Rehabilitation Counseling

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center- School of Allied Health Sciences, has offered the degree of Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) since 2000. It is one of the newest degree programs conducted through the Department of Clinic Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling, and has been accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education since 2003. Our mission is to provide students the highest quality of instruction by which to prepare for a career in the exciting field of Rehabilitation Counseling. Our goal is to help students acquire the skills and credential necessary to work effectively as qualified rehabilitation counselors.

Using the latest in distance education approaches, especially Internet and web-based technologies, we have developed a program that is available to individuals throughout Texas, the United States, and the world. This program is designed for people who are currently working full time or cannot undertake graduate studies in a traditional on-site, classroom-based setting. Students are NOT required to attend classes or even to step foot on the TTUHSC campus.

And yet, a surprising and rewarding aspect of the program has been the students' tendency to form close-knit alliances and friendships with each other in spite of their geographical distances. We believe this is partially because of our emphasis on effective communication and creative sharing of ideas among the students and instructors, and partially because of the passion for this field that seems to form naturally in individuals who realize the power they will have, as rehabilitation counselors, to enhance the quality of so many people's lives.

Approximately 20 percent of the people in the United States have acquired one or more disabilities due to disease, injury or congenital causes. Despite groundbreaking legislation such as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, the unemployment rate among working-age people with disabilities is around 70 percent. Rehabilitation counselors work one-on-one to assist people with physical, emotional or learning disabilities who are pursuing meaningful careers to obtain gainful employment and realize their potential as independent, self-sufficient citizens. This is achieved through the provision of individualized services such as counseling, medical and psychological services, local job searches, and job training. Rehabilitation counselors focus on the whole person, including family, work and social relationships as well as physical and psychological aspects.

If you have a sincere desire to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, we would be interested in talking to you. Opportunities for employment and professional growth in the field of Rehabilitation Counseling are numerous and growing steadily. The demand for qualified rehabilitation counselors (CRC) is especially high.

The information on the following web pages outlines in detail the entrance requirements, curriculum, and graduation requirements for the program. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions & Student Affairs at Allied.health@ttuhsc.edu. To contact the Rehabilitation Counseling program directly, call (806) 743-2590.