Graduate Programs @ University of South Florida

Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (Post Baccalaureate) (2009/2010)
Contact Information: College: Behavioral and Community Sciences Department: Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling () Address: 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa FL 33620 Program Director: Gary DuDell (gdudell@cas.usf.edu) Program Phone: 813-974-1257 Program Website: http://www.cas.usf.edu/rehab_counseling/index.html Financial Opportunities: Financial Aid Fellowships & Scholarships Graduate Assistantships Department Portfolio: Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling	Total Minimum Hours Required: 60/150 Admissions Requirements Degree Requirements Registration Process Course Information
Program Information
The Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling trains counselors to work with physically, mentally, emotionally, and chemically disabled individuals. Training emphasizes psychological, social, medical, and vocational aspects of disability, and also the development and refinement of personal adjustment counseling skills. Graduates with this M.A. are prepared for careers as both rehabilitation specialists and mental health counselors. The Department offers only the M.A. degree. Most students are admitted after earning a baccalaureate degree in one of the behavioral, social, health-related, or educational disciplines (REH). A Five-Year Program (REF)Five-Year Program (REF) is available to undergraduates with strong academic credentials, and undergraduates interested in this program should contact the department during their sophomore year. The Department offers several areas of concentration that may also lead to a certificate: (1) Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling; (2) Marriage and Family Therapy. and (4) Rehabilitation Technology. Each student may elect to pursue a program of specialization in any of these areas. The Addictions and Substance Abuse counseling program is approved by the Certification Board for Addictions Professionals of Florida (CBAPF Approved Provider #179A). Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). With additional course work and 3 years’ experience, graduates are also eligible to take the examination for state licensure as a Mental Health Counselor. For a complete description of the department and its program, visit the department’s Web page at: http://www.cas.usf.edu/rehab_counseling/index.html Accreditation: Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools, and the Commission on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Accreditation Information: Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools. Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.) Program (Major): Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (Post Baccalaureate) (REH) CIP Code: 51.2310 Major/College Code: Faculty Search: Behavioral and Community Sciences Faculty List
Total Minimum Hours Required: 60/150

Program Degree Requirements:
The department offers both a thesis and a non-thesis program. There is no language requirement; however, a comprehensive examination is required of all students. The following 54-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). MHS 5020 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (3) MHS 5480 Human Growth & Development (3) RCS 5780 Legal & Ethical Issues & Professional Standards (3) RCS 5035 Rehabilitation Counseling: Concepts & Applications (3) RCS 5080 Medical Aspects of Disability (3) RCS 5450 Substance Abuse I (3) RCS 6220 Individual Evaluation & Assessment (3) RCS 6476 Human Sexuality (3) RCS 6301 Career & Lifestyle Assessment (3) RCS 6408 Psychopathology (3) RCS 6409 Counseling & Community Settings (3) RCS 6440 Social & Cultural Foundations (3) RCS 6510 Group Theories (3) RCS 6407 Counseling Theories (3) RCS 6740 Research & Program Evaluation (3) RCS 6803 Practicum (6) RCS 6825 Internship (3) Concentration Requirements: Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling (15 credit hours) RCS 5450 Substance Abuse I (3) RCS 6459 Substance Abuse II (3) RCS 6930 ST: Substance Abuse Counseling (3) RCS 6930 ST: Employee Assistance Programs (3) or approved elective (3) RCS 6455 Practicum (Substance Abuse) (3) Marriage and Family Therapy (15 credit hours) MHS 5020 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (3) RCS 6930 Seminar: Dynamics of Marriage and Family Therapy (3) RCS 6930 Seminar: Marital Therapy, Theory, and Techniques (3) RCS 6930 Seminar: Family Therapy, Theory, and Techniques (3) RCS 6803 Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy (3) Non-Thesis Students in the non-thesis program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Program (REH). Two electives (6 credits) may be taken from Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling offerings or from offerings outside the department with the consent of an advisor. Thesis All students are initially admitted 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 plus a minimum of three (3) hours of RCS 6970. Five-Year Program (including 54-hour core curriculum plus three (3) hours of RCS 6970). Additional hours to complete the minimum of 150 hours for students in the Five-Year Program may be elected from other Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling offerings or from related programs with the consent of the advisor. An oral defense of the thesis is required. Comprehensive Examination The written comprehensive examination assesses the student’s understanding of the significant content and process areas of the program curriculum. College Degree Requirements: USF Degree Requirements: MASTER'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS The following sections describe the University requirements established by the Graduate