Academic Program
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling and Rehabilitation is a 60 semester-credit hour program that prepares professional counselors. This MA program includes a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling, which equips graduates with specialized knowledge and skills related to disability and disadvantagement-related issues.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will adopt a professional counseling orientation commensurate to beginning counselors. (EDCE 510)
- Students will engage in ethical decision-making process that demonstrates an understanding of ethical principles and is beneficial to the client. (RCON 704 )
- Students will describe how student-centered and client-centered cultural factors may influence the counseling relationship across a variety of helping settings. (RCON 605 )
- Students will demonstrate ability to work effectively with diverse clients in a counseling setting. (RCON 711, RCON 883)
- Students will identify psychosocial and psychoeducational strategies for promoting resilience and optimal development and wellness across the lifespan. (EDPY 705, RCON 711, NPSY 757)
- Students will accurately describe theories and models of career development and career decision-making. (RCON 725, Comprehensive assessment)
- Students will apply a theory and/or model of career development to a client. (RCON 725, RCON 883)
- Students will demonstrate the intentional use of interviewing and basic counseling skills. (RCON 601, RCON 880)
- Students will discuss and demonstrate counseling theories and related techniques. (RCON 711, RCON 883)
- Students will demonstrate group leadership skills by planning and carrying out purposeful group counseling activities. (RCON 720, RCON 880)
- Students will select and describe assessment and testing techniques with specific counseling populations. (RCON 714, NPSY 758)
- Students will utilize the results of scholarly research to inform and adapt counseling practice. (RCON 700, RCON 702, Comprehensive assessment)
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration: Students will identify and strategically utilize community services and resources related to the provision of individualized rehabilitation services. (RCON 734, Comprehensive assessment)
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration: Students will develop and implement individualized service plan for a person with a disability that reflects principles of client choice and self-determination and include theory-based and evidence-based counseling and rehabilitation services. (RCON 733, RCON 883)
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration: Students will demonstrate fundamental competencies in Addictions and Mental Health counseling. (NPSY 760, NPSY 757, NPSY 758)
- Clinical Addiction Counseling Concentration: Students will identify and strategically utilize community services and resources related to the provision of substance-use disorder and addiction services. (RCON 701, RCON 880, Comprehensive assessment)
- Clinical Addiction Counseling Concentration: Students will develop and implement individualized strategies and treatment modalities relative to substance use disorder severity, stages of change, or recovery and include theory-based and evidence-based counseling and substance-use disorder and addiction services. (RCON 701, RCON 712, RCON 884)
- Clinical Addiction Counseling Concentration: Students will demonstrate fundamental competencies in Addiction and Mental Health counseling. (NPSY 760, NPSY 761, NPSY 758)
- Career Counseling Concentration: Students will identify influences that impact careers and the workplace and strategically utilize current and appropriate education and labor market information and resources in the provision of career planning and counseling services. (RCON 703, RCON 780, Comprehensive assessment)
- Career Counseling Concentration: Students will develop and implement individualized strategies and approaches relevant to the unique needs and characteristics of businesses and employers and diverse clients in the provision of career counseling services. (RCON 780, RCON 885)
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
We train our clinical rehabilitation counseling graduates to be professional counselors with a specialized understanding of physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, addictions-based and other disabilities and disadvantagement-related issues. With a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling, our curriculum and service activities are focused on providing counseling and employment-related support to these individuals. Graduates help these individuals deal with personal, interpersonal, and societal problems; plan careers; pursue educational goals; and find and maintain employment. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and facilitating personal growth or beneficial change through advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions. Additional service perspectives focus on individuals who are disadvantaged by cultural differences and educational and economic impoverishment throughout the state and beyond.
Major employers of clinical rehabilitation counselors in South Carolina include both public and private agencies, hospitals, and behavioral care settings such as the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, and the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Other employers include a variety of addictions treatment agencies, local hospitals, and other care settings.
Clinical Addiction Counseling
We train our clinical addiction counseling graduates to be professional counselors with a specialized understanding of a broad range of addictive behavior, including substance related and behavioral focused, as well as the environmental, social, and cultural contexts related to addiction. With a specialization in clinical addiction counseling, our curriculum and service activities are focused on providing counseling and support to persons who live with addiction as well as those who have physical or mental disabilities. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and facilitating personal growth or beneficial change through advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions. In addition, the M.A. in Counseling Rehabilitation also includes a service perspective focus on individuals who are disadvantaged by cultural differences and educational and economic impoverishment throughout the state and beyond.
Major employers of clinical addiction counselors in South Carolina include both public and private agencies, hospitals, and behavioral care settings such as the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. Other employers include a variety of addictions treatment agencies, local hospitals, and other care settings.
Career Counseling
We train our career counseling graduates to be professional counselors with a specialized understanding of career development, theory, and strategies for working with individuals with and without disabilities. This specialized practice area also delves into organizational behavior within businesses and organizations. With a specialization in career counseling, our curriculum and service activities are focused on providing counseling and support to individuals to build life skills and achieve their career goals and with businesses to promote workplace health and wellbeing. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and facilitating personal growth or beneficial change through advocacy, psychological, relational, social, and behavioral interventions. Throughout our program, additional service perspectives focus on individuals who are disadvantaged by cultural differences and educational and economic impoverishment throughout the state and beyond.
Major employers of career counselors in South Carolina include both public and private agencies and colleges or universities. Other employers include a variety of private practice, local business and industries, and other care or learning settings.
