NEIU’s Counseling Department strives to remain committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our scholarship, service, advocacy, leadership, mentorship, and teaching. Therefore, we seek candidates who advocate for social justice and antiracist policies, and utilize culturally relevant teaching, clinical practice, research, and service. We are dedicated to preparing counselors who are leaders and advocates in social justice and who will provide professional counseling services to adults, children, youth, individuals, couples, groups, and families.
The Department of Counselor Education offers a 60-credit hour program (20 courses) leading to the Master of Arts in Counseling: Rehabilitation Counseling. The Rehabilitation Counseling (RC) program at NEIU delivers a comprehensive academic curriculum and supervised clinical experience that integrates the standards of CACREP. Students who are preparing to specialize as rehabilitation counselors will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to address varied issues within the rehabilitation counseling context. Students will learn how to work collaboratively with individuals with disabilities, their support systems, and their environments to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and vocational goals. The NEIU RC program emphasizes social justice, advocacy, and structural competence, particularly to affect systemic change and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The degree in Rehabilitation Counseling fulfills the educational requirements for the two levels of licensure as professional counselors in the State of Illinois: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Graduates of the Rehabilitation Counseling program can also obtain Certified Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC) certification.
On July 1, 2017, the Council for Rehabilitation Education (CORE), the accrediting body of this rehabilitation counseling program, merged with the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP now has the responsibility for the review of Rehabilitation Counselor graduate programs. Find out more information at Counselor Education accreditation, licensures, and credentialing.
Admission Requirements
Counselor Education admits students twice a year, in January and August. The deadline to submit a complete application for the program for the spring term is Aug. 15. The deadline to apply for the fall term is March 15. Counselor Education deadline dates differ from other Northeastern M.A. program deadline dates.
Applicants can apply to the program through NEIU’s online application system (https://apply.neiu.edu/apply/). The online application requires submission of the following:
- Application form
- Application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Two recommenders (applicants will be prompted to enter contact information for 2 professional recommenders)
- Current resume
- Signed informed consent
- An Essay (500-700 words or less), typed and double-spaced (instructions provided in the application).
Application materials will be evaluated in regard to an applicant's academic aptitude, relevance of career goals, cultural competence, and potential for fostering therapeutic relationships. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements in their specific program (i.e., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Couple and Family Counseling, School Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling) will be invited to attend a Pre-admission Workshop (PAW). The PAW involves applicants participating in a series of group discussions facilitated by Counselor Education faculty. Dates and times to attend a PAW session are available on Slate.
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
- Graduate Admissions and Records has established a minimum grade point average of 2.75 for undergraduate degrees. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs below 2.75 will not be admitted. Applicants who have earned a graduate degree from an accredited university are exempt from this requirement.
- Problematic or poor performance during the PAW will make an applicant ineligible for admission.
- Meeting the minimum academic requirements is no guarantee of admission.
- Admission to the Counselor Education Department is competitive. It is possible for an otherwise acceptable applicant to be denied admission due to the competitive strength of the applicant pool. The number of applicants that can be admitted to the program is limited. Those not selected for admission may reapply only once.
ADMISSION DECISIONS
Admission decisions are based on the following:
- Relevance of career goals
- Aptitude for graduate-level study
- Potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
- Respect for cultural differences
Eligibility to Enroll in Classes
Once applicants are officially admitted to a program, they may register for classes during online registration periods. Those who have not yet been reviewed for selection may take only one course before being admitted: COUN 433 Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling (Rehab). If an applicant is formally accepted into the program, the credits for the course will count towards their degree requirements. However, taking a course as a student-at-large does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants admitted to the fall semester may begin taking classes in the summer semester.
The Department of Counselor Education allows non-degree seeking students to take courses as a student-at-large under certain circumstances, such as completing deficiencies for licensure. To request approval to take a course as a non-degree seeking student, please click on the following link and complete the form: https://www.neiu.edu/academics/college-of-education/content/permission-take-courses-counselor-education-student-large. We will contact you with an answer within five working days of receiving your form.
Authorization to enroll in courses as a non-degree seeking student in Counselor Education does not constitute admission to any of the Department's programs. Students who wish to pursue a master's degree in counseling must submit a formal application to Graduate Admissions. Non-degree seeking students can enroll only in courses for which they have been authorized by this Department. Some of the courses in the Department are not open to non-degree-seeking students.
Rehabilitation Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling requires a minimum of 60-credit hours (20 courses):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation Counseling required courses: | ||
| COUN-401 | Professional Orientation & Legal/Ethical Practices | 3 |
| COUN-402 | Developmental Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-403 | Theories Of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-404 | Assessment And Evaluation In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-405 | Individual Counseling Skills | 3 |
| COUN-406 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-408 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| COUN-409 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN-420 | Introduction To Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-425 | Diagnosis And Treatment Of Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| COUN-427 | Diagnostic Systems For Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-430 | Social & Cultural Diversity In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-433 | Foundation Of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-434 | Medical & Psychosocial Aspects Of Disability | 3 |
| COUN-435 | Work & Disability | 3 |
| COUN-436 | Case Management In Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-438 | Trauma And Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-446 | Practicum In Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-463 | Internship I:Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-473 | Internship II:Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Rehabilitation Counseling students must complete all course requirements, successfully pass each transition level, and meet the graduation requirements.
