To be assured consideration for admission to the master’s degree program in Rehabilitation Counseling, prospective students must submit completed application materials to the Graduate School by the below application deadline. Applications will continue to be reviewed until the program reaches capacity.
Summer admission - February 1
Fall admission - February 1
Spring admission - September 1
Application materials include the following:
Graduate School application
Transcripts (not required for current or former NIU students; unofficial copies are accepted for admission purposes). Official transcripts and proof of degree are required once you are admitted
Personal goals statement
The specific reasons you wish to pursue the graduate program in rehabilitation counseling at NIU
Your career goals and how earning a degree in rehabilitation counseling relates to those career goals
Steps you have taken or will take to make sure your academic performance in our program is exemplary
Two letters of recommendation. Provide the names and email addresses of the letter writers.
Resume. Submit a resume that outlines your education, work experience, and other achievements.
The rehabilitation counseling admissions committee will select qualified applicants to participate in pre-admission interviews. Committee members will look for your ability to demonstrate:
Relevance of career goals/commitment to working with people with disabilities
Aptitude for graduate-level study
Potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
Respect for cultural differences
Prospective students who fail to meet the GPA requirement for admission may request special consideration for their applications. Such requests must be in writing, must include compensatory evidence related to the deficiency, and should accompany the application for admission to the Graduate School. Final decisions regarding admissions are made by the program’s admissions committee on the basis of a total profile of an applicant’s qualifications.
A maximum of 12 semester hours of student-at-large credit may be applied to degree requirements. In addition, the maximum combined total student-at-large hours plus transfer credit may not exceed 12 semester hours.
An accelerated B.S. in Rehabilitation and Disability Services/M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling program is available. See Undergraduate Catalog for requirements.
Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours to complete the degree. Because this program is fully accredited by CACREP, a student who successfully completes the required curriculum, including a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship under the supervision of a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, is eligible to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRC) Examination. Students are eligible for licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois after passing the CRC exam and the successful completion of the program.
Students are required to complete a total of 200 approved professional development hours, including direct involvement with supervised counseling, professional meetings, and the disability community.
Clinical and other specific requirements are available in the Rehabilitation Counseling Student Handbook.
Thesis Option
A thesis must be submitted and approved. Students selecting this option must also pass a comprehensive examination, which includes a defense of the thesis.
Non-thesis Option
Students selecting this option must pass an oral and written examination, which will assess knowledge and ability in the specialization.
Grading Policies for Clinical Courses
Students must make satisfactory progress in clinical practicum and internship courses. Students who earn two grades of C or lower in clinical courses (i.e., REHB 690, REHB 694) will be dismissed from the graduate program.
