Master of Science
in Rehabilitation Counseling
Mission
Statement:
The
mission of the M.S. program in Rehabilitation
Counseling is to educate individuals to be socially
responsible professionals who will work competently,
creatively and collaboratively in the field
of counseling with a specialization in rehabilitation
so that people with disabilities are empowered
to pursue career and other related goals with
success and satisfaction. We also seek to address
New Jersey’s ongoing needs to prepare
counselors with specialized expertise in providing
counseling and other community-based services
for people with disabilities of all types, including
psychiatric, physical and developmental. The
mission of the M.S. program in Rehabilitation
Counseling is consistent with that of the Department,
SHRP and UMDNJ.
M.S. Program in Rehabilitation Counseling
Objectives:
Objectives for the M.S. program in Rehabilitation
Counseling include:
- Preparing at the master’s degree
level highly qualified counselors with a specialization
in rehabilitation counseling.
- Increasing the supply of qualified professionals
with special counseling expertise in the rehabilitation
of persons with disabilities for New Jersey
and the surrounding region. As the only university
in New Jersey offering graduate counseling
education with a specialization in rehabilitation
counseling, we have designed this degree to
address the long-standing shortage of master’s
level counseling practitioners with this expertise
in New Jersey. This includes increasing the
supply of qualified practitioners throughout
the state by offering the degree regionally
at two campuses.
- Evaluating and improving curriculum and
other program elements to assure Council on
Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards
continue to be met.
- Increasing awareness of the M.S. program
in Rehabilitation Counseling in the counseling
community as well as in the larger New Jersey
community and surrounding regions to recruit
and enroll adequate numbers of students.
- Developing certificate programs and/or
courses to meet the needs of counseling professionals
who wish to upgrade their qualifications and
credentials in working with individuals with
disabilities.
- Providing a career ladder for individuals
who have obtained a bachelor’s degree
in rehabilitation and are interested in completing
preparation as a counselor with a specialization
in counseling individuals with disabilities.
- Seeking funding including grants to assist
students with tuition.
- Expanding affiliations to provide students
with a variety of counseling practice opportunities.
- Developing faculty practice with an emphasis
on community service.
Statement of Philosophy and Expectations
of Students:
The Rehabilitation Counseling faculty at UMDNJ
affirms its commitment to rehabilitation counseling
as a specialization within the field of counseling
providing an effective process to assist individuals
with disabilities to choose, get and keep roles
they value in the community. Among the roles
individuals are interested in attaining and
maintaining are worker, student, independent
community resident, and member of a social network.
Through professional practice, the process of
finding or renewing purpose and meaning in life
is enhanced as individuals with disabilities
gain or regain roles that they prefer and value
in the community.
To accomplish the mission of the program and
to prepare program graduates to work in a variety
of settings such as government agencies, community
agencies, and hospitals, we seek to provide
students with a broad knowledge of the counseling
field including theory, research, and ethical
practices and decision-making, a well-developed
set of interpersonal and counseling skills as
applied to the helping relationship, and specialized
knowledge of working with individuals with disabilities.
The curriculum is designed to educate students
in the knowledge base of the field including
current research combined with supervised clinical
experience in counseling to practice that knowledge
base. It is recognized that an interaction between
these elements is essential.
Counselors who specialize in working with individuals
with disabilities have extensive contact with
other helping professionals, paraprofessionals,
and self-help groups. The faculty is committed
to the development of program graduates who
can work competently, creatively and collaboratively
with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
As part of accomplishing this, students are
encouraged to learn about existing community
resources for assisting individuals with disabilities
and make maximum use of them.
Program graduates are also prepared to work
with the wider environment as advocates and
change agents. Besides proficiency in working
with individuals with disabilities to modify
their behavior to accomplish goals, proficiency
is developed to interact with the environment
to negotiate and, if needed, modify the environment
in the interests of providing services to clients.
Faculty members seek to promote an open environment
for the consideration and discussion of a wide
variety of theories and points of view. As part
of this orientation, information and methodology
from a range of disciplines are presented and
discussed. In promoting understanding of the
complexity of human behavior, all the behavioral
and social sciences need to be considered.
In teaching professional counseling skills,
many faculty members have training and experience
in cognitive and behavioral counseling approaches
such as the Boston University approach for assisting
individuals with disabilities to choose, get
and keep goals of their choice. Key tenets emphasized
in this approach include active involvement
of clients in planning and goal setting, behavioral
improvement in the environment of need as a
critical client outcome, and a primary focus
on improving client competency. The uniqueness
of the individual is also emphasized with choice
identified as a core value. Services are individualized
for the needs and preferences of each client
as part of the helping relationship with a focus
on the identification and use of personal strengths.
The faculty encourages applications from individuals
from diverse backgrounds who are interested
in studying for this degree. We recognize the
need for diversity as part of preparing to serve
a diversified and varied population of clients
and welcome applications from a wide variety
of personal, social, ethnic, cultural and educational
backgrounds.
All Department faculty strive to create an environment
rich in opportunities, experiences, and knowledge
that enhance the education of our students.
We are committed to the highest standards of
excellence in preparing the professionals of
tomorrow. We seek out the latest research to
inform our academic and professional practice,
and share our knowledge in a stimulating, friendly
and professional atmosphere.
As a student, you are expected to maintain high
standards of personal and professional integrity,
a caring attitude, and a motivation to learn
and succeed. You are expected to participate
as an active learner in your education. To be
an active learner means to:
- Take advantage of learning opportunities
- Dedicate time and energy to your studies
- Accept responsibility for learning, and
for seeking clarification, assistance, and
resources to address learning difficulties
- Contribute to your own learning and that
of other students
- Build an enduring base of knowledge and
skill
We
want you to grow and advance in your chosen
field of study and to contribute to the advancement
of the profession. Whether you come to us with
years of experience or you are new to the field,
we welcome you to an environment of mutual learning
and professional growth.
Accommodations:
We invite applications from all individuals
who are interested in studying for the M.S.
in Rehabilitation Counseling including individuals
with disabilities. If you have a disability
and need an accommodation, contact Dr. Janice
Oursler at (908) 889-2462 for the Scotch Plains
campus or Professor Bill Green at (856) 566-2785
for the Stratford campus. You can also contact
the Disability Compliance Coordinator at (973) 972-8594. Additional
information about services for students with
disabilities is available at http://shrp.umdnj.edu,
click on Current Students and then select Student
Services and Requesting Accommodations for Disabilities.
The Department has available supported education
services for students with disabilities. Students
who are interested in these services should
contact Melissa Roberts at (908) 889-2430 or
by e-mail at robertmm@umdnj.edu.
|
