Master in Psychiatric Rehabilitation -
Leadership Track

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. Admission decisions take into account all aspects of the candidate including academic performance and potential, career goals, occupational background, and personal experiences related to the choice of psychiatric rehabilitation as a career. Any individual who has a bachelor’s degree and employment experience in psychiatric rehabilitation may apply for the Leadership Track of the M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

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. Carlos Pratt at (908) 889-2461 to discuss any credits you wish to transfer to the Leadership Track.

Question: I have missed the application deadline. How can I get started right away?

Answer: You may 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 that can be taken before deciding to matriculate. A total of 12 credits taken as a non-matriculated student may be applied to the Leadership Track degree. For more information about enrolling as a non-matriculated student, contact Rebeca Santiago at The Center for Continuing & Outreach Education 732-235-4458 or email santare@umdnj.edu

Question: What credentials will the M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Leadership Track, help me to qualify for?

Answer: Graduates with the M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Leadership Track, are qualified to apply for 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. A number of states including Pennsylvania, Maine, Virginia, Georgia, and Illinois have incorporated the CPRP into their program and/or practitioner standards for providing psychiatric rehabilitation services. Other states are considering using the CPRP as part of their standards, and some organizations offering psychiatric rehabilitation services require the CPRP as a qualification for supervisory positions. More information about the CPRP is available at www.uspra.org/certification/.

Question: Can I satisfy my recertification requirements for the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) by taking Department psychiatric rehabilitation courses?

Answer: Yes. The United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) will accept Department graduate courses as fulfilling its recertification requirements.

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 for students attending the Program on-campus as students have access to computers in the campus computer laboratories and libraries. If you are planning to take the Leadership Track degree on-line, you will need access to a PC or MAC computer, the Internet, Netscape or Internet Explorer, or other JAVA enabled software and print capabilities from your computer.

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.

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. Information about how to open an e-mail account is provided as part of student orientation.

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 number is (973) 972-6388.

Question: What if I want to enroll in the Department’s Ph.D. Program when I graduate?

Answer: Courses completed for the Master of Science in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Leadership Track will be applied towards transfer if you are accepted to the Doctoral Program in Psychiatric Rehabilitation program.

Question: How can I get more information about the M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation?

Answer: You can request the Department’s Graduate Program brochure, which gives more detailed information about the program, by calling the Department Office at (908) 889-2430.

For general information about the Leadership Track of the M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, contact Dr. Carlos Pratt at (908) 889-2461 or by e-mail at pratt@umdnj.edu or by mail at:

Carlos Pratt, Ph.D., Program Director
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
1776 Raritan Rd., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

For applications only, contact the Office 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 of Academic and Enrollment Services UMDNJ-SHRP
65 Bergen Street, Room 147
Newark, NJ 07107-3001