Chicago | Master of Arts
Adler University’s Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program prepares socially responsible clinicians to improve quality of life for individuals who face physical, developmental, and emotional challenges. Trained to confront systemic barriers and increase opportunities for inclusion, our graduates are well equipped to empower populations such as the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities in a wide range of settings.
Our innovative program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) within the Rehabilitation Counseling specialty (we are seeking recognition as a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialty with our next accreditation). With a comprehensive curriculum and supervised clinical field experiences, we prepare students for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination and careers in counseling, case management, and advocacy.
Our immersive learning environment prepares students to work not only with individuals with disabilities, but also communities in addressing challenges stemming from disability, including employers, family members, education professionals, and others.
This program also allows students to add on a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling for an additional 12 credits of coursework.
The Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is a 62-credit hour program that requires the successful completion of field training and courses from those listed below. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoons, and evenings. Some courses are also offered in an online or hybrid (partially online) format.
The mission of the program is to educate students in the profession of rehabilitation counseling, with a special emphasis on the provision of services that enhance the independence and quality of life for persons with disabilities. Special emphasis is placed on training students to become socially responsible practitioners who embrace diverse perspectives in the broadest possible sense, and who empower individuals with disabilities to build bridges across social, economic, cultural, racial, and political systems. The program will foster the development of social equality, justice, and respect for individuals with disabilities in the global community.
Field Training and Seminars:
The Department of Counseling and Integrated Programs offers a variety of elective courses to their program students. M.A. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling students are required to take an elective of a three-credit-hour class. Depending on the offering cycle, please note that not all the electives are offered at the same time or may not be available for both on-ground or online students. We recommend that Canadian students take the thesis series as the elective should they plan to pursue doctoral studies in Canada. Examples of electives offered by the Department include:
OR choose the thesis series below as one of the electives:
More detailed information, including course descriptions, can be found in the Adler University catalog here.
M.A. Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling / M.S. Sport & Human Performance
Stand out in the job market with a unique dual degree that offers training in rehabilitation counseling and sport psychology—all with a focus on social justice. Our Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program prepares clinicians to improve quality of life for individuals who face physical, developmental, and emotional challenges. Trained to confront systemic barriers and increase opportunities for inclusion, our graduates are well-equipped to empower populations such as the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities in a wide range of settings.
Our innovative program is also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) within the Rehabilitation Counseling specialty, which recognizes programs that meet or exceed the highest standards for counselor preparation. With a comprehensive theoretical curriculum and supervised clinical field experiences, we excel at preparing clinicians for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) examination and careers in counseling, case management, and advocacy. We are seeking recognition as a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialty with our next accreditation.
M.A. Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling / M.A. Forensic Mental Health Leadership
Adler University’s unique M.A. in Forensic Mental Health Leadership / M.A. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling dual degree prepares graduates to improve quality of life for individuals who face physical, behavioral, developmental, and emotional challenges — all with a focus on social justice. Our innovative program is also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) within the Rehabilitation Counseling specialty, which recognizes programs that meet or exceed the highest standards for counselor preparation. Trained to confront systemic barriers and increase opportunities for inclusion, our graduates are well-equipped to empower populations such as the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities in a wide range of settings. The forensic distinctions offered in the dual degree program will also prepare graduates to work as mental health counselors with individuals, families and systems that interface with the legal and criminal justice arena. Our aim is to prepare clinicians who will be able to assess, treat, consult and apply a full array of counseling services in forensic and correctional settings.
The dual degree option also uniquely qualifies graduates to conduct specialized evaluations and provide expert witness and consultant services to the courts in a variety of civil litigation venues, including: personal injury; product liability; Worker’s Compensation; Social Security disability; employment law; discrimination; catastrophic injury with a Life Care Plan; professional malpractice; divorce; wrongful death of an adult or child; and other related areas. We are seeking recognition as a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialty with our next accreditation.
Doing is learning. A unique and proven program designed to give students real world experience throughout their time at Adler University, the Social Justice Practicum is a required 200-hour internship that spans four courses (or terms for online programs). Every student is given a number of civic-minded categories to choose from. They submit their desired areas of interest. After which, they are assigned a specific and aligned community outreach site where they will work 8 to 10 hours per week.
Our immersive learning environment prepares students to work not only with individuals with disabilities, but also communities in addressing challenges stemming from disability, including employers, family members, education professionals, and others. Our Rehabilitation Counseling training revolves around three core elements: ethical behavior, diversity or individual differences, and critical thinking. Rigorous coursework and real-world experience focus students on creating positive social change—all led by experts in the field.
Click here for more information about our program outcomes.
2019-2020 M.A. Rehabilitation Counseling Program Annual Report
Adler University is a nationally recognized pioneer in graduate education, preparing socially responsible practitioners who embrace diversity and help individuals achieve greater autonomy.
The Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program is designed to meet the following learning objectives. Upon completion of the program, students will:
Program Objective 1: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
Describe and apply all aspects of professional practice, including history, roles, professional organizations, ethic and legal standards, counselor credentials and advocacy processes.
Program Objective 2: Social and Cultural Diversity
Develop self-awareness and multicultural counseling competencies. Apply theory and research on cultural factors impacting counseling relationships in a multicultural and diverse society, and the role of social justice and advocacy to the practice of counseling.
