Online M.S. in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Program Highlights

With the increasing demands for rehabilitation counselors to work with and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families, this online RC program trains and equips working professionals and students from within and outside Mississippi with the requisite skills, knowledge, and qualities required to become highly qualified, ethically and culturally responsive rehabilitation professionals working in the field of human services.

In-State Tuition for All: Students both in and out of state only pay In-State tuition rates.
Fully Online: All courses are 100% online, making them accessible from anywhere in Mississippi and beyond.
Our program provides unique training experiences for students by incorporating a university-based and community practicum and internship training sites which provides opportunities to develop professional counseling skills working with persons with disabilities in a variety of medical facilities, clinics, rehabilitation centers, private practices, community organizations, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and other government agencies.

Respected Degree from an Accredited University: Earn your degree from Mississippi State University, a nationally recognized research institution and leader in online education.
Flexible Schedule: Courses are delivered asynchronously to accommodate work and life schedules.
Licensures: Graduates from our program meet the educational qualifications for:
- certification as Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC), a nationally recognized credential
- immediate eligibility for licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Mississippi. It is the responsibility of the student/graduate to register and complete the required supervision hours and exams for the LPC after graduation. LPC requirements are available on the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors website

Career Opportunities

Rehabilitation Counselors work in multiple setting to include but not restricted to:

State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies
Nonprofit rehabilitation programs
High schools and college settings
Independent living centers
Medical rehabilitation centers

Substance abuse treatment programs
Mental health agencies
Corrections facilities
Veteran’s Affairs, or private industry

Degree Requirements

Every student in the counseling program is expected to meet the program common core, concentration area knowledge, and skill requirements. Opportunities for students to meet these requirements will occur in the online classroom and during the practicum and internship experiences.

To graduate with a Master of Science in Counseling degree with a concentration in rehabilitation counseling students must:

Complete a minimum of 60 hours
- 39 core counseling, practicum, and internship hours
- 6 elective course hours
- 15 rehabilitation counseling concentration hours
Students must pass a comprehensive master’s examination
- Graduate students must have a graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher to be eligible to take the comprehensive examination and to be awarded any graduate degree.
- No exceptions to this policy are granted by the Office of Graduate Studies.
“Gatekeeper” Courses in the Counseling Master’s Program
- “Gatekeeper” courses are those foundational courses that are considered integral to success in the Counseling Program.
- Unless otherwise approved by the program graduate coordinator, students are required to earn a grade of “B” or better in each counseling “gatekeeping” course before they are permitted to progress to the next course in the sequence. These specific courses and their required sequence include:
  - COE 8023: Counseling Theory
  - COE 8013: Counseling Skills
  - COE 8043: Group Techniques and Procedures
  - COE 8633 Psychosocial Rehabilitation (not a requirement for rehabilitation counseling students)
  - COE 8053/8153: Practicum
  - COE 8730/8740: Internship

A standard rubric, the Comprehensive Disposition Review Form, is designed to assess students’ performance in these courses.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Commonly Asked Questions

Will the diploma say it was earned online?

No, diplomas from Mississippi State University do not show whether the requirements were met through online or in-person courses

What are Rehabilitation Counseling Core and Specialty Area Objectives?

Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of counselor professional roles, responsibilities, and ethical and legal practices.
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply counseling practices and skills effectively across various client populations, settings, and concerns.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of factors that affect human development and abilities across the lifespan.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of career development theories, models, and assessment, as well as technology resources and tools.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills to counsel clients from various backgrounds.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of group work across varied counseling settings.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of evidence-based assessments in counseling.
Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of evidence-based counseling research used to inform counseling practices and interventions.
Students will apply counseling practices that support professional growth and development as part of their professional counseling identity.

Specialty Area Objectives

Students will demonstrate skills in applying evidence-based strategies to facilitate the adjustment and adaptation to disability and knowledge in utilizing career development and employment models to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving and sustaining competitive employment opportunities in integrated settings.

Who should pursue this degree?

Do you have a passion to:

Help people with physical, mental, cognitive, or emotional disabilities maximize their potential and make life changes toward increasing their capacity to live independently?
Assist people with disabilities evaluate their interests and talents, to develop realistic career goals. and find appropriate job placement opportunities that leads to job satisfaction and good quality of life?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this program is for you!

As a rehabilitation counselor, your specialized knowledge and skills of disabilities and the impact of environmental factors differentiate you from other type of counselors To know more about the unique functions of certified rehabilitation counselors and what they do, check out: The Unique Function and Value of a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for People With Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (archives-pmr.org).

What Our People Say

"Being a part of MS State Online has been quite an opportunity. I have made more friends than I first thought with this being an all-online class, and the ease of doing my classes from home has been a lifesaver for scheduling my social and vocational life."

Grady Weston Hammett Cobb,

Admissions – Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Ready to advance your education with a flexible, fully online replaceMe degree in replaceMe? Follow the steps below to apply for the Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling at Mississippi State University.

Academic Advising

Advising is an essential part of your success in the Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling program. Whether you're just getting started or preparing to graduate, your dedicated academic advisor is here to guide you every step of the way.

Dr. Zacchues J. Ahonle

Counseling, Educational Psychology & Foundations

Coordinator/Primary Advisor

zja34@msstate.edu

Meet Your Academic Advisor

replaceMe

Advising Guidelines

Upon university admission, reach out to your advisor to determine the appropriate courses.
Mississippi State University relies on email as its official means of communication for all MSU students.
Check your MSU email daily for important updates. Find instructions for setting up your MSU online on the student services website.

Program Reminders

Ensure to consult with your advisor if you intend to deviate from the program.
If you opt for courses outside your recommended program of study, there is a risk that the classes will not count toward the degree.

Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Tuition & Fees

Apply Now!

myState

Class Schedule

Request Info

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Program Highlights

Career Opportunities

Degree Requirements

Transfer Credit

Commonly Asked Questions

What Our People Say

"Being a part of MS State Online has been quite an opportunity. I have made more friends than I first thought with this being an all-online class, and the ease of doing my classes from home has been a lifesaver for scheduling my social and vocational life."

Grady Weston Hammett Cobb,

Admissions – Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Additional Required Application Step

Academic Advising

Dr. Zacchues J. Ahonle

Counseling, Educational Psychology & Foundations

Meet Your Academic Advisor

Advising Guidelines

Program Reminders

Contact Us

Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Tuition & Fees

Apply Now!

myState

Class Schedule

Request Info

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Program Highlights

Career Opportunities

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration

Transfer Credit

Commonly Asked Questions

What Our People Say

"Being a part of MS State Online has been quite an opportunity. I have made more friends than I first thought with this being an all-online class, and the ease of doing my classes from home has been a lifesaver for scheduling my social and vocational life."

Grady Weston Hammett Cobb,

Admissions – Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling

Admissions Requirements

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Readmission

Additional Required Application Step

Academic Advising

Dr. Zacchues J. Ahonle

Counseling, Educational Psychology & Foundations

Meet Your Academic Advisor

Advising Guidelines

Program Reminders

Contact Us