***Please note that as of December 2005, the Rehabilitation Services program is no longer accepting applications***

M.A. PROGRAMS IN REHABILITATION SERVICES

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

The program assists students in developing practical skills in individual and group counseling, job placement and development, medical and psychological aspects of disabling conditions, rehabilitation case management, and research and program evaluation.  Students are encouraged to develop areas of specialization according to their professional interests and goals.

Students are required to complete a field-based practice and internship to develop a necessary experiential base for learning.  This reflects the program's philosophy that a combination of classroom instruction and supervised experience provides the best opportunity for professional growth and development.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

The Master's Degree prepares students to function as Rehabilitation Counselors in a variety of settings.  It has two major components: Counseling (personal adjustment and development) and Vocational (vocational evaluation, job development and placement, and career enhancement).

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Students graduating from the Rehabilitation Services program have a wide variety of employment opportunities, both in Ohio and nationwide.  Major employers are the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, serving persons with disabilities in Ohio; Goodwill Industries; Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; and many private companies serving injured workers.  The placement rate of graduates is near 100%, with many students finding employment during their practica and internships.

TIME OF STUDY

The master’s program is a 72-credit hour program and typically takes two years of full-time study to complete.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

The admissions process for entry into the program is competitive. Selection of applicants is based upon previous academic achievement, positive work experience, standardized test scores, and student’s career goals. Most applicants accepted into the program have the following qualifications:

1. A cumulative point-hour-ratio of 3.00 or better
2. An educational background, work experience, or both
3. An interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds and who have significant disabilities

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

The program has a limited number of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) traineeships for students.  These traineeships provide the student with a monthly stipend and waiver of resident tuition costs.  While receiving the traineeship, the student must maintain a full load of coursework (ten or more credit hours per quarter) and a GPA of 3.0.

Traineeships will be awarded only to students who have been accepted into the program. Consideration is given to student need, the amount of funds available, and other factors, including student status as disabled or minority group members when awarding traineeships. Preference in awards will be given to minorities, persons with disabilities and women, all other factors being equal.  We have taken an aggressive affirmative action stance as indicated by the high number of minority and disabled graduates from the Rehabilitation Counseling program.  Although quotas are not set for awarding traineeships to minorities and applicants with disabilities, these applicants will be given the highest priority in making these awards.

OTHER INFORMATION

Relationship to other programs

In addition to academic resources within the University, Ohio State has several service and research-oriented programs that contribute to Rehabilitation Counseling students' learning experiences and may serve as placements for field experience.  Ohio State has a very effective Office for Disability Services, which assists students with disabilities and serves as a strong advocate for the rights of the disabled on campus.  The Ohio State University Hospitals complex includes Dodd Hall, an outstanding comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation center.  The Rehabilitation program has been involved in the development of interprofessional coursework and field experiences in the Dodd Hall facility.  The Nisonger Center, a comprehensive research, training, and service facility for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities is also a source of knowledge and field experience for the students in the Rehabilitation Counseling program.  The Ohio Center for Research in Vocational Education is another important University-based program.  Faculty in the Rehabilitation program work closely with the Center staff to identify specific research needs in the areas of job placement, job development, and post-employment services.

The J. Leonard Camera Rehabilitation Center, a 50 million dollar facility for persons with industrial injuries, is also located on Ohio State’s campus.  This center provides an unparalleled opportunity for rehabilitation students to learn how to conduct effective consultation with employers to identify employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.

The College of Education supports and administers Ohio State’s Psychoeducational Clinic, a program that provides rehabilitation services and academic remediation to students with learning and other disabilities.

Accreditation

The Ohio State University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and holds membership in the Association of American Universities and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

The College of Education is accredited by both the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the State Department of Education in Ohio. The Ohio State University Rehabilitation Services Program has continued to maintain accreditation by the Council of Rehabilitation Education.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

*Electives are chosen in conjunction with the faculty advisor.

Credit hours required for graduation: 72

Visit the Rehabilitation Services home page at: http://ehe.osu.edu/paes/cerssp/rehab