We are a CACREP Accredited program as a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program through March 2029.
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 350
Alexandria, VA 22314
www.cacrep.org
Our Profession
Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors empower people with disabilities to make informed choices, build viable careers, and live more independently within the community. Through a counseling process, Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors provide and coordinate services for people with a wide range of physical and psychiatric disabilities, chronic conditions or diseases, and people who are in recovery from substance abuse disorders. Services include counseling to support clients in achieving their education and career goals through preparation activities and training for a specific occupation. Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors work with clients in a variety of settings, including schools and universities, state workforce systems, veteran's services, advocacy and non-profit agencies, employee assistance programs, private forensic practice, and hospital settings.
Program Description
This Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling curriculum is designed to involve the learner as an active participant in the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for competent practice in the field; and conforms to the stated requirements for the graduate education of Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors as set forth by accrediting and certification bodies. It is the intent of the program to graduate students who are:
- Ready to acknowledge the importance of ensuring dignity, independence, and wellness for persons with disabilities;
- Dedicated to adhering to the key values, standards, and codes of ethics as set forth by state and national licensing and certifying bodies;
- Engaged in reflective, creative problem-solving;
- Responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities;
- Sensitive to the collaborative therapeutic relationship;
- Involved in leadership roles to develop and enhance services;
- Able to act as a responsible advocate for persons with disabilities.
Students who graduate from the MSCR program are prepared to work with clients in a variety of settings; including schools and universities, state workforce systems, veteran services, advocacy and non-profit agencies, employee assistance programs, private forensic practice, and hospital settings. The program actively recruits students from diverse populations.
The Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MSCR) degree program is a distance education, 60 semester credit hour graduate program, designed to provide a comprehensive exposure to the field of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling.
The MSCR program was designed specifically for people who experience barriers to attending traditional types of graduate programs. The program is ideal for people who are employed full-time, who live in rural or isolated areas; have family or personal responsibilities that prevent them from taking on-campus study; or who simply cannot take extended time off to attend school. TTUHSC uses a variety of methods and technologies to maximize the students' educational experience, including web and internet-based technologies, web conferencing teleconferencing, hard copy, videotape/audiotape, and on-site practicum and internship experiences. These and other strategies are employed to ensure that all students, regardless of geographic location, are able to participate to the maximum degree possible in all aspects of their program. Students are not required to come to the TTUHSC campus.
Clinical Education
Clinical education is an integral aspect of the program. The MSCR program complies with all requirements for practicum and clinical internships as set forth by the relevant accrediting and certifying organizations. In order to meet these requirements, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling students will be required to complete two clinical experiences during their program. First, all students will participate in a 100 hour supervised rehabilitation counseling practicum, which fosters personal growth, provides active learning experiences, enhances student insights into individual, group, and organizational behavior, and introduces students to counseling approaches and the rehabilitation issues that affect service delivery. Delivered on a distance basis, these experiences will combine applied instruction by faculty with supervised practicum experiences in approved clinical sites, either at the student’s place of employment (when appropriate) or in approved rehabilitation settings.
Second, all students will be required to complete a 600-hour supervised internship in a rehabilitation setting. Students who are employed in a clinical rehabilitation counseling setting may, with program and employer approval, utilize these locales for their internship experiences.
Professional Liability Insurance
All MSCR students are required to obtain and provide proof of individual counseling liability insurance before being allowed to participate in their clinical experiences. This requirement is in effect as of Fall 2020.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MSCR) program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center forwards the mission of the University by providing a practitioner training program focused on the unique needs of diverse communities, especially in rural settings. We are committed to preparing entry-level clinical rehabilitation counselors to work competently and ethically through the mastery of evidence-based practices. Our focus centers on empowering people with disabilities to make informed choices, build viable careers, and live more independently within the community.
Program Goals
The goal of the program is to prepare students with the counseling and rehabilitation knowledge and skills to assist people with a wide range of physical and psychiatric disabilities, chronic conditions or diseases, and social disabilities in achieving their education and career goals.
The objectives of our program are linked to our mission statement. They are to provide:
- Educational experiences that facilitate the development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to practice as qualified clinical rehabilitation counselors with a diverse population in a wide variety of contexts.
- Learning opportunities to support the ability to implement culturally responsive and ethically sound clinical rehabilitation counseling practices throughout their careers, and to advocate for individuals with disabilities and the profession.
- Clinical training experiences focused on translating acquired knowledge, attitudes, and skills to evidence-based practice in a wide range of real-world opportunities.
The MSCR program strives to accomplish our mission, goals, and objectives by:
- Recruiting, educating, and graduating a diverse population of students who are prepared to provide clinical rehabilitation counseling services in a variety of employment settings.
- Providing a rigorous academic environment that provides a solid foundation to prepare entry-level Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors who meet national certification standards.
- Working closely with the public and private rehabilitation communities to ensure well-trained graduates are considered valued employees.
- Developing a faculty that is valued by our students and the rehabilitation community for our teaching, research, and service.
- Achieving the highest quality program possible within the constraints of available financial, human, technological, and time resources.
- Developing commitment within students to empower individuals with disabilities to identify and maximize their resources to meet their developmental, vocational, independent living, and educational needs.
- Instilling within students a commitment to developing a life-long commitment to learning professionalism continuing education throughout their career.
Certification and Licensure
Upon completion of the MSCR program, students will possess the competencies and experiences necessary to take the Certified Rehabilitation Examination (CRC), National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Successful graduates can be credentialed as a Certified Rehabilitation Examination (CRC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and apply for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in most states.
Admission to the Program
The MSCR Program enrolls students in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Students applying for the Fall semester must submit an application by June 1 and those applying for the Spring semester must submit an application by November 1.
Individuals applying to the program should already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in a related area such as psychology, social work, special education, sociology, nursing, and related disciplines, however, all disciplines are accepted. To be considered for admission, it is recommended that applicants meet one of the following GPA requirements:
- An overall grade point average GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale OR
- A minimum cumulative GPA in the last 60 semester hours of courses of 2.7 or higher from all college credit is required.
- Applicants with lower GPAs may be considered based upon their work experience in a human services or related field for (3) or more years.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Millers Analogies Test (M.A.T.) scores are NOT required for entry into the MSCR program. Prior work or volunteer experience in human service settings is considered a valuable attribute for applicants but is not mandatory. Students may transfer up to 9 credit hours, if applicable, with program approval. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process
Students will submit a completed application form, transcripts, an essay from the applicant outlining their rationale for applying to the program, 2 letters of reference, and a resume. Qualified candidates may be contacted for an interview.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to assure that all supporting documentation is received by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs. Application materials and detailed information on application procedures and admission criteria can be accessed via the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Health Professions website at http://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/admissions/application.aspx. Applications for non-degree-seeking students wishing to participate in selected MSCR courses may be accepted with prior approval. Please contact the program director for more information.
