Prospective Students
Rehabilitation counselors and administrators provide rehabilitation services to Individuals from diverse backgrounds who have disabling conditions such as psychiatric disabilities, cognitive disabilities, substance use disorders, visual or hearing impairments, orthopedic disabilities, and other types of disabilities. Rehabilitation professionals collaborate with consumers to address disabilities in ways that improve their quality of life and lead to greater levels of self-sufficiency. They work with individuals in the context of their family unit and environment to effect positive change. In most cases, gainful employment is the expected outcome. For some individuals, the goal is to achieve the most autonomy and independence possible. SDSU's Rehabilitation Counseling Program addresses vocational, psychosocial, medical, and cultural aspects of disability. Students learn to propose, develop, package, and deliver specific rehabilitation training programs and services, and to evaluate, monitor, and refine these programs.
Graduates of the RCP often serve as counselors and coordinators of rehabilitation programs, making services and benefits available to consumers. Rehabilitation administrators may serve as program developers and entrepreneurs capable of identifying and responding to community needs. As both rehabilitation counselors and administrators they function as advocates for people with disabilities.
What kind of a job might I be able to do with an M.S. degree in rehabilitation counseling?
Upon graduation, a rehabilitation counselor is qualified to work in a wide variety of rehabilitation settings. A rehabilitation counselor can find employment within State Departments of Rehabilitation; in community rehabilitation programs, as evaluators, counselors, assistive technology specialists, or placement specialists; and in other community agencies that provide rehabilitation services with persons with disabilities. Some graduates work in specialized fields such as deafness, mental health and alcohol and drug abuse. Another market for rehabilitation counselors is in private rehabilitation, providing rehabilitation services for injured workers. Rehabilitation counselors are employed in school settings, to assist students with disabilities transitioning from school to work. Institutions of higher education and private industry offer employment opportunities for rehabilitation counselors. Finally, many graduates develop their own careers through grants and contracts that support services to individuals with disabilities. Our graduates work as program managers and administrators in all of these settings. The demand for qualified rehabilitation professionals is expected to increase steadily during the next several years as many professionals who contributed to this field since the 1970’s are retiring. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the expected growth rate of rehabilitation counseling positions is faster than average, with a projected 9% to 13% growth in rehabilitation counseling positions from 2014-2024.
San Diego: A Thriving Educational Center
San Diego with its warm, temperate climate, is the second largest city in California, and is a thriving cultural, scientific, and educational center. The area is home to five major universities, eight community colleges, many proprietary schools and numerous organizations with graduate assistantship, internship and job opportunities in the region.
Program offerings are described in the San Diego State University Graduate Bulletin. Sample course syllabi can be made available to prospective applicants upon request.