PROGRAM TRANSITION LEVELS:
Students must successfully complete all the program transition levels. Students cannot obtain more than two grades of “C” in graduate work as per the College of Graduate Studies and Research Policy. Students are required to earn a grade of "B" or better in their clinical courses (e.g., COUN 405, COUN 406, Practicum and Internship).
TRANSITION LEVEL I
- Successful completion of prerequisites for clinical skills training courses
- Completion of first-semester student survey
- Demonstration of appropriate professional and ethical behaviors and dispositions
- Minimum GPA of 3.00
- Passing key program assessments for level I
TRANSITION LEVEL II
- Successful completion of clinical skills training coursework
- Demonstration of appropriate professional and ethical behaviors and dispositions
- Minimum GPA of 3.00
- Satisfactory rating on professional disposition evaluation
- Complete the Practicum application and submit to the Coordinator for Clinical Experiences
- Passing key program assessments for level II
TRANSITION LEVEL III
- Successful completion of clinical experiences including Practicum and Internship
- Completion of minimum of 100 hours of Practicum
- Completion of minimum 600 hours of Internship
- Satisfactory ratings on all evaluations from site and university supervisors
- Demonstration of appropriate professional and ethical behaviors and dispositions
- Minimum GPA of 3.00
- Passing key program assessments for level III
TRANSITION LEVEL IV
- Completion of student exit survey
- Passing of the departmental proficiency examination (DPE) prior to graduation
EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE COMPLETION:
- Successful completion of all transition levels and required credit hours
- Minimum GPA of 3.00
Clinical Experience
During the fall semester of the year before planning to do Practicum/Internship, students meet with their advisor to review readiness for Practicum and to sign the application form. Applications for clinical experience are distributed at the mandatory Practicum Orientation meeting or may be printed from the forms tab of the Department website. Applications for Practicum/Internship are due November 1 for fall placements of the following year. Students must attend a mandatory orientation meeting before submitting the application form. The date and the place of the orientation meeting are posted on the Department website, listserv, and Departmental bulletin boards. All applications must be reviewed and signed by the student’s advisor. The student may then submit the signed application and the student’s resume to the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences.
Practicum: Practicum is a 100 hour, field-based experience which requires a minimum of 40 hours of clinical contact with clients (contact hours), and is a prerequisite for Internship. Practicum is offered in the Fall semester.
Internship: Internship is a 600 hour, field-based experience which requires a minimum of 240 hours of clinical contact with clients. Students earn six credit hours for Internships I and II.
Departmental Proficiency Examination (DPE)
Prior to graduation, all students are required to pass a comprehensive examination. The DPE application must be completed and signed by the student and their advisor and submitted to the Department of Counselor Education no later than two weeks prior to the exam date. Rehabilitation Counseling students may take the examination after completion of 48 credit hours of coursework:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COUN-401 | Professional Orientation & Legal/Ethical Practices | 3 |
| COUN-402 | Developmental Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-403 | Theories Of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-404 | Assessment And Evaluation In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-405 | Individual Counseling Skills | 3 |
| COUN-406 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-408 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| COUN-409 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN-420 | Introduction To Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-425 | Diagnosis And Treatment Of Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| COUN-430 | Social & Cultural Diversity In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-433 | Foundation Of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-434 | Medical & Psychosocial Aspects Of Disability | 3 |
| COUN-435 | Work & Disability | 3 |
| COUN-436 | Case Management In Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-438 | Trauma And Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
Notification of Student Recess
Once having begun the Counselor Education program, if a student does not attend classes for more than two consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer), the student must notify the College of Graduate Studies and Research and the advisor of his/her intent to continue in the program. Faculty members reserve the right to review the student’s course work upon reentry by the student and to require that certain courses be repeated if necessary. Students have a maximum of six years in which to complete their degree programs.
Please take note of the following critical update to the preceding DPE information: Each of the three semesters—Fall, Spring, and Summer—offers the DPE just once. To graduate, all students pursuing degrees in counselor education must pass the DPE. The scheduled dates are subject to change annually. For the most up-to-date and correct dates and instructions, visit the Counselor Education Current Student Resources Website.
This sample curricular map is provided to guide your program planning. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
The Plans of Study for the programs in Counselor Education should be used as general guidelines for the completion of courses. These plans suggest how a student might complete a program in two calendar years by beginning in the fall semester and attending through two summer semesters. There are many factors that affect how students complete their programs, including whether they begin in the fall or spring semesters and whether they attend full-time or part-time.
All students in Counselor Education will have a mandatory orientation at the beginning of their programs and have a faculty advisor who will help in the planning of each student’s course of study.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| COUN-401 | Professional Orientation Legal/Ethical Practices | 3 |
| COUN-403 | Theories Of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-433 (only offered in Fall term) | Foundation Of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| COUN-402 | Developmental Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-404 | Assessment And Evaluation In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-430 | Social Cultural Diversity In Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| COUN-405 | Individual Counseling Skills | 3 |
| COUN-409 | Career Development | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| COUN-408 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| COUN-425 | Diagnosis And Treatment Of Addictive Disorders | 3 |
| COUN-434 | Medical Psychosocial Aspects Of Disability | 3 |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| COUN-406 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-435 | Work Disability | 3 |
| COUN-427 | Diagnostic Systems For Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 9 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| COUN-420 | Introduction To Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-436 | Case Management In Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| COUN-438 | Trauma And Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| COUN-446 | Practicum In Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| COUN-463 | Internship I:Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 3 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| COUN-473 | Internship II:Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours: | 60 | |