The Rehabilitation Services Department at Springfield College offers both full-time and part-time graduate programs in Rehabilitation Counseling and Services leading to the master’s degree. The programs are designed to provide a combination of didactic course work along with professionally supervised clinical experiences. The Rehabilitation Counseling and Services programs are offered in cooperation with the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), U.S. Department of Education. RSA scholarships may be available to full-time students.

General Curriculum

The general curriculum requirements are such that each student is expected to demonstrate skills and understanding in six basic areas of functioning. These areas are as follows:

1. Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling and Services
2. Assessment and Evaluation
3. Case Management
4. Interviewing and Counseling (Individual, Group, Family)
5. Personal Career Development and Placement
6. Research, Analysis and Application

Within the general requirements, emphasis is placed on knowledge and understanding of medical, psychological, social, educational, and vocational aspects of disability and impairments. Faculty advisors meet with students at the beginning of their enrollment to outline an appropriate course of study. Individual differences in background, education, and training are taken into account in meeting the basic requirements.

Areas of Professional Practice

In addition to the general requirements, which are at the core of all programs, the graduate candidate may earn a master of science or master of education degree by completing a course of study related to the following areas of professional practice:

Rehabilitation Counseling:

• Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling
• Counselor for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• General Counseling and Casework
• Pediatric and Developmental Disabilities
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Substance Abuse Counseling

Rehabilitation Management and Administration:

• Disability Management
• Employee Assistance Administration
• Program Supervisor
• Rehabilitation Services Administration

Rehabilitation Services:

• Addiction Services
• Cardiac Counseling and Education
• Child Services - Early Intervention Specialist
• Citizen and Consumer Advocacy
• Cognitive Behavioral Rehabilitation
• Expressive and Activity Therapies
• Geriatric Rehabilitation
• Pediatric Early Intervention Specialist
• Rehabilitation Services Specialist

The graduate programs are designed to meet the goals and needs of students with a variety of educational and experiential backgrounds as well as the national professional standards required to assist our graduates to be fully marketable in the field. Individual eligibility should be discussed with the department chairperson and faculty advisor. Students who have completed the master’s degree may pursue advanced course work leading to a Post-Master’s Certificate. Typically, students seeking the certificate wish to complement their existing educational and professional background, training, and experience to qualify for advanced positions or to become eligible for rehabilitation certification. Programs are arranged individually with the student’s faculty advisor.  Three program levels are available for the master’s degree. Program levels may be determined and approved by the completion of the first twelve to fifteen credits of course work.

Eligibility

Program Level I: Students with bachelor’s degrees but without previous rehabilitation education or experience are eligible for the minimum sixty credit program. Students should have a minimum of fifteen to eighteen credits of undergraduate course work in the behavioral and social sciences especially psychology and sociology. Where the undergraduate background is deficient, prerequisite course work may be necessary.

Program Level II: Students who possess a bachelor’s degree, previous experience, concurrent employment in rehabilitation counseling, or a minor in Rehabilitation Services Education with at least eighteen credits of acceptable coursework are eligible for this program. A minimum of forty-eight credits of graduate cooursework is required.

Program Level III: In recognition of the increasing need for qualified rehabilitation specialists to work with persons with disabilities, and the difficulties encountered by many individuals seeking to fulfill degree requirements, guidelines have been established for an individualized master’s degree program in Rehabilitation Services and Rehabilitation Management and Administration only. Students with acceptable previous employment experience, concurrent employment, or related background may plan a program of study within the scope of departmental and related offerings. This program is subject to departmental faculty approval and should be planned in consultation with a departmental faculty advisor. A minimum of thirty-six credits of graduate coursework is required in this specialized program, although additional course work may be necessary.

Certification: Students accepted to program level III normally have or are obtaining the professional experience necessary to become eligible for certification such as a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor (CADAC) only or other related professional case manager (CCM) if required or desired. This program level, however, is NOT designed for rehabilitation counselor certification eligibility, but rather is intended for those wishing to expand or complement existing background and experience with other credentials. Those interested primarily in qualification for counselor certification or licensure should consider Level I or Level II programs within the Rehabilitation Counseling programs.

Accreditation Information

The Rehabilitation Counseling programs (Levels I and II) are approved and accredited by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Students completing all course work requirements (minimum: 48 credits) including research, general rehabilitation course requirements, practica, and internships are eligible for the national certification examination to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC) and to apply for state licensure as a Rehabilitation Counselor (LRC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Depending on the concentration, students may also be eligible for additional certifications and licenses. For more information, see the information provided for individual concentrations.

Additional Information

Students should consult with their advisors to plan sequence of courses to be sure course prerequisites are appropriately met and to determine if specific requirements by certifying bodies have been changed.

Program Coordinators/Faculty and Telephone Numbers

Michael P. Accordino, D.Ed., CRC, LMHC - Associate Professor
748-3258 Room 102C
Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

J. Patrick Decoteau, Ph.D., CRC/LRC - Professor
748-3375 Room 102B
Vocational Evaluation - Work Adjustment Specialist

Bernard T. Graney, Ph.D., CRC - Professor
748-3320 Room 109
Pediatric and Developmental Disabilities

Robert L. Hewes, Ph.D., CRC - Associate Professor
748-3769 Room 108
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling

Thomas J. Ruscio, CRC/LRC - Department Chair
748-3566 Room 112
Management and Administration; Rehabilitation Counseling; General Cases; Rehabilitation Counseling for Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Special Services

Joseph F. Stano, Ph.D., NCC, CRC/LRC - Professor
748-3375 Room 101
Rehabilitation Counseling - General Casework