Rehabilitation Counseling Overview:

The Rehabilitation Counseling Program at UAB is accredited nationally by the Council On Rehabilitation Education (C.O.R.E.). The mission and goals of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program are accomplished through a multifaceted approach to learning integrating the diverse resources of a major university, medical center, and large urban area. The program is designed to accommodate a student’s past work and academic experiences, present work experience, and professional goals.

The teaching mission is to provide knowledge, develop skills, and influence attitudes of graduates who will work in private or public rehabilitation setting. The faculty who teach in the rehabilitation counseling program represent a total of more than 100 years combined experience in the field of rehabilitation and counseling. Most faculty are licensed or certified in their area of concentration (rehabilitation, community, or school) and many possess additional sub-specializations (e.g. substance abuse, blindness, deafness, gerontology, etc.). Beyond teaching, program faculty are actively engaged in the community with rehabilitation agencies (children and adults with disabilities), community counseling agencies, school counseling programs, and consulting or private practice. Additionally, faculty are engaged in a variety of research projects and publishing activities.

The program maintains a strong relationship with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), one of the premier public rehabilitation agencies in the U.S. Many students have the opportunity to participate in paid internships with the ADRS as a part of their training program.

The program in Rehabilitation Counseling at UAB consists of 52 semester hours that involve a blend of academic and clinical experiences (see Course of Study). This includes three semester hours (120 clinical hours) of practicum and six to nine semester hours (600 clinical hours) of internship. In addition, students can take elective courses to expand their skills to focus specifically in areas such as Sensory Impairment, Substance Abuse, Gerontology, and Mental Health Counseling.