Master in Psychiatric Rehabilitation -
Leadership Track

Mission and Philosophy

Mission of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ): The University’s mission is to promote professional standards of excellence among students and health care professional by meeting the health needs of New Jersey citizens through the coordination of education, research and community service.

Mission of the Master of Science in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program:

The Program’s mission is to educate psychiatric rehabilitation professionals with the skills, knowledge and abilities to provide state-of-the-art services to persons with severe mental illness. Effective psychiatric rehabilitation professionals and the services they provide promote recovery, improved quality of life and community integration. In addition, program graduates are prepared to advocate effectively for improved services and community acceptance of individuals with severe mental illness as well as take on leadership roles, either clinically or in management and supervisory capacities, depending on the degree track pursued.

Philosophy of the Department’s Graduate Programs:

The faculty affirms its commitment to psychiatric rehabilitation and rehabilitation counseling as effective processes 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 the practice of these two professions, 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.

Helping professionals including those with managerial and supervisory positions must be prepared to work in a variety of settings such as government agencies, hospitals and community agencies. To accomplish this, students need a broad knowledge of the field of counseling including theory, research, ethical practices and decision-making, as well as a well-developed set of interpersonal and professional counseling skills. The program curriculum is designed to educate students through a combination of exposure to the knowledge base of the field, current research and research methods, and supervised experience in a practicum or through an independent study project or thesis.

As professionals, our students and graduates have extensive contact with other helping professionals, paraprofessionals, and self-help groups. The faculty is committed to the development of professionals 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.

Our students and graduates are prepared to work with the wider environment as advocates and change agents. Proficiency in interacting with the environment to negotiate and, if needed, modify the environment in the interests of providing services to clients is an essential helping skill.

Faculty members seek to promote an open environment for the consideration and discussion of a wide variety of theories and points of view. In promoting understanding of the complexity of human behavior, all the behavioral and social sciences need to be considered.
As part of this orientation, information and methodology from a range of disciplines are presented and discussed.

In teaching professional counseling skills, many faculty members have training and experience in the Boston University approach for assisting individuals with disabilities to choose, get and keep goals of their choice. The philosophy and techniques of this approach are presented in basic counseling skills courses. Key tenets emphasized in this approach include active involvement of clients in rehabilitation, 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 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 a challenging curriculum based on widely accepted expertise, empirical findings, and best practices. We recognize the need for diversity in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation to serve a diversified and varied population of individuals with severe mental illness, and we welcome applicants from a wide variety of personal, social, ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.

Accommodations:

We invite applications from all individuals who are interested in studying psychiatric rehabilitation including individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and need an accommodation, contact Dr. Carlos Pratt at (908) 889-2461. You can also contact the Disability Compliance Coordinator at (973) 972-8594.

The Department has available supported education services. Students who are interested in these services should contact Michele Mullen at (908) 889-2513 or by e-mail at mullenmi@umdnj.edu.