Rehabilitation Counseling San Diego State University

Overview

Key facts

During its most recent reaccreditation review in 2014, the Rehabilitation Counseling program at San Diego State University received a maximum of eight years reaccreditation. U.S. News and World Report ranks the RCP as the 4th highest rated rehabilitation counseling program in the United States. among all rehabilitation counseling programs in the United States.

The Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) prepares students to be effective practitioners, administrators, and leaders in the field of Rehabilitation. The degree has been accredited by the Commission on Rehabilitation Education since 1975.

Students in the SDSU RCP can complete the Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling degree through both on-campus and distance options. Both options are 60 units and typically take two and half to three years to complete. The on-campus program offers instruction at the SDSU main campus, with classes offered in the Education and Business Administration 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. Most students in the on-campus program reside in the San Diego area but the on-campus program does include out of state and international students.

The RCP's distance option is entirely taken on-line 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 the greater San Diego area, and is taken by students throughout California, as well as other states and countries. The distance program is referred to as CDER (Consortium for Distance Education in Rehabilitation). Historically the distance program was focused on providing instruction to students employed by the California Department of Rehabilitation or other State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (for background on the CDER program, click the link to visit the distance program introduction). Today, CDER includes meeting the needs of all potential students, whether they are new to the rehabilitation counseling profession, or have experience in State Vocational Rehabilitation or other agencies that employ rehabilitation counselors/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.

What is Rehabilitation Counseling?

Rehabilitation empowers people 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. 

The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) presents The Art of Rehabilitation Counseling, a short video exploring the unique qualifications and exceptional abilities of rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation counselors also share their stories of success working to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. CRCC also promotes the profession through an advertising flyer demonstrating the value of rehabilitation counseling.