Overview: Auburn
University
's Rehabilitation Programs have a rich and long history. Since the first courses in vocational evaluation were developed and presented in 1967, the rehabilitation programs developed by faculty of the Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education have included vocational evaluation and work adjustment, rehabilitation counseling, and a unique undergraduate program in rehabilitation and disability studies.
The rehabilitation faculty currently and throughout its history has been representative of highly productive and involved members of the rehabilitation profession as practitioners and educators. Graduates of the rehabilitation program have distinguished themselves in the number and types of leadership and counseling roles—commissioner of vocational rehabilitation, executive director/directors of professional organizations, elected positions within local, state, and national professional organizations, editorial responsibilities of local, state and national professional groups, counseling practices in the private sector, a multitude of counseling and supervisory positions within the state-federal program of vocational rehabilitation, and internationally with non-profit rehabilitative organizations.
The Rehabilitation Program was recently ranked among the nation's best by US News & World Report. The undergraduate program is one of 12 nationwide that is chartered with the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). The graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling is also CORE accredited. (back to top)
Undergraduate Program: B.S. Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies
Auburn
University
's undergraduate program in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies prepares students for jobs in the rehabilitation field such as vocational evaluation and work adjustment, mental health technicians, case managers, human service workers, and as supported employment specialists. Many students utilize this academic major as a preparation for graduate study in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, sociology, law, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other social and allied health occupations. Graduate school acceptance rates for
Auburn
University
Rehabilitation and Disability Studies graduates are outstanding. Graduates have been employed throughout the
United States
and internationally.
The undergraduate curriculum is designed to provide students with a liberal arts foundation and comprehensive knowledge of rehabilitation and disability studies. This exciting undergraduate major exposes students to the foundation and history of the rehabilitation movement within the context of current research in rehabilitation strategies and processes, creating a comprehensive spectrum of knowledge of rehabilitation and disability studies. To earn an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours of course work inclusive of 41 semester hours of Core Curriculum composed of course work in the humanities, social sciences, math and biological sciences in addition to 79 semester hours of course work in rehabilitation and disability studies, other required university courses, and electives.
The undergraduate major in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies is one of approximately 60 such academic programs nationwide.
Auburn
University
's undergraduate program was one of 12 original programs chartered with the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) in 1999.(back to top)
Master's Program: M.S. or M.Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling
The master's program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and provides students with the necessary academic and clinical experiences to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination. The program provides the opportunity through elective course work to specialize in vocational evaluation and to sit for the Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) examination. Specialization in other areas of rehabilitation counseling such as forensic rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling, and other topical areas may be obtained through the selection of appropriate elective courses in consultation with the student's major advisor. The Rehabilitation Counseling program requires a 100 hour practicum taken early in the program and a 600 hour supervised clinical practice or internship generally taken near the conclusion of the program. Rehabilitation counseling students may select a thesis (M.S.) or non-thesis (M. Ed.) program of study. The thesis option requires 64 hours of course work while the non-thesis program requires 60 semester hours and requires the student to successfully pass a written comprehensive examination—the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. The graduate Rehabilitation Counseling Program was recently ranked among the nation's best by US News & World Report. Graduates of the Rehabilitation Counseling program are prepared to serve youth and adults with disabilities as rehabilitation counselors in the state-federal program of vocational rehabilitation, in the proprietary sector of rehabilitation, and in the non-profit sector of community rehabilitation programs. (back to top)
Distance Education Master's Program: M.Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling
The Rehabilitation Counseling Distance Education program received the Excellence in Education and Training award from the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration. The award winning master's program in rehabilitation counseling that principally serves the eight southeastern states utilizes sophisticated communication outlets such as WebCT, streaming media, wireless technology, and online (live) chats with instructor and fellow students. (more—Distance Education website and representative curriculum schedule) (back to top)
Doctoral Program: Ph.D. in Rehabilitation
Graduates of the doctoral program are prepared for careers in research and instruction in higher education, or leadership roles in administration and policy-making at the state and national levels. The doctoral degree is comprised of a minimum of 100 semester credit hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Prospective students whose master's degree is in related human services or other areas must demonstrate basic competency in rehabilitation counseling through needed academic course work and clinical experiences culminating in the receipt of the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation. Students who have a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from a CORE accredited program will have partially fulfilled a basic requirement/competency in Rehabilitation Counseling. The standards set forth in the CORE curriculum domains (Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling Services, Case Management, Vocational and Career Development, Assessment, Job Development and Placement, Research, and Practica and Internship) must be achieved prior to entry in the doctoral program or concurrently with admission to the doctoral program. Similarly, the knowledge and performance areas noted by the Commission on Certification of Work Adjustment and Vocational Evaluation Specialists (Principles of Vocational Evaluation, Standardized Assessment, Occupational Information, Implications of Disability, and Professional Communication) and certification as a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE) must be met in those situations where dual competency is desired by the prospective student. (back to top) 
