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The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program is designed to meet the growing demand for qualified, professionally trained rehabilitation counselors who want to work in public and private rehabilitation agencies and institutions. Graduates are prepared to meet the psychological and vocational needs of persons with varying disabilities such as developmental disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, alcohol and substance abuse, visual impairment, hearing impairments, substance abuse, as well as other acquired disabling conditions.

Rehabilitation counselors manage the components important in the rehabilitation process of individuals with physical and mental disabilities. They help prevent fragmentatation and gaps in services to people seeking to move from psychological and economic dependence to independence. The counselor draws on knowledge from several fields, including psychology, medicine, psychiatry, sociology, social work, education, and law.

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program will result in improvement in the rehabilitation delivery system by increasing the number of master’s level minority professionals entering the rehabilitation service, or increasing their qualifications to advance professionally. The mandate of Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, that increased numbers of minority professionals are needed to meet the changing demographics of the U.S. The master program will help reduce this under-representation in the long run by increasing the number of minorities with advanced degrees in the field, linking entry level master’s graduates with public and private sector rehabilitation program employers, increasing their opportunities for employment and advancement in the field.

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program will build local capacity to provide culturally competent rehabilitation services for minority clients in the rehabilitation system, improving their chances to achieve successful employment outcomes. Providing a non-traditional (i.e., distance-learning, built around work schedules) masters degree in the supportive, close-knit environment of a small private university will promote successful student recruitment and retention. The number of minority master’s level graduates in Ohio will increase to begin to meet the need to build a culturally diverse workforce in Ohio and the Midwest.