The doctoral level program in rehabilitation counseling is designed to prepare individuals for professional careers as educators and researchers in the field of rehabilitation counseling. The Rehabilitation Counseling Program at MSU was established in 1956 and since that time has awarded over 1300 M.A.'s and 175 Ph.D.'s. Doctoral graduates from this program have gone on to key leadership positions and made many substantive contributions to the field. Nationally, the employment outlook for graduates completing the doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling appears very strong based on an increased emphasis on the professional preparation of practitioners at the pre-service level, the critical need to advance our research-based technology in serving people with disabilities, and the many challenged ahead in the ongoing development of our service delivery systems. The rehabilitation counseling profession is currently in great need of a new generation of rehabilitation educators and researchers, and we want to contribute to meeting that need.

Applicants are expected to have completed a master's degree from a CORE accredited rehabilitation counseling program and to have the equivalent of two years of full time work experience in the field or in a related human service area. Applicants with a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or other human service field will also be considered. It should be noted that this program is not a clinical program and does not prepare candidates for licensure as psychologists in the state of Michigan.

Employment Settings of Graduates
Curriculum
Diversity in Doctoral Education
Financial Support
Living in East Lansing
Applying for the Program

Employment Settings of Graduates

The program, which has been recognized as one of the best in the nation in U.S. News & World Report Graduate Education Program Ranking Guide has a long and distinguished history, having graduated some 175 leaders who occupy positions at major universities or in notable rehabilitation administrative offices nationwide. Most recently graduates have secured tenure-line academic positions at a number of excellent universities including:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Memphis
• Assumption College
• Emporia State University
• Eastern Carolina University
• Pennsylvania State University
• University of South Carolina
• University of Iowa
• Ohio University
• Minnesota State University- Maketo
• Western Washington University
• Western Michigan University
• Wayne State University
• Michigan State University

To learn more about the alumni from the doctoral program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, please visit our Doctoral Alumni Page.

Curriculum

The Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program requires approximately two to three years of full time coursework plus a dissertation. Students share a portion of their coursework with the other specializations in counseling (e.g. School Psychology), and with other units in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education. To learn more about the curriculum in Rehabilitation Counselor Education or view a sample sequence of studies, please visit the doctoral program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education Curriculum page.

Diversity in Doctoral Education

Students in the ORDS Rehabilitation Counselor Education program come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Students currently in the program represent a wide range of academic and professional experiences. A common element is that all students in the program have decided that the Rehabilitation Counselor Education program best meets their professional goals and personal philosophies. To learn more about our current doctoral students, please visit the ORDS Current Doctorate Student webpage.

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. 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.

Financial Support

The decision to apply and attend a doctoral program requires the prospective student to contemplate a number of factors. Recognizing that funding is a critical factor in a student’s ability to attend the doctoral program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, the ORDS Program has an ongoing mission to secure funding for students who elect to further their training in the ORDS doctoral program. We have developed several sources of funding to assist doctoral students in rehabilitation counselor education with their educational expenses.

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

COMPLETE BRIEF BIO on current doctoral students.

Living in East Lansing

If you are considering doctoral study at MSU, then you want to know something about the Lansing area. In short, the Lansing area is a wonderful place to live, work, and pursue graduate study. The region's hub is Lansing, the state capital located just 90 miles west of Detroit and 200 miles east of Chicago. The city has a population of 125,000, and is home to the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team, beautiful Oldsmobile Park, Riverfront Plaza, Potter Park Zoo, Impressions 5 Science Museum, and the R.E. Olds Museum.

For more information on available resources, services, and recreational activities, please visit the College of Education's webpage on Life in Lansing and Surrounding Areas.

Applying for the Program

Applicants for admission are considered for Fall term only. Applications for the next academic year are accepted through December 1. In order to be admitted, candidates must be reviewed favorably by the program faculty, the Department Admissions Committee, and the Graduate School. Candidates are reviewed according to undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, relevance of previous academic study, professional employment history, rationale for doctoral study, letters of reference (minimum of four from former professors and supervisors), results of the GRE, and a personal interview. The faculty are particularly interested in the recruitment of qualified students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and students with disabilities. Applications for the program should include:

• An official MSU admission application
• Departmental Application
• Undergraduate transcripts (two copies)
• Graduate Record Examination General Test scores (Subject scores not required)
• Statement of Professional Goals
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from professors and/or employers
• Vita or Resume
• Writing Sample

Doctoral applicants to the Rehabilitation Counseling area of specialization are expected to have completed a master's degree from a CORE accredited rehabilitation counseling program. They will be encouraged to enroll in new course content areas that were not addressed in their master's training (e.g., Habilitation Strategies, Substance Abuse). Applicants with a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or other human service field are required to consult with his/her advisor regarding master's level courses specific to rehabilitation counseling that may need to be completed in addition to the usual doctoral studies.

For more information, please go to APPLICATION MATERIALS PAGE