Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Program
The mission of the Master’s Program in Rehabilitation Counseling is to focus on the development of well-rounded bilingual academic curriculum that incorporates classroom, clinical, research and community experience to prepare competent rehabilitation professionals to satisfy the social and employment integration needs of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in Puerto Rico and the United States.
The opportunity to increase the supply of qualified and highly skilled rehabilitation counselors
- To provide a well-balanced program of academic coursework and supervised clinical field experience necessary to develop the attitudes, knowledge, values, and skills required of effective and ethical professional Rehabilitation Counselors.
- To provide qualified licensed and certified bilingual counselors to the Vocational Rehabilitation System, Community-Based Organizations, Hospitals and Governmental Agencies, especially in the southern and western regions of Puerto Rico and in the United States.
- To provide continuing education and career development opportunities for practicing Rehabilitation Professionals in Puerto Rico.
- To develop highly professional Rehabilitation Counselors who integrate their knowledge of the discipline with a high degree of personal integrity and commitment to promoting the dignity, equality and societal inclusion of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
- To foster the scientific research of topics related to disabilities and rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on Puerto Rican and Hispanic populations.
The Rehabilitation Counseling program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) through 2018 www.core-rehab.org The master’s degree program provides both a full-time and part-time program. Our Program goal is to admit approximately 20 students in each graduate cohort. Student outcomes are evaluated each year on a variety of different evidence-based competencies that are part of the overall program evaluation.
The Rehabilitation Counseling program at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) through 2018 www.core-rehab.org. The master’s degree program provides both a full-time and part-time program of study. The program goal is to admit approximately 20 students for each fall semester. Student outcomes are evaluated each year on a variety of different evidence-based competencies that are part of the overall program evaluation.
Currently, the graduate program has a total of 64 students. The average grade point of students in the program is 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
For the 2010-2013 academic year, 43 students have graduated. The student retention rate of students who enrolled and graduated for this 3 year period was 89%. Approximately, the time to complete the program ranges from 2 to 3 years. The estimated cost for program attendance is $16,407. Upon completion of the Master in Social Science in Rehabilitation Counseling’s degree, students are eligible to take the Rehabilitation Counselor Licensing Exam required by Puerto Rico’s Government Department of Health offered during the months of October and March. Up to date, a total of 77% of students passed the licensing exam and 70% of graduates of those who registered to take the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Certification passed the exam. Of our program graduates 92% are employed or pursuing advanced academic degrees.
All of the students are from Puerto Rico, including a large number of students with disabilities. The Program has one RSA Long Term Training grant that provides 8 students per semester in the form of tuition and stipends.
1. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
2. Minimum GPA of 2.75.3.
4. Three letters of recommendation, including one from a professor.
5. Successful completion of an interview with the Committee of Admissions of the program.
6. To have completed the following pre-requisites at baccalaureate level:
A. Social Research
B. Statistics (3 credits)
7. To demonstrate basic knowledge (literacy) of computers.
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NOTE: The committee of admissions will be able to grant the applicants who do not fulfill all the pre-requisites, a provisional admission. Under this category, the students will be able to combine up to six (6) credits of Masters and later fulfill the requirements. |
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) of Higher Education. The students in the Rehabilitation Counseling program are bicultural, typically from areas surrounding the city of Ponce. Of particular importance to the Rehabilitation Counseling program is the opportunity to increase the supply of qualified and highly skilled rehabilitation counselors. The program has received a five year grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services that offers a limited number (8) of academic scholarships and monthly stipends to our students with promising academic performance and potential. All of the students are from Puerto Rico, including a large number of students with disabilities. The Program has one RSA Long Term Training grant that provides 8 students per semester in the form of tuition and stipends.
- The Administration of Vocational Rehabilitation of Puerto Rico
- State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation agencies in PR and the USA
- The Veteran Services and Social Security Administration
- People with Disabilities Advocate’s Office
- Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs
- Centers for Independent Living
- Private Rehabilitation Agencies.
- Insurance Companies.
- Hospitals and Mental Health Agencies
- College and University Campuses.
- Department of Education K-12
Program Changes
In June 2021, the program began implementing a new curriculum that includes clinical courses contemplated under the new accrediting agency. At the same time, the program maintains the core courses that are the foundation of the rehabilitation counselors' identity.
The new curricular offerings respond to: 1) comply with the standards and requirements of CACREP; 2) strengthen and update the professional competencies of the program's graduates; 3) position the graduates on equal footing in professional competitiveness in Puerto Rico and the United States. This change will allow graduates to opt for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license and CRC certification in the United States, in addition to complying with the licensing process in Puerto Rico.
Cambios al Programa
En junio de 2021, el programa comenzó a implementar un nuevo currículo que incluye cursos clínicos contemplados bajo la nueva agencia acreditadora. Al mismo tiempo, el programa mantiene los cursos medulares que son la base de la identidad de los consejeros en rehabilitación.
La nueva oferta curricular responde a: 1) cumplir con los estándares y requerimientos de CACREP; 2) fortalecer y actualizar las competencias profesionales de los egresados del programa; 3) posicionar a los egresados en igualdad de condiciones en competitividad profesional en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos. Este cambió permitirá a los egresados optar por la licencia de consejero profesional licenciado (LPC) y la certificación de CRC en Estados Unidos, además de cumplir con el proceso de licenciamiento en Puerto Rico.
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Contactos
Colegio de Ciencias de la Conducta y Asuntos de la ComunidadDepartamento de Criminología, Administración Pública y Consejería en RehabilitaciónPrograma Graduado de Consejería en RehabilitaciónProfa. Elsie Ruiz Santana
elsie_ruiz@pucpr.edu
Directora
Srta. Jinelys Martínez Torres
Secretaria
Edificio Aguayo Oficina 212Teléfonos:
(787) 841-2000 ext. 1061
Fax (787) 651-2011