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Rehabilitation, Disability Studies, & Counseling

Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

Rehabilitation Services Program

  1. INTRODUCTION TO REHABILITATION (Credit, 3 hours). An overview of the field and related laws. It sets current rehabilitation policies, principles, and ethics into a historical framework. The process of rehabilitation services from referral and evaluation through job training and placement are covered. Disability awareness and etiquette are practiced in this introductory class.
  1. ETHICS IN CASE DOCUMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT (Credit, 3 hours). The course focuses on caseload management strategies for public and private rehabilitation. The course work facilitates the development of the following skills: documentation, case report writing, time management, goal setting, intake interviewing, rapport building, receiving supervision, and writing weekly reports. The overall goals of the course are to assist students in becoming effective diagnosticians, interviewers, vocational planners, caseload coordinators, and service providers to culturally diverse consumers with disabilities. 

280/281. PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITY I AND II (Credit, 6 hours). It is a two-semester sequence designed to provide primary medical conditions, symptoms, functional implications, treatments, diagnostic procedures, and medical terminology. The course addresses the impact of disability on activities of daily living, psychosocial adjustment, and employment. 

  1. PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELING (Credit, 3 hours). This course provides students with a broad survey of the theoretical foundations for counseling people who have disabilities. It introduces them to the fundamentals of the major contemporary theories for understanding behavior. 
  1. INDEPENDENT LIVING (Credit, 3 Hours). This course covers topics relevant to the independent living movement from a historical perspective to current practice. Studies will include both a national and international context. Topics included in the course are independent living philosophy, models of independent living, consumer empowerment and self-determination, and pertinent legislation. Other topics covered include the relationship between vocational rehabilitation and independent living. 
  1. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT (Credit, 3 Hours). This course provides students with the fundamental principles of understanding and delivering supported employment services to individuals with disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on addressing the supported employment needs of individuals with significant disabilities as defined by federal criteria. 
  1. APPLICATIONS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (Credit, 3 Hours). Reviews the applications of assistive technology as applied to the needs of individuals with disabilities. It covers various types of assistive technology (AT) including computer access, augmentative and alternative communication devices for activities of daily living, wheelchairs, seating, and vehicle modifications. 
  1. OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION AND JOB PLACEMENT (Credit, 3 hours). Designed to familiarize students with sources of occupational information for individuals with disabilities. Theories of occupational choice discussed. Topics covered include Job analysis, Job modification, reasonable accommodation, and placement techniques. Prerequisites: REHB 220, 280, 281 
  1. REHABILITATION EVALUATION (Credit, 3 hours). The course provides the students with basic principles, practices, and processes of vocational evaluation applied to individuals with disabilities. Students will develop a working knowledge of appropriate instrument selection, administration, and interpretation of results; and will be introduced to report writing to communicate findings in a comprehensive evaluation report. The ethical guidelines provided by the field’s certification body regarding testing are discussed. Legal aspects of testing address employment laws, court decisions on educational testing, court decisions on employment testing, and currently relevant legislation (e.g., FERPA, IDEA, ADA, WIOA). Prerequisites: REHB 220, 280, 281 
  1. SPECIAL PROBLEMS and BEST PRACTICES IN REHABILITATION (Credit, 3 hours). Covers special topics in the field of rehabilitation such as cognitive behavior therapy, supervision, administration, professional development, aging and disability, and basic research skills for rehabilitation. In addition, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organization; and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is covered. 
  1. COMMUNITY RESOURCES (Credit, 3 hours). This course is designed to introduce students to the community resources available to aid in the rehabilitation of those seeking and needing such services. This course will also assist students in becoming aware of potential employment sites in rehabilitation settings. 
  1. REHABILITATION RESEARCH (Credit, 3 hours). An introduction to the basic scientific methods used in rehabilitation research. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in research design with consideration of problems of internal and external validity, ethics in research, and qualitative and quantitative research methodology. Prerequisite: REHB 220, 280/281, 362, 364, and one introductory statistics course (SMAT 130/PSYC 274/SOCL 350) 
  1. PRE-FIELD PLACEMENT (Credit, 3 hours). Emphasis is placed on integrating, refining, and developing skills that enhance field placement performance in rehabilitation settings. More specifically, interview skills, assertiveness skills, professional conduct, ethical considerations, and confidentiality of the helping relationships are emphasized. Field trips to various agencies serving people with disabilities are made to assist students in selecting placement sites. In addition, the student must complete 100 hours of field experience at an approved rehabilitation agency. Permission from the Instructor is required. 

495/496. FIELD EXPERIENCE (Credit, 3 hours). Closely supervised practical experience in a rehabilitation agency in which students are allowed to actively participate in the delivery of services to various populations served by that agency. Students must complete a minimum of 150 clock hours per semester at an approved rehabilitation agency to fulfill course requirements. These classes must be taken separately, one per semester.  Permission from the Instructor is required.

 

 

Date of last revision: 11/03/2021