The master's degree program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). The program provides a strong foundation in the profession and practice of rehabilitation counseling. It offers opportunities to develop expertise in the areas of counseling, the social and psychological aspects of disability, the vocational rehabilitation process, case management, ethical practices, independent living, disability management, transition from school to work, vocational assessment, career development and employment strategies. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination and to apply for Limited Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Michigan.

Investigate a human services graduate program that offers:

• Strong and diverse employment opportunities upon graduation
• Federal scholarships and paid internships
• Late afternoon and evening classes
• Supervised practicum and internship
• Close working relationships between students and faculty
• Immediate eligibility after graduation for a Limited License as a Professional Counselor (LPC) & Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRC)

Post-Master’s employment Settings
Curriculum
Diversity
Applying for the Program

Post-Master’s employment Settings

Graduates of the Master’s degree program in rehabilitation counseling become employed with a wide range of service providers in the state of Michigan and across the nation. Over 90% of our graduates are employed at graduation in areas such as:

• Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth - Rehabilitation Services
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Higher Education- Resource centers for persons with disabilities
• Independent Living Services
• Community Mental Health
• Client Assistant Programs
• Peckham Inc.

For more information on Post-master’s employment settings, please visit our Master’s student Alumni page.

Curriculum

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling

The program is available only under Plan B (without thesis).  The student must complete a total of 54 credits distributed as follows:

Diversity

One of the strengths of the ORDS Master’s degree program is the diversity of students of students entering the program. Our students come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including disciplines such as psychology, sociology, social work, and special education. Students will find that this graduate program builds on their prior experiences and learning while training them to be skilled professionals in rehabilitation counseling.

To learn more about the backgrounds of current students in the master’s degree program, please visit our Current Students page.

We welcome applications from individuals with disabilities and from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. ORDS, the College of Education, and Michigan State University are committed to adapting the educational environment so that all students will have the opportunity to learn and grow in an accessible environment. The University's Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities assists students and faculty in facilitating appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. The Office of Racial and Ethnic Affairs initiates and coordinates a range of services and programs that have a positive impact on the academic success and quality of life of racial ethnic students.

Applying for the Program

Applications for the next academic year are accepted through February 15. Applications for the program should include:

• An official MSU admission application
• Departmental Application
• Undergraduate transcripts (two copies)
• Statement of Professional Goals
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from professors and/or employers
• Vita or Resume

Applicants with grade-point averages of less than 3.00 (B) in their last two years of undergraduate study must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test (Subject test scores not required).

For more information or to download application materials, please visit our Application Materials Page

Financial Aid

Making the decision to apply and attend graduate school requires the prospective student to contemplate a number of factors. Recognizing that funding is a critical factor in a student’s ability to attend a graduate program, the Rehabilitation Counselor Program has an ongoing mission to secure funding for students who elect to start a course of study with us. We have developed several sources of funding to assist graduate students in rehabilitation counseling with their educational expenses.

Please visit the Financial Aid section of the ORDS website to learn more about your options for financial aid.