College of Education - Rehabilitation Counseling - Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation

The Ph.D. program prepares professionals for leadership roles in rehabilitation counselor education, research, administration, and service delivery systems. Persons admitted to the program focus on three areas of advanced development: counselor education and supervision, research, and professional practice. The program is flexible, permitting students to select and pursue individualized plans of study within the required curriculum.

The purpose of the Ph.D. program is to provide rehabilitation counselors the opportunity to master knowledge, clinical, teaching, and supervisory skills, as well as research competencies at the most advanced levels. Doctoral graduates are expected to have the knowledge and skills to teach at colleges and universities, to supervise other professionals, to provide advanced clinical services to clients, and to have the competencies to engage in and evaluate theoretical and empirical research.

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 90 graduate semester hours. Most students complete their course work in three years and require another year to complete the dissertation requirement. If a student has not completed the rehabilitation counseling master's degree curriculum, these courses or their equivalencies also are required. The adviser and curriculum plan committee will determine what courses must be taken to correct deficiencies. This curriculum ensures exposure to vocational rehabilitation as well as independent living rehabilitation processes, concepts, programs, and services.

Each student is required to submit a curriculum plan called the Plan of Study, which is reviewed annually. The rehabilitation counseling faculty conducts an annual review of each student. Retention in the program is dependent upon satisfactory progress as stated in departmental requirements for maintaining candidacy.

Please click on this link to view the recommended classes and sessions in the Ph.D. Program of Study. Two forms are used to document individual plans of study: the general plan of study, for students who have a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling; and a deficiency coursework form, for students who do not have a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

The minor will be planned individually in collaboration with the doctoral student's minor adviser and curriculum plan committee. This area will be taken outside of the Department.

Comprehensive examinations will be taken for a total of 9 hours and will cover the counselor education department core comprehensive (three hours), rehabilitation counselor education (three hours, covering theory, practice, and research), and the minor area (three hours).

A major research study is planned in collaboration with the student's dissertation committee chair. A minimum of two members of the rehabilitation counselor education faculty must serve on the dissertation committee (one of whom must be the student's major advisor). A rehabilitation counselor education faculty member must chair or co-chair the committee.

An application to The University of Iowa's Graduate School.
An application to the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation, including a statement of professional goals.
An official report of your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative scores.
Official transcripts of all previous college work.
Three letters of recommendation.

In addition to these requirements, the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation considers these factors:

Graduate GPA of 3.0 or better.
Composite Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal & Quantitative score of 1,100 or better

A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related area.
One year of full-time work experience in rehabilitation or a related field.
A written statement of purpose for pursuing the Ph.D. in rehabilitation counselor education, including career objectives.

A personal interview with the faculty is required either in person or by telephone. Generally, this interview is scheduled once a completed application is received. In reviewing applications, the faculty considers the composite fitness of candidates across all required areas. No one criterion is used in selecting candidates. All interested persons are encouraged to apply. Specific questions concerning the status of your application should be directed to the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services, N310 Lindquist Center, (319) 335-5260.

Deadline for applications to the Ph.D. program is January 1. The Ph.D. program accepts approximately two students annually.

For the best consideration for financial aid, early applications are strongly encouraged. You will be notified in writing once a decision regarding your application has been made. This is typically one month after the application deadline.


	Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education The Ph.D. program prepares professionals for leadership roles in rehabilitation counselor education, research, administration, and service delivery systems. Persons admitted to the program focus on three areas of advanced development: counselor education and supervision, research, and professional practice. The program is flexible, permitting students to select and pursue individualized plans of study within the required curriculum. The purpose of the Ph.D. program is to provide rehabilitation counselors the opportunity to master knowledge, clinical, teaching, and supervisory skills, as well as research competencies at the most advanced levels. Doctoral graduates are expected to have the knowledge and skills to teach at colleges and universities, to supervise other professionals, to provide advanced clinical services to clients, and to have the competencies to engage in and evaluate theoretical and empirical research. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 90 graduate semester hours. Most students complete their course work in three years and require another year to complete the dissertation requirement. If a student has not completed the rehabilitation counseling master's degree curriculum, these courses or their equivalencies also are required. The adviser and curriculum plan committee will determine what courses must be taken to correct deficiencies. This curriculum ensures exposure to vocational rehabilitation as well as independent living rehabilitation processes, concepts, programs, and services. Plan of Study Each student is required to submit a curriculum plan called the Plan of Study, which is reviewed annually. The rehabilitation counseling faculty conducts an annual review of each student. Retention in the program is dependent upon satisfactory progress as stated in departmental requirements for maintaining candidacy. Please click on this link to view the recommended classes and sessions in the Ph.D. Program of Study. Two forms are used to document individual plans of study: the general plan of study, for students who have a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling; and a deficiency coursework form, for students who do not have a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Minor The minor will be planned individually in collaboration with the doctoral student's minor adviser and curriculum plan committee. This area will be taken outside of the Department. Comprehensive Examinations Comprehensive examinations will be taken for a total of 9 hours and will cover the counselor education department core comprehensive (three hours), rehabilitation counselor education (three hours, covering theory, practice, and research), and the minor area (three hours). Dissertation A major research study is planned in collaboration with the student's dissertation committee chair. A minimum of two members of the rehabilitation counselor education faculty must serve on the dissertation committee (one of whom must be the student's major advisor). A rehabilitation counselor education faculty member must chair or co-chair the committee. Admission Requirements A completed application to the Ph.D. program must include: An application to The University of Iowa's Graduate School. An application to the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation, including a statement of professional goals. An official report of your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative scores. Official transcripts of all previous college work. Three letters of recommendation. In addition to these requirements, the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation considers these factors: Graduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Composite Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal & Quantitative score of 1,100 or better The following factors also are considered: A master's degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related area. One year of full-time work experience in rehabilitation or a related field. A written statement of purpose for pursuing the Ph.D. in rehabilitation counselor education, including career objectives. A personal interview with the faculty is required either in person or by telephone. Generally, this interview is scheduled once a completed application is received. In reviewing applications, the faculty considers the composite fitness of candidates across all required areas. No one criterion is used in selecting candidates. All interested persons are encouraged to apply. Specific questions concerning the status of your application should be directed to the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services, N310 Lindquist Center, (319) 335-5260. Admissions Deadlines and Process Deadline for applications to the Ph.D. program is January 1. The Ph.D. program accepts approximately two students annually. For the best consideration for financial aid, early applications are strongly encouraged. You will be notified in writing once a decision regarding your application has been made. This is typically one month after the application deadline.
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