Welcome!

Students in the M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling program
Students in the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education program

We are excited that you have chosen the ORDS program to advance your knowledge and training. You are entering graduate school at an exciting time. The profession of rehabilitation counseling is in great need of passionate and inspired rehabilitation counselors, educators, and researchers. We want to contribute to meeting that need and appreciate your dedication toward improving the lives of persons with disabilities. We are very pleased that you are part of our program, and look forward to working with you to support your learning and development.

In joining our program, you are also becoming part of a College of Education that is nationally recognized for its research, teaching, and service. The strength of our College is in its people: the students, faculty, and staff, who have created an intellectual and social community where ideas, learning, and collaboration are valued. We look forward to your participation and contributions to this community of rehabilitation counseling practitioners and scholars.

To assist you in your graduate program, we have identified resources that we believe will be a benefit to you as a graduate student at MSU. In addition to the links to Webmail (MSU e-mail system) and Angel (MSU course management system), this website has information for you on upcoming training conferences, programming planning resources, and community resources.

As a future professional, we consider external training and networking opportunities as a critical component of your experience in the program. The conferences webpage is designed to keep you up-to-date on events that will benefit your knowledge of current practice and research as well as allow you to meet professionals currently working in the field of rehabilitation counseling. Further, students are encouraged to take an active role in professional activities. The Student Rehabilitation Association (SRA) at MSU represents a thriving group of students dedicated to working with persons with disabilities and the profession of rehabilitation counseling.

Program planning resources are provided to help you plan your graduate experience in the ORDS program. These resources give detailed information on the program sequences and planning sheets to allow students to develop a program that meets their needs. For more information on both Master and Ph.D. program planning resources, please visit our Planning your Program page.

Graduate school is a holistic experience that is not limited to the classroom. As part of your graduate experience at MSU, we encourage students to take part in community activities. Students may be unfamiliar with the many resources and recreational opportunities available in Lansing and its surrounding areas. However, these activities allow students to explore their interests and abilities away from the academic setting. To help students locate resources or recreational opportunities, please visit the Living in Lansing page.