauma work to bring into awareness and ameliorate the effects of crisis and trauma exposure.
• RC 645 Counseling in Addictive Behaviors (4) This course will cover vention and intervention with addictions, both substances and behavioral. This course will address etiology, assessment and models of treatment, with an emphasis on Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing. Additional emphasis will be on systemic conceptualizations, both etiology and counseling individuals, couples and families dealing with addictive behaviors.
• RC 650 Professional Counseling Orientation And Ethical Practice (4) Overview of the professional and ethical principles applied to rehabilitation casework, organization policy and disability law. A counselor’s responsibilities and duties will be explored in the context of the CRCC and other codes of ethics specific to the rehabilitation counseling field. Ethical decision-making models will be reviewed and applied.
• RC 651 Professional Counseling Ethical Practice II (2) This ethics class will incorporate a book that focuses on taboos and uncomfortable topics that therapists and therapists-in-training often avoid and the damaging myths underlying this avoidance.. The class will incorporate the book’s model of learning encourages a mindful awareness of how we respond to the complex, messy situations that occur in real life and emphasizes the need for openness, honesty, courage, and constant questioning, while respecting several professional code of ethics used in counseling.
• RC 660 Case Management & Community Partnerships (4) Examines strategies for providing effective and efficient case management services for persons with disabilities in a rehabilitation agency. Case and caseload management principles and systems within rehabilitation services will be explored. Contemporary issues faced by the rehabilitation counselor managing a caseload of clients who are deaf and/or have disabilities will be discussed and practiced. Crisis management tools and conflict resolution strategies as well as time-management principles will be examined.
• RC 662 Assessment and Testing (4) Examines the selection, administration and intertation of various psychological, achievement and interest instruments used with persons who have disabilities or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Students will learn about various resources that are available in the rehabilitation community.
• RC 670 Professional Topics Seminar (2) Students will explore information on enhancing their professional development in preparation for employment in the rehabilitation counseling and mental health counseling field.