Rehabilitation Counseling

Master's Degree Program


Graduate opportunities

In the Rehabilitation Counseling program at the University of North Texas, we train students to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving equal access to all areas of society.

Our graduates work in the field as counselors and administrators, assisting individuals with disabilities to attain employment, well-being and optimum independence.

The Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services provides course work leading to a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. The courses are offered online or in campus-based formats to accommodate the needs of students entering the field of rehabilitation counseling as well as those who are currently employed in agencies serving individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to provide you with the best educational experience possible in a strong student-centered environment.

Upon graduation, you’re also eligible for national certification as a rehabilitation counselor and state licensure as a professional counselor.

Outstanding support

You’ll receive intensive supervision and mentoring from nationally and internationally known faculty members as well as experts in the field who serve as adjunct instructors.

The course work is integrated with service learning through the on-campus Wellness and Employment Learning Laboratory (UNT WELL). This lab allows you to engage in cutting-edge research regarding evidence-based practices in disability and addiction rehabilitation.

Our faculty members are involved in a variety of research projects. Current research projects focus on:

  • Impact of disability in ethnic and cultural populations
  • Models of supported employment and community integration
  • Service delivery in the state vocational rehabilitation system
  • Substance abuse recovery and prevention
  • The impact of resilience on health outcomes

Our graduate program is ranked No. 15 nationally and No. 1 in Texas according to U.S. News & World Report. We also are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP; 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510, Alexandria, Va. 22314; telephone 703-535-5990).

UNT provides a wide variety of services exclusively to graduate students. The Graduate Student Writing Support office can help you with writing, and the Office of Research Consulting offers assistance with statistical research.

The Toulouse Graduate School® offers several professional development workshops, including a Thesis Boot Camp. Many of the workshops are available online for your convenience.

Attending UNT

Admission requirements

You’ll need to meet the admission requirements for the graduate school and our program. The graduate school requirements are outlined at graduateschool.unt.edu or catalog.unt.edu. The program admission process includes:

  • Completed departmental graduate program application
  • Personal statement
  • Résumé showing a minimum of one year of full-time employment
  • Two reference letters (one from a former instructor, the other from a former employer)
  • Competitive GRE scores (international students whose native language is not English may substitute UNT’s Graduate Preparation Course for GRE scores)
  • Personal interview with graduate faculty members

Degree requirements

The M.S. degree program consists of 60 credit hours of combined course work and practical experience. You can choose to complete a thesis (optional).

The required course work examines counseling, multicultural aspects of disability, assessment and case management, and the vocational rehabilitation process. Detailed information about course offerings is available at catalog.unt.edu.

Financial assistance

Several graduate assistant positions are available each year to assist with faculty research. Out-of-state and international students who receive half-time assistantships also become eligible to pay in-state tuition rates.

Additional financial assistance is provided through scholarships, first-year fellowships and McNair Fellowships. Information about these financial assistance programs is available from the department or at graduateschool.unt.edu or financialaid.unt.edu.