Master of Science
in Rehabilitation Counseling
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Question:
Must I have an undergraduate degree in a particular
area to apply?
Answer: No. Many applicants
to the program do have degrees in psychology,
sociology, or a related field, but this is not
a requirement. The Department of Psychiatric
Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions seeks
candidates who have both strong academic potential
and commitment to working with individuals with
disabilities. Admission decisions are based
on a review of all materials submitted with
the application and take into account all aspects
of the applicant including career goals, occupational
background, personal experience with rehabilitation
counseling, and academic performance and potential.
Applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds
who are interested in studying rehabilitation
counselors are encouraged.
Question: Must I take the GRE
to apply for admission?
Answer: No. The GRE or other
standardized testing is not needed as part of
the admissions process.
Question: Can I transfer graduate
credits I have completed at another school to
your program?
Answer: Generally, you can
transfer a limited number of credits provided
there is an equivalent course in our program,
you passed the course with a B or better, the
course was taken at an accredited university
within the past 10 years, and it was not used
as part of completing another graduate degree.
Please call Dr. Janice Oursler at (908) 889-2462
to discuss any credits you wish to transfer.
Question: I have missed the
application deadline. How can I get started
right away?
Answer: You may want to start
the program as a non-matriculated student until
you are able to complete the application process.
Non-matriculated students are limited in the
number of credit hours which can be taken before
deciding to matriculate. A total of 12 credits
taken as a non-matriculated student may be applied
to a degree. For more information about enrolling
as a non-matriculated student, click here .
Question: What credentials
will the M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling help
me to qualify for?
Answer: Since the M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation
Counseling (CORE), you are eligible to take
the examination for the Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor (CRC) credential when you have completed
75% of the course work in the program, although
you will not receive the credential, provided
you receive a passing score, until you have
completed the degree. Additional information
about this credential is available from the
Commission on Certification of Rehabilitation
Counselors (CRCC) at http://www.crccertification.com/.
Graduates with the M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
may be qualified to apply for other types of
credentials such as the Certified Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) established
by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association (USPRA) as part of the Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Certification Program. This program
fosters the growth of a qualified, ethical,
and culturally diverse psychiatric rehabilitation
workforce through a test based certification
program and enforcement of a practitioner code
of ethics. The CPRP credential is currently
recognized in 12 states by regulations defining
and/or qualifying mental health practitioners.
These states are Arizona, Florida, Georgia,
Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota,
New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Similar
legislation is in progress in several other
states. Additionally, some organizations offering
psychiatric rehabilitation services require
the CPRP as a qualification for supervisory
and certain other positions. The M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling may be applied toward meeting the
educational requirements. Qualifying work experience
in psychiatric rehabilitation is also needed
to meet requirements to apply to take the written
examination for the CPRP. More information about
the CPRP is available at www.uspra.org/.
Question: What computer skills
will I need to complete the program?
Answer: Students are expected
to have basic competence in the use of computers
before entering the program. Basic competence
involves skill in word processing, Internet
search, and use of e-mail. While it is desirable
to have access to your own personal computer,
this is not required as students have access
to computers in the campus computer laboratories
and libraries.
There are computer laboratories available for
student use on both the Scotch Plains and Stratford
campuses. Both computer laboratories have day
and evening hours. Contact the computer laboratories
directly for the scheduled hours they are open.
Computers in the laboratories offer Internet
access as well as a variety of computer programs
and applications. Additionally, students can
access the UMDNJ libraries on-line for literature
searches and to read electronic journals. Assistance
in using computers is available through the
computer laboratories.
Additionally, all students are expected to open
a student e-mail account at UMDNJ and to check
this e-mail account on a regular basis, at least
weekly, for university wide announcements as
well as information from the School of Health
Related Professions. After newly accepted students
submit all documents and deposits required for
enrollment into the program, they are sent information
detailing how to obtain their UMDNJ e-mail address.
Questions: What student services
are available to students in the program?
Answer: Students have access
to a variety of student services. More information
about these services is in the School of Health
Related Professions Student Handbook, available
at http://shrp.umdnj.edu/ by clicking on Current Students and selecting
Student Handbook from the drop down menu.
The Office of Student Services provides academic
counseling and selected tutorial services. Information
about Academic Counseling Services is available
at (973) 972-4136 or 5022, and information about
tutorial or any other support services is available
by calling (973) 972-5039.
Student Mental Health Services, located on the
Newark Campus, are available to students having
difficulty adjusting to the stresses and pressures
of SHRP and/or having interpersonal, marital
or family problems. Student confidentiality
is respected at all times. In Newark, the service
is located in the Administration Complex, Room
1524. The telephone is (973) 972-6388.
Question: How can I get more
information about the M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling?
Answer: You can request a Student
Handbook, which gives more detailed information
about the program, by calling the Department
Office at (908) 889-2535.
For general information about the degree or
for more information about the Scotch Plains
Campus:
Contact Dr. Janice Oursler at (908) 889-2462
or by e-mail at ourslejd@umdnj.edu or by mail at:
Janice
Oursler, Ph.D., CRC, Program Director
M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and
Counseling Professions
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey
1776 Raritan Rd., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
For more information about the M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling at the Stratford Campus, contact
Professor Bill Green at (856)566-2785 or by
e-mail at greenwf@umdnj.edu
or by mail:
Bill
Green, M.S., CRC
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and
Counseling Professions
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey
Primary Care Center - Room 228
40 East Laurel Road
Stratford, New Jersey 08084
For applications only, contact the Office of
Enrollment Services at (973) 972-5454
or e-mail at shrpadm@umdnj.edu.
The address to write to this office or to send
application forms and other admission documents
is:
Office Enrollment Services
UMDNJ-SHRP
65 Bergen Street, Room 147
Newark, NJ 07107-3001
|
