Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling

Mission and Objectives:

The mission of the program is to develop rehabilitation counseling professionals with the specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to offer coordinate and advocate services for people with disabilities; in order for them to have same opportunities as others individuals and thus accomplish their personnel, psychological, and vocational goals. Consistent with the program’s mission are the following objectives:

1. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling in a legal and ethical manner, integrating the philosophy, and laws that affect people with disabilities.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply the theories and techniques of the rehabilitation counseling in groups and individuals with disabilities.
3. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling in rehabilitation planning and case management, integrating the individual assessment, cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors into the individual planning.
4. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling by using knowledge of vocational and career development to facilitate consumer’s involvement in determining vocational goals and capabilities related to the job market.
5. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling through the identification and utilization of assessment information, to determine an individual's eligibility for rehabilitation services and/or programs including the need for services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.
6. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling in job development, placement and job retention, using labor market information.
7. Obtain and apply information from professional literature and research in rehabilitation counseling.
8. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling, understanding the diversity in the issues that affect the attitudes of both individuals with disabilities and professional service providers.
9. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling integrating the medical and psychological information in the implication of the functional capacities of person with disabilities
10. Demonstrate the ability to practice the profession of rehabilitation counseling integrating the knowledge of social, psychological, spiritual, and learning needs of individual at all developmental level.
11. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, competences, and professionalism in a supervised clinical experience that will prepare students to engage in effective rehabilitation counseling practices consistent with the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors.

¿What is the function of a Rehabilitation Counselor?

The Rehabilitation Counselor Professional works with persons of all age groups that have some sort of physical, emotional or learning disability helping them achieve their maximum potential so that they can develop as self sufficient and independent citizens and participate in a active role in the society.

Assist the Disabled person to achieve economic, psychological, emotional, social and vocational independence to increase the quality of life. Identify and facilitate services that they require so that they can achieve their goals.

Offer services such as: Personal Counseling, individual evaluations, medical and psychological report analysis, assessment, vocational evaluation and orientation, job placement, and employer coordination, among others. Work with individuals and organizations to eliminate social and environmental barriers that disabled persons confront.

The Rehabilitation Counselor motivates disabled persons to make decisions, plan achievable careers, and to live more independently.

Required Academic Preparation:

It is required to have a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and the license that is expedited by the state.

Qualities for a Rehabilitation Counselor:

• Disposition to work in multidisciplinary teams
• Master oral and written skills
• Be sensible
• Empathy with his/her clients
• Flexible
• Be able to see possibilities where others see limitations
• Committed to intercede for the rights of the disabled person

Job Opportunities:

Experts estimate that the Job Opportunities for Rehabilitation Counselors will increase in Puerto Rico and the US mainland.

They can be employed at:

• Voc. Rehab Agencies
• Mental Health Hospitals
• Organizations that offer services to Disabled persons
• Insurance Agencies
• State Insurance Fund Agency
• ACAA
• The Correctional System

Admission Requirements:

1. BA Degree form an accredited University

• Priority will be given to candidates that have a BA in Social Work, Psychology, Education, special education, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
• Besides the BA, experience with disabled persons at the personal, familiar and job related experience will be considered.

2. GPA of 2.75 or higher.

• GPA’s between 2.50 and 2.74 will be evaluated with no guarantee of being admitted. If admitted, it will be a conditional admission.

3. A score of 425 or higher in the Post Graduate Admission Exam or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

4. Present the required documentation from the Admissions Office:

• Admission’s application
• Letters of Recommendation
• Official Credit Transcript
• Exam results

5. Demonstrate written and oral skills.

6. Individual and Group interview by the Committee.

For more information please call: 787-786-3030, ext. 2520, 2521 y 2522.

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