Rehabilitation Counseling, M.A.

Consistent with Maryville’s mission, the Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling program, provides a quality professional education that serves the community.  This is a 48 credit hour program fully accredited by the Council of Counseling and Related Education Programs.

Rehabilitation Counseling Mission

This program is designed to educate an individual to become a professional counselor with sound knowledge and skills to work with persons with disabilities, such as physical, psychological, substance abuse, developmental, behavioral and cognitive. The rehabilitation counselor is committed to assist the individual with special needs and talents to achieve equal access, inclusion in society, meaningful work and independent living with quality of life. The rehabilitation counselor believes that individuals with disability represent a major resource for the betterment of society.

Maryville’s Rehabilitation Counseling program is nationally accredited and provides the educational preparation for national certification and Missouri licensing as a professional counselor.

The program objectives are as follows

1. To provide a solid understanding of the principles, philosophies, history, policies, laws, practices and ethics related to rehabilitation counseling.
2. To present knowledge of a range of disabilities including physical, psychiatric, substance abuse, developmental, behavioral and cognitive with particular attention to psychosocial aspects and functional capacities.
3. To develop, in the student, sound knowledge of the dynamics of personality development and theories of counseling as well as practical counseling skills.
4. To challenge the student to examine personal values and to appreciate a multicultural perspective to counseling.
5. To provide education for effective case management and disability management.
6. To achieve within the student an appreciation and knowledge of vocational and career development theory.
7. To obtain an understanding of the methods and tests available for evaluation and the relation of such to a comprehensive assessment of the individual.
8. To develop, in the student, skills in job analysis, marketing, job development, job placement and supported employment options.
9. To acquaint the student with research methodology and research in rehabilitation for the purpose of becoming intelligent consumers of research.
10. To develop sound professional counselors committed to lifelong learning.

Through coursework, practicum and internship placements, the graduate student will integrate the critical knowledge and clinical skills necessary for professional practice. The Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling program provides the educational preparation for Missouri licensing as a Professional Counselor (LPC) and national certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Board certified music therapists may enter the Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling program and complete the music therapy specialization area.  Additional coursework for concentrations in marriage and family therapy, substance abuse and music therapy are also available. Please contact the Director of Rehabilitation Counseling for eligibility and requirements of this program: 314.529.9443.

Professional Accreditation

The Rehabilitation Counseling program is fully accredited by the Council of Counseling and Related Education Program (CACREP).   CACREP is located at 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510 Alexandria, VA  22314. Students are admitted into the program during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Program evaluation is conducted each semester using numerous procedures to assess student outcomes. There are three full-time faculty, two are tenured and  one is on the tenure track. Most students complete the program in 5-8 semesters and the average cost of the program is $32,000. The university has scholarships that are available to students and the program has one scholarship specifically for rehabilitation counseling students. Students find employment with state vocational rehabilitation, non-for-profit community agencies, private for profit rehabilitation agencies, and the federal government. Graduates from Maryville’s Rehabilitation Counseling program are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam and the National Counselor Exam (the licensure exam for Missouri). All graduates successfully complete a comprehensive oral exam and the pass rate for students taking the certified rehabilitation counselor exam is equal to the national average. For more information on Maryville’s enrollment and graduation numbers please see Maryville’s Planning Reference Guide.

Additional coursework can be taken for professional counselors in Marriage & Family Therapy, Substance Abuse, and Music Therapy.