The Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (MSCRMHC) program offers a rigorous curriculum of coursework and fieldwork experiences designed to prepare graduates for state licensure eligibility and national certification. The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Rehabilitation Counseling. CACREP has established standards for the accreditation of graduate programs in the counseling fields. These standards are carried out in a number of ways: through continued curriculum development and implementation, by fostering relationships between students and faculty, and competitive staffing of the programs. Students benefit by participating in a program that is nationally recognized for its quality and high academic standards.
All classes are available online except REHA 523 and REHA 590, which are offered live in summer semester. All students are required to attend the three-day live portion of REHA 523 and REHA 590 during summer semester. Students are also required to attend a MSCRMHC New Student Orientation prior to or during their first enrolled semester.
Admission
Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling must submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Studies by the current graduate catalog deadline dates. No applications will be considered until all required information arrives at the Office of Graduate Studies. Application materials include:
- Completed MSU Billings Graduate Application
- Application essay. The essay will be no more than four typed pages, double-spaced, and answer the following questions: Why have you chosen this career path? What strengths or assets do you bring to the program? How have your personal experiences influenced your decision to pursue a career in the counseling profession?
- Current Vita or resume.
- Complete official transcripts from all institutions attended. Preference is given to students with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. Students with cumulative GPAs of 2.75 to 3.00 may be considered for provisional admission.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can provide an evaluation of the applicant’s potential as a graduate student, professional abilities, and potential for success in the field of counseling. Appropriate references include work and volunteer supervisors and college/university faculty within the counseling/human services profession. References may not include personal clergy, personal current or past counselor/therapist, colleagues, or friends/relatives.
Completed applications are reviewed by the program faculty screening committee and a personal interview, either in person or by telephone, may be scheduled. Consideration is given to the relevant qualifications of applicants across all required areas. No one criterion is used in selecting applicants for admission. Program faculty are dedicated to recruiting and accepting a diverse body of applicants who are sensitive to the needs of our increasingly pluralistic society.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Understand and practice core rehabilitation and mental health counseling roles, stay current in the profession, and are life-long learners in counseling practice and scholarly activity;
- Recognize the importance of continued personal growth and exploration of self as socio-racial being, as well as personal biases and assumptions that interfere with professional competence;
- Are exposed to the broad spectrum of counseling theory and human development as applied to clients of diverse social and racial backgrounds;
- Facilitate client lifelong career development through assessment, educational planning, and cutting-edge technology;
- Understand and apply counseling and consultation processes necessary to assist individuals, groups, and families, utilizing the ethics codes and ethical behaviors applicable to their professional identities and credentials;
- Are able to understand and use group and family theories and methods to address systemic and ecological factors that affect the lives of those with whom they work;
- Choose counseling assessment instruments based on their appropriateness and efficacy, being especially aware of racial and ethno-cultural implications, while understanding the process, benefits, and limits of diagnosis and treatment planning;
- Recognize the importance of seeking consultation and/or supervision from the professional community and of belonging to and participating in professional counseling organizations at the local, state, regional, and national levels; and
- Utilize effective, and when possible, empirically supported means of assisting clients in their growth and development, striving toward accountability through data collection and analysis.