Program Accreditation
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling and Rehabilitation degree, with a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling, is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Credentialing Information
Each state has its own licensing board with its own counselor licensure requirements. The 60-credit hour MA in Counseling and Rehabilitation includes coursework and field experiences required by the state of South Carolina for graduates to be eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) that leads to counselor licensure in South Carolina. The Clinical Addiction Counseling specialized practice area includes coursework required by the state of South Carolina for graduates to be eligible to take the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) Exam or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Exam. It is important to note that each state has its own licensing board with its own counselor licensure requirements. The program’s website provides additional information about certification and licensure.
Because the M.A. in Counseling and Rehabilitation with a specialty in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is CACREP accredited, students in this specialty who have successfully completed 75 percent of their coursework and all graduates of the counseling and rehabilitation program are eligible to take the exam administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) that leads to the nationally recognized Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential. Students in the Clinical Addiction Counseling specialty will take coursework required to be eligible for addiction counselor certification in the state of South Carolina. While students completing the Career Counseling specialty are eligible to apply for the Certified Career Counselor (CCC) credential through the National Career Development association.
In addition, the National Certified Counselor (NCC) is the national credential for professional counselors through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). This credential is available to all students and graduates whose programs are CACREP accredited.
Learning Community
The program utilizes a Learning Community approach to the professional development of clinical rehabilitation counselors. We believe that a diverse group of faculty and students working collaboratively to help students reach academic and professional goals best prepares students for success. We value diversity in age, gender, race and ethnicity, educational background, sexual orientation, ability status, and other multicultural characteristics. We encourage applications from all interested potential students, including persons from historically and typically underrepresented groups.
As a member of the clinical rehabilitation counseling Learning Community, students can expect to get to know the core counselor education program faculty as well as student peers. In addition to courses that meet in real-time and are open to both in- person and distance students, the program includes Learning Community in-person days during which faculty and students engage in hands-on learning and professional development.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact the Program Director or the Student Services Coordinator at 803-216-3690. You may also visit the program website.
Admission Standards
Submitted materials, academic background and performance, work and volunteer experience, and personal interview findings are all considered in the admissions process. We consider the following information before inviting candidates for a personal interview:
- Bachelor’s degree GPA
- TOEFL scores (for international students)
- Two letters of reference
- Statement of intent that addresses why you want to pursue a career in rehabilitation counseling, relevant experience and plans for completing the program requirements
In making admissions decisions, we consider all factors listed above, as well as each applicant’s potential for forming effective counseling relationships.
How to Apply
Prospective students apply online through the USC Graduate School. The program reviews admissions throughout the year and new students may begin their studies in Fall or in Spring semester. For additional information, please contact the Student Services Coordinator at 803-216-3690. You may also visit the program website.
Minimum Degree Requirements (60 Hours)
Students complete a minimum of 60 semester credit hours of required coursework. Key content areas of study include professional counseling orientation and ethical practice, social and multicultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, and research and program evaluation. Required coursework in specialty concentration is also included.
As part of the 60 credit hours, students complete a 150 hour practicum and a 600 hour internship in approved community agencies. Students must receive a passing grade on the pre-practicum assessment before advancing to practicum.
Students may individualize their professional preparation by electing to participate in student organizations at the university, state, and national levels and by working with faculty members on rehabilitation, addiction, and/or career and world of work research projects.
Students must receive a passing grade on the comprehensive assessment in the semester in which they intend to graduate.
Curriculum
The 60-credit hour curriculum includes thirteen (13) required core courses, three (3) specialty concentration courses, a practicum, an internship, and one (1) elective.
Required Courses (39 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| EDCE 510 | Introduction to Counseling | 3 |
| RCON 605 | Culture and Disability | 3 |
| RCON 680 | Human Development and Disability Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| or EDPY 705 | Human Growth and Development |
| RCON 725 | Career Counseling Theories and the World of Work | 3 |
| RCON 601 | Helping Relationships: Fundamentals of Counseling Practice | 3 |
| RCON 711 | Rehabilitation Counseling Theories and Practice | 3 |
| RCON 720 | Group Counseling in Rehabilitation Settings | 3 |
| RCON 714 | Rehabilitation Assessment | 3 |
| RCON 702 | Introduction to Rehabilitation Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| RCON 704 | Ethics in Rehabilitation Counseling and Helping Relationships | 3 |
| NPSY 757 | Psychopathology for Counselors | 3 |
| NPSY 758 | Classification and Assessment of Mental Disorders | 3 |
| NPSY 760 | Addictions Rehabilitation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 |
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration (18 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| |
| RCON 700 | Foundations of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| RCON 733 | Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability | 3 |
| RCON 734 | Professional Issues in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| |
| RCON 880 | Practicum in Counseling and Rehabilitation | 3 |
| RCON 883 | Internship in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 |
Clinical Addiction Counseling Concentration (18 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| |
| RCON 701 | Foundations in Addictions and Treatment in Counseling | 3 |
| RCON 712 | Addiction and the Family | 3 |
| NPSY 761 | Dual Diagnosis | 3 |
| |
| RCON 880 | Practicum in Counseling and Rehabilitation | 3 |
| RCON 884 | Internship in Clinical Addiction Counseling | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 |
Career Counseling Concentration (18 Hours)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| |
| RCON 703 | Foundations in Career Counseling | 3 |
| RCON 735 | Leadership in Rehabilitation and the Helping and Healthcare Professions | 3 |
| RCON 780 | Advanced Career Counseling and the World of Work | 3 |
| |
| RCON 880 | Practicum in Counseling and Rehabilitation | 3 |
| RCON 885 | Internship in Career Counseling | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 |
Electives (3 Hours)
A partial list of electives includes the following:
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| RHAB 540 | Assistive and Adaptive Technology | 3 |
| RHAB 752 | Disability and Sexuality | 3 |
| RHAB 753 | Rehabilitation and Severe Disability | 3 |
| NPSY 761 | Dual Diagnosis | 3 |
| RCON 610 | LGBT Issues Counseling and Rehabilitation | 3 |