Program Objective 3: Human Growth and Development
Apply models of individual, couples, and family development in the practice of counseling with emphasis on cultural diversity across the lifespan.
Program Objective 4: Career Development
Demonstrate knowledge and apply career development and decision-making models and strategies with multicultural and diverse populations.
Program Objective 5: Helping Relationships
Demonstrate knowledge of theories and skills to provide ethical counseling, consultation, crisis intervention services.
Program Objective 6: Group Work
Participate in, facilitate, and lead experiential group and apply group work principles and theories, methods and skills to the practice of counseling.
Program Objective 7: Assessment
Demonstrate knowledge of principles of testing and measurement, including statistical concepts and apply them to individual and group assessment and evaluation.
Program Objective 8: Research and Program Evaluation
Describe and recognize the importance of research and statistical based methods, statistical, needs assessment, program evaluation to inform evidence-based practice of counseling.
Program Objective 9: Adlerian Foundations and Principles
Apply principles of Adlerian Theory such as purposiveness of behavior, the indivisible self, goal directed behavior, and the role of social interest in counseling and treatment planning with the goals to improve well-being of individuals, couples, groups, families, and a diverse society.
Program Objective 10: Social Justice/ Social responsibility
Reflect on personal values and assumptions (privileges, disadvantages, etc.) about the nature and causes of social problems (social injustices such as poverty, racism, abuse) and gain experience and skills to advocate for systemic change through engagement and leadership in multidisciplinary, diverse community-based organizations.
Program Objective 11: Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices to address a variety of issues within the rehabilitation counseling context, including health promotion, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, research, diversity, and advocacy roles.
Program Objective 12: Critical Thinking and Disability
Maintain a critical, questioning, and exploratory attitude toward issues of disability; demonstrate awareness of the complexity involved in issues of disability, including medical/psychosocial aspects of disability, the person and environment interaction, attitudinal issues, and social systemic impact on services provided to persons with disabilities.
Program Objective 13: Individual Differences
Demonstrate an awareness of the ethical issues related to enhancing personal development, decision-making abilities, and quality of life for individuals with disabilities; articulate the value of client/consumer empowerment, choice, and personal responsibility in the rehabilitation process.
Program Objective 14: Advocacy and Disability
Demonstrate awareness and understanding of community resources available to address issues related to disability challenges of clients; advocate for services and resources for individuals with disabilities to promote full inclusion in the community and in the workforce.
Our program is designed to prepare rehabilitation counselors to provide evaluation, personal and vocational counseling, and support for independent living in a range of settings, including:
Gain the knowledge and skills to create real change with small, collaborative classes taught by leading practitioners and scholars in the field of rehabilitation counseling. Our diverse faculty brings together classroom learning with individualized mentorship and hands-on professional experience.
Students also complete extensive field training, which provides opportunities to develop professional counseling skills working with individuals with disabilities in a variety of medical facilities, clinics, rehabilitation centers, private practices, community organizations, and government agencies. This training consists of a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship, typically at the same site.
Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:
Approved applicants will be invited to complete an interview with faculty. Please submit all application materials to the Office of Admissions prior to the application deadline.
Official transcripts should be sent to:
Adler University – Office of Admissions
17 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Official electronic transcripts should be sent to [email protected]
For more information for International Applicants, click here.
Adler University’s Rehabilitation Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) within the Rehabilitation Counseling specialty. CACREP recognizes programs that meet or exceed the highest standards for counselor preparation. We are seeking recognition as a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialty with our next accreditation.
Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the following licensures and certifications:
Adler University offers a Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate that can be earned by students of the program for an additional 12 credit hours.
This program is accredited as an Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Training Program by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA). The certification process is based on the Illinois Model for Certification of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors.
Specifically, coursework provides education in the theories, techniques, and core functions of substance abuse counseling, focusing on evidence-based research and best practice standards from a social justice standpoint. Specialized practicum experience complements coursework.
The Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling requires the following 12 credits of coursework:
One of the following:
And one of the following:
And one of the following:
And one of the following:
In addition to the specialized coursework, students pursuing the Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling will acquire and develop practical skills in the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) core functions through specialized field placements. The Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling requires the following four semester credit hours of practicum (500 field hours) and seminars:
In addition to the specialized coursework, students pursuing the Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling will acquire and develop practical skills in the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) core functions through specialized field placements. The Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling requires the following four semester credit hours of practicum (500 field hours) and seminars:
This program is accredited as an Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Training Program by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA). The certification process is based on the Illinois Model for Certification of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors.
Located in the heart of the city, the Adler Chicago campus was designed to provide and inspire the learning and living experience. To that end, we have created an environment that caters to your mental, emotional and intellectual growth. Our classrooms are bright and spacious with windows to the outside world. Our technology is the very latest and best. In our Library, you will find every resource you need to research, form and shape your journey. At Adler, we have made it our mission to create a space with more than enough room to share your thoughts and flex your intellect.
In the spirit of social interest, our experts have offered advice for maintaining community and connection in a virtual world.
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The 2019 Adler University class of Chicago and Online Campus students graduated on October 20. Victoria Stewart, a graduate of the Master of Public Policy: Human Rights Advocacy Program in Chicago, spoke at the commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre.
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