About the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling program in the College of Health Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso. We are excited that you have taken the time to visit the website to learn more about the program, the profession of rehabilitation counseling, and career opportunities after graduation.
The first students enrolled in this program in the Fall, 2010. Over the past years, we’ve focused on making this program the best in the region and an excellent learning opportunity for students. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs through 2022.
The Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program prepares students with the specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to collaborate in a professional relationship with people who have chronic illnesses. Counselors assist individuals with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional chronic illnesses and disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals in the most integrated setting possible through the application of the counseling process. The Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) degree provides a strong foundation in the philosophy, process, and profession of rehabilitation counseling through didactic coursework, field experiences, and extracurricular experiences. It develops expertise in the medical, social, and psychological aspects of chronic illnesses and disabilities. Graduates of the MRC program are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam and are eligible for applying for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (if enrolled in designated elective courses).
In collaboration with our partners in the community such as the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Pride Industry, ReadyOne, Project Search, Project Higher, Employment Service Providers, the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Volar Center for Independent Living, and the Opportunity Center for the Homeless we continue to offer a range of field-based learning opportunities that will allow students to apply the knowledge they acquire in the classroom.
Graduates are highly sought after by a number of rehabilitation agencies in El Paso, the State of Texas, and the State of New Mexico and across the nation. These agencies include organizations such as the Texas Division of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, worker compensation programs, high schools, and college settings, independent living centers, substance abuse treatment programs, mental health agencies, and corrections facilities, and many other rehabilitation service agencies.
We have obtained funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to provide competitive scholarships to eligible students in order to support students during their graduate education. Students interested in working in the field are eligible for these government scholarships. The funding generally provides $13,000.00 (including tuition and a stipend) for two semesters of study. An additional two semesters of funding, while limited, is available.
Applications are accepted for either Spring or Fall Semester. All MRC classes are located at the Campbell Building (1101 N. Campbell St.) and are scheduled after 5 pm.
We hope you can join us and start your career as a Rehabilitation Counseling Counselor!
