Rehabilitation Counseling (M.S.)

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares students to become highly effective and competent counselors working with people with disabilities and diverse client populations. The program equips students with professional understanding, knowledge, and skills needed to assist adolescents and adults with disabilities in achieving their maximum level of independence and functioning. Students will gain competency in navigating a global society with cultural fluency.

The Rehabilitation Counseling program embeds elements of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into its curriculum by creating environments and experiences that actively work towards eliminating discrimination and barriers and promotes social justice and equity. The intentional focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the curriculum equip students to gain competency in navigating a global society with cultural fluency.

Choose from one of three concentration options: 

1. Vocational Rehabilitation - The specialization in Vocational Rehabilitation prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to work as a Rehabilitation Counselor to support people with disabilities in training and preparation to enter the workforce, enter a new career field or return to work after illness or injury.
2. Clinical Rehabilitation - The specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to work as a Rehabilitation Counselor to assist people with physical, psychiatric, emotional, and/or social disabilities through counseling and guidance.
3. Addiction Rehabilitation - The specialization in Addiction Rehabilitation prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to work as a Rehabilitation Counselor to assist people with disabilities in diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of addiction and co-occurring disorders.

Program Requirements Department of Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy Graduate Assistantships

Program Highlights

• 10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
• 3-5 graduate assistantships offered by the School of Graduate Studies 
• Designed for full-time or part-time students
• Online or on-campus options
• All professors in the program have degrees in rehabilitation counseling and experience in the field
• Students may take classes with 3 other counseling psychology programs
• A federal Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Grant funds partial tuition reimbursement for 16 students per year through 2024
• Graduates meet the educational requirements to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and/or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Students who add 12 additional credits in the required content areas can gain the education needed to sit for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Program Distinctions

• Accredited​ for more than 40 years by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).  Since the merger of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and CORE, the program has been accredited by CACREP since July 1, 2017
• The program has been preparing rehabilitation counselors for the field for 52 years and is one of the oldest accredited programs at St. Cloud State
• Students present at the state, national and international level
• Students participate in coordinating the annual event: Embracing the Difference the ABILITY EVENT

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