Special Education, Rehabilitation & School Psychology : College of Education, University of Arizona

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Department Head:
Lawrence M. Aleamoni

Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology
The University of Arizona College of Education
P.O. Box 210069
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0069
Phone: 520-621-7822
Fax: 520-621-3821
E-mail us

Special Education, Rehabilitation & School Psychology

Rehabilitation Program

The Rehabilitation Program was formally established in 1962 and endorsed by the Arizona Board of Regents as the only such program in the state of Arizona to meet rehabilitation education, research and service needs within Arizona and the nation. The program prepares professionals to address, in some capacity, the service needs of adult individuals with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Program offers undergraduate and graduate courses leading to bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in rehabilitation.

Mission Statement

To develop and offer rehabilitation education, research, and community services of excellence that will lead to leadership and practice that is in the forefront of the rehabilitation field. The Rehabilitation Specialty within the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology in the University of Arizona College of Education offers undergraduate and graduate courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees preparing qualified rehabilitation professionals.

Undergraduate Program in Rehabilitation

Undergraduate studies in rehabilitation provide individuals preparing to become human service workers with a comprehensive knowledge of the rehabilitation process and the service delivery skills needed to assist consumers with disabilities in achieving their individual goals. The UA rehabilitation emphasis became a charter member of the Undergraduate Registry of the Commission on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) in 1999. Students are admitted after two years of general college-level study. The bachelor of science degree sequence prepares students for entry level positions as a job placement specialist, case manager, independent living center staff person, mental health worker, group home worker, supported employment specialist, and job coach to name a few. Because of recent mandates that state rehabilitation agencies hire only qualified rehabilitation counselors, students are encouraged to continue on for their master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and national certification as a rehabilitation counselor undergraduate sequence of study, a student must complete 120 units to graduate, including a minimum of 42 upper division credits.

Master of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling

The master's degree coursework prepares students for professional certification as rehabilitation counselors. The primary goal of the program is to increase the supply of qualified rehabilitation counselors for employment in public and private rehabilitation agencies and institutions.
Rehabilitation counselors manage the components important in the rehabilitation process of individuals with physical and mental disabilities. They help prevent fragmentation and gaps in services to people seeking to move from psychological and economic dependence to independence . The counselor draws on knowledge from several fields, including psychology, medicine, psychiatry, sociology, social work, education and law. This 60-unit sequence of study seeks learners who are willing to devote a minimum of two years of graduate study to develop a mastery of knowledge and skill areas identified by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) as requisite competencies for rehabilitation counselors. Students who successfully complete the coursework are eligible to apply for national certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification) and also meet the basic education requirements for certification as an Arizona Certified Professional Counselor. The course of study has continuously been accredited by CORE since 1975. UA is an institutional member of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Education and Counseling

Rehabilitation counselors and others who wish to enhance their leadership, teaching and research skills often pursue the doctoral degree program. Applicants must meet all the academic requirements of the University of Arizona Graduate College and hold a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from a CORE-accredited program or have completed basic coursework in counseling theories, principles of rehabilitation, medical aspects of disability, psychosocial aspects of disability and a counseling practicum/internship. Doctoral courses may take place entirely on the Tucson campus or participants may complete the first 18 units on campus and finish the remaining units through a work-study model. While guidelines regarding doctoral course requirements are provided, a doctoral sequence of study is uniquely developed to meet the goals and needs of an individual candidate.

International Opportunities

The University of Arizona participates with universities in the United States, Mexico and Canada to study disability services and human resource development in North America through the exchange of faculty and undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students. Rehabilitation faculty also work closely with rehabilitation providers on the Navajo Nation and sovereign nations within Arizona to create opportunities for students to learn diverse perspectives. For more information, see the Trilateral Consortium on North American Mobility.

Continuing Education Specialty

Community Rehabilitation Program: Regional Continuing Education Program Region IX- As a subcontracting partner with San Diego State University, College of Education rehabilitation faculty develop and deliver continuing education programs targeting community rehabilitation program professionals and paraprofessionals throughout Arizona.