School for Master’s degrees. However, individual programs and colleges may establish additional or more stringent requirements. Student Responsibilities The University of South Florida and all colleges, departments and programs therein establish certain academic requirements that must be met before a degree is granted. These requirements concern such things as curricula and courses, majors and minors, and academic residence. Faculty and graduate program directors are available to help the student understand and arrange to meet these requirements, but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. At the end of a student's course of study, if all requirements for graduation have not been satisfied, the degree will not be granted. For this reason, it is important for students to acquaint themselves with all regulations and to remain currently informed throughout their college careers. Courses, programs, and requirements described in the catalog may be suspended, deleted, restricted, supplemented, or changed in any other manner at any time at the sole discretion of the University and the USF Board of Trustees. Master’s Degree Requirements Minimum Hours A minimum of thirty (30) hours is required for a master’s degree, at least sixteen (16) hours of which must be at the 6000 level. At least twenty (20) hours must be in formal, regularly scheduled course work, ten (10) of which must be at the 6000 level. Up to six (6) hours of 4000-level courses may be taken as part of a planned degree program. Additional graduate credit may be earned in 4000-level courses only if specifically approved by the appropriate College Dean. Students enrolled in undergraduate courses as part of a planned degree program are expected to demonstrate a superior level of performance. Graduate students may not enroll for more than 18 hours in any semester without written permission from the College Dean. Time Limitations All requirements for master’s degrees must be completed within five (5) calendar years from the student’s date of admission for graduate study. Master degrees (including dual degree programs) that require course work in excess of 50 credit hours may be granted a longer statute of limitations by the University Graduate Council. In the event that a student nears the end of the time limitation as specified above, but the student needs more time to complete the degree, the student may submit a request for an extension using the Time Limit Extension Request Form, available on the Graduate School website http://www.grad.usf.edu/student-forms.asp Requests must include the reasons for the delay in completion, the anticipated time needed for completion, and endorsements from the graduate faculty advisor, graduate program, and College Dean or designee, prior to submission to the Graduate School for approval. Students who exceed the time limitations may have their registration placed on hold until a request for extension has been approved. Students who are temporarily unable to continue the program should submit a Leave of Absence Request, which extends the time limit for the duration of the approved Leave (see the section on Leave of Absence in the Enrollment Requirements section.) Enrollment Requirements Refer to the Academic Policies Section online at http://www.grad.usf.edu/policies.asp Institutional Residency The majority of credits toward a master’s degree must be earned through instruction offered by the institution granting the degree. Students at USF-St. Petersburg are expected to complete the majority of the required credits at USF St. Petersburg. Deviations from this rule must be recommended by the student’s doctoral committee and approved by the College Dean and the Associate Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School (Tampa) or the Regional Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies (USF St. Petersburg). Major Professor, Committee and Thesis Requirements: Refer to the Academic Policies Section online at http://www.grad.usf.edu/policies.asp
Admissions Information
Admission Deadlines: There is an established University deadline for the submission of admission application materials. Programs may have earlier deadlines than the University deadline. The deadlines reflected below are the earliest of the two deadlines: Domestic Students Fall: February 15 Spring: October 15 Summer: --- International Students Fall: January 2 Spring: June 1 Summer: --- Admission Requirements: You must comply with University policies and meet University requirements for Domestic or International students. Must meet University requirements (see Graduate Admissions) as well as requirements listed below. Program Admission Requirements Same as university requirements plus: Three letters of recommendation Department application A personal statement GRE Interview (on campus) Admissions Status: Open for admission - Click here to apply
Registration Process
First, contact your graduate program advisor for guidance courses to register for. Obtain any electronic course permit if necessary. Register for the new student orientation online at http://www.gpsc.usf.edu/orientation.html. Then go to http://usfonline.admin.usf.edu/, the link to OASIS, USF's on-line registration system to register for your classes. Follow the directions given on-line. To access online course materials, students must have the USF NetID (e-mail account). Please visit: https://netid.usf.edu/una/ to obtain the NetID. New students, including those studying online, may obtain the USFCard. Please visit: http://it.usf.edu/services/usfcard to obtain the USFCard. Tuition and fees: Fees are determined by the level of the course. Please visit http://usfweb.usf.edu/controller/cashaccounting/tuition for information on tuition and fees.
Course Information:
See http://www.ugs.usf.edu/sab/sabs.cfm