Rehabilitation Counseling MA
- Master's
- MA
- Hybrid
- Greeley
- Online
2-2.5 years
Fall and Spring
60
Program Overview
Make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with disabilities while building a rewarding career in a rapidly growing field. UNC’s MA in Rehabilitation Counseling is one of the top-ranked programs in the United States, recognized for exceptional faculty who are both accomplished classroom teachers and respected researchers.
With full CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation and a flexible hybrid format, this 60-credit program prepares you to become a certified rehabilitation counselor qualified to help individuals with disabilities achieve their maximum potential, secure meaningful employment and fully integrate into their communities.
Is a Career in Rehabilitation Counseling Right for You?
If you’re compassionate, adaptable, quick-thinking and eager to grow, this program may be your perfect match. Students from fields like sociology, nursing, speech therapy, human services and criminal justice consistently find success here.
The Rehabilitation Counseling MA program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs.
All students who graduate will be eligible to earn the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor designation and will be eligible for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Credits Required: 60
Class Format:
- Required courses offered in asynchronous online and hybrid synchronous formats
- Hybrid courses allow students to attend on campus or participate online
- Elective courses available online or on campus
- Flexible format accommodates working professionals
Clinical Requirements:
- Supervised practicum (6 credits) at UNC Rehabilitation Counseling Clinic or online
- Clinical internship (15 credits) totaling 600 clock hours
- Minimum 240 hours of direct service to people with disabilities during internship
- You’ll Need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (or equivalent foreign degree)
- 3.0 GPA or higher on your most recent completed degree (or current degree in progress)
- If you’ve completed a master’s degree or 18+ graduate credits, your graduate GPA will be used
- If you’re still finishing your bachelor’s, you must submit your final official transcript in your first semester
- Applicants with a final GPA below 3.0 may be assigned additional program requirements
Application Materials:
- Completed online application ($50 fee waived for UNC students and alumni)
- Official transcripts from your bachelor’s degree institution
- Three letters of recommendation
- You may choose to submit standardized test scores
- Personal statement (letter of intent) explaining your interest in graduate school
- A curriculum vitae or resume that details your experience in the field in preparation for graduate school
Program Outcomes
Job Placement Rate
All our graduates actively seeking employment got jobs (2024-25).
Top-Ranked National Program
Join one of the nation's premier rehabilitation counseling programs, ranked #13 by U.S. News & World Report and recognized as the only CACREP-accredited program in Colorado.
Program Completion
All enrolled students completed our program in 2024-25.
Built for Flexibility. Ranked for Excellence.
Practical Application from Day One
Your clinical training begins with actual clients under expert supervision — either at UNC’s Rehabilitation Counseling Clinic or online. You’ll then complete a 600-hour internship with 240 hours of direct client service, giving you extensive experience supporting people with disabilities. This hands-on approach ensures you graduate with the confidence and real-world skills to excel on the first day of your career.
Career Success
Career Paths
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Veterans Administration programs
- Mental health centers and agencies
- Programs serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired
- Workers’ compensation programs
- Hospital rehabilitation departments
- Private nonprofit rehabilitation organizations
- Independent living centers
- Correctional facilities
- Schools and educational institutions
- Insurance companies
- Private practice
What You’ll Learn
- Counseling theories and techniques specific to rehabilitation settings
- Comprehensive assessment of adults with disabilities
- Career counseling and job placement strategies for people with disabilities
- Social, cultural, psychological and medical aspects of disabilities
- Vocational evaluation and assessment methodologies
- Family systems and disability dynamics
- Legal and ethical practice in rehabilitation counseling
- Group counseling processes
- Research interpretation and evaluation
- Case management and rehabilitation principles
Sample Courses
- Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling
- Assessment of Adults with Disabilities
- Career Counseling and Placement for People with Disabilities
- Medical Aspects of Disability
- Family, Cultural and Psychological Aspects of Disability
- Counseling Theories in Rehabilitation
- Counseling Techniques in Rehabilitation
- Group Processes in Rehabilitation
- Understanding and Counseling Diverse Populations
- Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling
What Our Graduates Say
“The professors are relatable and invested in the students’ achievements as well as our general well-being, and I always felt like the professors had my best interest at heart. It was especially helpful to have the backing of the department when looking for an internship.”
– Kayti King, Rehabilitation Counseling
Have Questions? We're Here to Help!
Rehabilitation and Human Services
- nhsadvising@unco.edu
- (970) 351-1890
- Gunter Hall 1250
Jill Bezyak
Professor & Coordinator