Feb 06, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, M.A.

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College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
Department: Child and Family Studies

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

Concentrations:

Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Marriage and Family Therapy

This major shares a core with the Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Sciences, M.A. Program

The Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (CRMHC) major trains counselors to work with persons with physical, mental, emotional, and chemical disabilities. Training emphasizes psychological, social, medical, relational, and vocational aspects of disability, and the development and refinement of personal adjustment counseling skills. Graduates with this M.A. are prepared for careers as rehabilitation specialists and/or mental health counselors.

Students admitted into the Program are required to select a concentration: Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. The Major also offers two optional concentrations that may also lead to a certificate. The CRMHC with a concentration in Addictions and Substance Abuse counseling is approved by the Certification Board for Addictions Professionals of Florida (CBAPF Approved Provider #179A).

Upon completion of at least 75% of the major, CRMHC-Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration students are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Upon graduation, students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration will meet eligibility criteria under Florida Statue 491 to register as a mental health counselor intern with the State. Once you fulfill the State’s requirements you will be eligible to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).

Accreditation:

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

Baccalaureate degree in one of the behavioral, social, health-related, or educational disciplines preferred
Online University graduate application
GRE
Personal Interview
Undergraduate statistics or research methods course
Three Letters of recommendation from academic, professional, and/or volunteer supervisors, preferably at least one letter from an academic faculty member. Ideally letters should comment on the applicant’s attention to details, ability to take initiative, and academic and professional potential.
500 to 800 word personal statement that includes why you are applying to this particular program, how you believe the program can help you achieve your goals, any relevant experience in the field, as well as your interest in, experience with, and desire to provide behavioral health services to under-served or marginalized populations.
Resume/CV outlining academic, professional, and/or volunteer work/experience.
Complete a background check prior to Field Experience placements (if necessary)

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum Credit Hours - 60 Credit Hours

Shared Core Requirements – 30 Credit Hours
Additional Required Courses - 6 Credit Hours
Required Concentration Courses - 6 Credit Hours
Internship/Practicum - 12 Credit Hours
Optional Concentration*
Thesis or Non-Thesis Electives - 6 Credit Hours Minimum

*Students who complete the optional concentrations will have a total of 63-69 hours for the Program, depending on if they do a thesis or non-thesis.

The following 60-hour core curriculum is consistent with national certification standards for rehabilitation counselors and must be taken by all students (post-baccalaureate, thesis, and non-thesis). Students must receive a B (3.00) or better in all core curriculum and elective classes.

Shared Core Requirements (30 Credit Hours)

MHS 5020 Skills and Techniques of Counseling Credit Hours: 3
MHS 5480 Human Growth and Development Credit Hours: 3
RCS 5780 Legal, Ethical, Professional Standards and Issues in Counseling Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6220 Individual Evaluation and Assessment Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6408 Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6440 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6510 Group Theories and Practice Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6407 Counseling Theories and Practice Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6740 Research and Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6301 Career and Lifestyle Assessment Credit Hours: 3

Additional Required Course (6 Credit Hours)

RCS 6037 Foundations of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours: 3
RCS 5450 Fundamentals of Substance Abuse Counseling Credit Hours: 3

Concentrations

Students are required to complete either the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration. In addition, students may opt to complete one or both of the other concentrations offered.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (6 Credit Hours)

Students must complete the following:

MHS 6462 Trauma Informed Individual, Family, and Couple Treatment Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6476 Human Sexuality Counseling Credit Hours: 3

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (6 Credit Hours)

Students must complete the following:

RCS 5080 Medical Aspects of Disability Credit Hours: 3
RCS 5106 Advanced Rehabilitation Systems and Services Credit Hours: 3

Optional Concentration Requirements

Students may opt to complete one or both of the following in addition to the required Concentration above.

Thesis students may opt to complete an additional nine (9) credit hours in the optional concentration courses which would result in a total of 69 credit hours at the completion of the degree
Non-Thesis students will select six (6) credit hours from the optional concentration courses; Students may opt to complete all nine (9) credit hours in the optional concentration courses which would result in a total of 63 credit hours at the completion of the degree

Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling (9 Credit Hours)

RCS 6459 Professional Skills for Addictions Counselors Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6458 Addiction Treatment with Special Populations Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6456 Counseling Approaches for Substance Abusers Credit Hours: 3

Marriage and Family Therapy (9 Credit Hours)

Select nine (9) credit hours from the following and if interested in Marriage and Family Certificate, please reference the requirements in the Graduate Catalog.

MHS 6447 Marital Therapy Theories and Techniques Credit Hours: 3
MHS 6105 Medical Family Therapy and Integrated Healthcare Credit Hours: 3
MHS 6423 Individual and Family Treatment with Children and Adolescents Credit Hours: 3
RCS 6803 Practicum in Counseling Credit Hours: 3

Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination assesses the student’s understanding of the significant content and process areas of the entire major curriculum. In order to graduate from the Program students must pass the Comprehensive Exam. After three (3) failed attempts, students will be recommended to the Office of Graduate Studies for dismissal from the Program.

Non-Thesis Electives (6 Credit Hours)

Students in the non-thesis option complete six (6) credit hours of electives.

Thesis (6 Credit Hours)

All students are initially admited to the non-thesis program. Admitted students may subsequently apply to the faculty for a thesis program. Students in a thesis program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Program (54-hr) core curriculum including a minimum of six (6) hours of RCS 6971 . An oral defense of the thesis is required.

RCS 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-6

Practicum and Internship (12 Credit Hours)

RCS 6803 Practicum in Counseling Credit Hours: 3 (6 credit hours minimum for this program)
RCS 6825 Internship Credit Hours: 3-6

University of South Florida

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