FAQs
Rehabilitation Counseling Program
University of Massachusetts Boston
FAQ’s
How long does it take to complete the program?
Students can complete the program in two years attending full-time (summer course work may be necessary) but have the option to complete the degree part-time. Students who attend part-time typically complete the degree in 3-4 years. Some of the required courses may need to be taken online.
What time of the day are classes held?
Classes meet once/week during the fall and spring semesters and are held at 4pm and 7pm. Online courses involve scheduled weekly synchronous web conferencing at varying times, typically in the evening.
How do I get licensed and certified as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)?
Our program prepares you to meet the educational requirements for Massachusetts licensure as a Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor. Upon completion of the 60-credit master’s degree program (or CAGS degree), you are eligible to take the licensure exam. In addition, students are eligible to take the CRC exam after successfully completed 75% of the course work.
Can I get licensed in another state as a rehabilitation counselor?
The CRC is a national certification and allows rehabilitation counselors to practice in many states.
What about accreditation?
Our university is regionally accredited through NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). For more info, please visit: http://www.umb.edu/academics/provostaccreditation.html. In addition, the rehabilitation counseling program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).
In what type of settings do rehabilitation counselors work in?
Rehabilitation counselors work in a variety of settings, including community-based outpatient agencies, residential treatment facilities, schools, hospitals, etc. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides more information about employment opportunities, prospects and salaries: http://www.bls.gov/OCO/. In addition, you can read more about the field through reviewing the national organization for rehabilitation counselors, called NRA National Rehabilitation Association: http://www.nationalrehab.org/ or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) website: http://www.crccertification.com
Where can I get full course descriptions?
You can access them within the graduate catalog at
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/umass-boston/graduatestudies0810/#/100
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/umass-boston/graduatestudies0810/#/110
How many courses do I have to take to complete the master’s degree program?
Students take a total of 18 courses (including 3 field-based courses: practicum and internship).
How many courses do I have to take to complete the CAGS degree program in rehabilitation counseling?
The CAGS degree program is an individualized program. Students applying to the CAGS who hold a master’s degree in counseling or its equivalent from an outside institution would complete a minimum of 30 credits of course work. Often, however, students may need to take more than 30 credits in order to meet the national certification requirements for the CRC.
Is there a culminating final project required for the master’s degree program?
Yes, students complete a capstone project, which is a culminating project of the master’s degree program. The capstone is completed during the internship seminar. It is a case analysis of a client that you are exposed to during the course of the internship. Students apply various theories and skills they have learned throughout their course work to a client case they are exposed to during the internship. Students within the rehabilitation counseling program can also choose to complete a research project in place of the case analysis with approval from an advisor.
How many practicum and internship hours do I complete?
The practicum is a total of 100 hours and the internship is a total of 600 hours (300 hours/semester).
What is the difference between the practicum and internship?
The practicum is an introduction to clinical practice as a rehabilitation counselor; therefore, students begin by observing a certified professional in the field. During the internship, the student is expected to begin seeing clients.
Where can I complete the practicum and internship?
Students complete the placement at a variety of locations, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, schools, residential treatment facilities under appropriate supervision. Students are provided a list of sites where our students have completed their placements in the past. It is possible to complete the practicum and internship at two different locations or at the same location.
Can I take a class or two to see what the program is like?
It is possible to take courses as a non-degree student as long as there is space available in the course and you have met the pre-requisites. Students can transfer up to 6 graduate credits (2 courses) taken at UMass Boston into the program as long as a grade of B or better is earned and you are accepted into the program. Typically, non-degree registration is held just before the semester begins. You can contact Kevin Ziomek, 617-287-7233 to find out when non-degree registration for the upcoming semester will be held.
How much does it cost to attend?
You can get information about tuition and fees at
http://umb.edu/administration_finance/bursar/tuition_fees.html
What opportunities for funding exist?
Training scholarships are now available to eligible graduate students of the University of Massachusetts Boston Rehabilitation Counseling program. These scholarships are made available from a Long-Term Training grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Please contact program director, Dr. Sheila Fesko (sheila.fesko@umb.edu), for information and scholarship application materials
We also offer a limited number of graduate research and administrative assistantships in our department. There are also graduate assistantship opportunities offered across the university. These opportunities provide varying tuition and fee waivers and stipends dependent on hours per week of work. Students can apply once they are accepted to the program. You can search for these positions under employment opportunities at http://www2.www.umb.edu/human_resource/job_hr/search.html. Students can also apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.
