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Department of Counseling, Special Education, and Rehabilitation

M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling

Dr. Colleen Torgerson, Department Chair
Dr. Carol Rankin, Graduate Program Coordinator

Working Toward Independence

There are currently 54 million people with disabilities in this country. This number increases by 1 million each year. As the population ages, these figures are expected to expand significantly, creating an enormous need for rehabilitation counselors. Presently, every graduate of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at California State University, Fresno is hired within six months of graduation. Many are hired while still in school! The potential for growth of rehabilitation counseling truly makes it a major for the future.

Rehabilitation counselors work with a variety of people facing a variety of challenges: This includes people with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, mental illness, mental retardation and learning disabilities. Some have experienced brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and or sports injuries. Others experience chronic illness such as epilepsy, asthma, stroke, cardiac difficulties, chronic pain, and AIDS. There are others with addictions such as drug and alcohol dependencies and eating disorders or disabilities from aging.

Rehabilitation counselors work in a variety of settings: hospitals, group homes, rehabilitation centers, independent living centers, EAP offices, Veteran's Administration, federal and state government agencies, profit and non-profit agencies, vocational evaluation centers, job-hardening clinics, case management establishments, insurance companies, disability claims offices, advocacy centers, school systems, community outreach program, substance abuse clinics, community colleges or universities.

Rehabilitation counselors perform a variety of roles: facilitate treatment teams, provide counseling, training independent living, job finding and retention skills, job development, case management, advocacy and policy making, administration, expert testimony in court hearings, disability determination, assessment of work potential, job analysis, teaching, or substance abuse counseling.

The goal of a rehabilitation counselor is to help persons with disabilities move from a position of dependence to one of independence and autonomy. Rehabilitation counseling, as a profession, gives you the opportunity to find productive expression for your particular strengths and make a real difference in people's lives.

Program in Rehabilitation Counseling

The graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling is a CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education Inc.) accredited, 60-unit master's program. The mission of the program is "to serve people with disabilities by doing an outstanding job of training warm, empathic, trustworthy and competent Qualified Rehabilitation Professionals who will make a real difference in the lives of persons with disabilities and transform the practice of rehabilitation counseling in California and beyond." Full-time students can complete the 60 units in four semesters. The last semester is a full-time internship. Students who attend part-time usually finish within three years. The program is able to accommodate the varying needs of students. The program is the largest in the country with an enrollment of 120-130 students, but there is an emphasis on personal interaction and contact with each other, faculty and professionals in the field. Prior to completion of the final semester, students are eligible to sit for the national exam and become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors. The program is ranked 17th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and 2nd in California. It is known as a national leader in hands-on, real-world rehabilitation.

Why Study Rehabilitation Counseling at California State University, Fresno?

The ultimate goal of the graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling is of course, to assure that people with disabilities receive the highest quality counseling services possible. To accomplish this we focus on developing well-trained professionals who work at rehabilitation agencies or start their own.More specifically, the benefits of completing your graduate studies in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program include:

  • student led program where students have significant say in the operation of the program
  • one-on-one attention from faculty
  • multi-ethnic students, faculty, staff
  • a variety of career opportunities
  • opportunity to make a difference in peoples' lives
  • a nationally accredited program
  • a nationally ranked program
  • the largest residential graduate program in rehabilitation counseling in the country
  • faculty who are recognized leaders in the field, widely published, with proven teaching and research records, and a wealth of practical work experience
  • five clinics that provide students wide ranging real-life clinical experiences
  • home of the Center for Disability Innovation
  • a balance of classroom and practical field experiences
  • state-of-the-art high-tech counseling facilities
  • opportunity to become nationally certified upon graduation
  • a network of alumni in the field who support the program and its students
  • research and conference travel opportunities
  • numerous scholarships that pay for all tuition and fees and a monthly stipend
  • flexibility to meet student needs and interests
  • a strong connection with the community
  • and finally, a program that is experiencing a growth spurt within a profession that is itself growing.

Financial Assistance

Various types of financial aid are available. Applicants should contact the Financial Aid Office at (559) 278-2182, or program faculty. We administer five federal grants that provide scholarships that pay for all tuition, fees, monthly stipends and conference travel.

Working Toward Independence | Program in Rehabilitation Counseling | Why Study Rehabilitation Counseling at California State University, Fresno? | Financial Assistance | Faculty | Quick Facts