Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
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The Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) prepares students to be effective practitioners, administrators, and leaders in the field of Rehabilitation.
Students in the SDSU RCP can complete the Master in Rehabilitation Counseling degree through both on-campus and distance options. Both options are 60 units and typically take two and one half to three years to complete. The on-campus program offers instruction at the SDSU main campus, with classes usually offered in the Lamden Hall building. Classes are held Monday through Thursday from either 4 pm to 6:40 pm or 7:00 pm to 9:40 during the Fall and Spring semesters.
The RCP's distance option is completed online with instructional support provided by the SDSU Interwork Institute's Center for Distance Learning (II-CDL). The program is only available to students living outside of San Diego County, and is taken by students throughout California, as well as other states and countries, Individuals residing in San Diego County are not eligible for the distance program. The distance program is sometimes referred to as CDER (Consortium for Distance Education in Rehabilitation). Historically the distance program was focused on providing instruction to students employed by State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (for background on the distance program, click the link to visit the distance program introduction). Today, the distance program meets the needs of a variety of students, whether they are new to the rehabilitation counseling profession or have experience in State Vocational Rehabilitation or other agencies that employ rehabilitation counseling professionals. Many students come to the program with life experiences, such as living and working with their own disabilities and/or relationships with family members or friends with disabilities. Many bring diverse experiences in the human services fields.
The on-campus rehabilitation counseling program admits students every fall semester. The distance program option typically admits students once every three years, with the next expected start date being fall 2027.
What is Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation empowers people with disabilities to make informed choices, build viable careers, and live more independently in the community. The primary focus of career preparation in rehabilitation is developing counseling skills, acquiring knowledge of disabilities and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for people with disabilities. Knowledge and practice of these principles, combined with a solid foundation of specialized education in the rehabilitation field, enable dedicated rehabilitation professionals to partner with individuals with disabilities to obtain gainful employment, pursue meaningful careers, and live independently.
NOTE: The concentrations and specializations described below are not available to distance program students, they are available only in the campus-based program:
Concentration in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
The Clinical Concentration meets the education requirements for the California mental health counselor license (LPCC) as well as the Certificate in Co-Occurring Disorders. It is the responsibility of the student/graduate to register with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and complete the required supervision hours and exams for the LPCC license after graduation. LPCC requirements are available on the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) website.
The Co-Occurring Disorders or Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificates may be a better option than the clinical concentration for some applicants.
Areas of Specialization
Students enrolled in the campus-based program have additional options for specializing in specific areas of study, including Cognitive Disabilities, Rehabilitation Technology, and Psychiatric Rehabilitation. By completing one of these specialization areas, students can earn a post-baccalaureate certificate concurrently with the MS degree. Students may consult with their faculty advisor to customize a program of study if there are other areas of interest that are not available in a specialization.
The Rehabilitation Counseling Program’s curriculum is aligned with the requirements of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). Students and graduates of the program are eligible to pursue certification by taking the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination that is administered by the CRCC.
Please contact Dr. Mark Tucker, the RCP Program Coordinator, at mtucker@sdsu.edu or 619-594-3498 for further information.