Welcome to The University of Iowa's Home Page for The Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation (GPR). My name is Vilia Tarvydas, Ph.D., LMHC, CRC, and I am Program Coordinator of the GPR. I hope the information you find here will serve as an introduction and a resource. If you are considering graduate study in rehabilitation, The University of Iowa's programs have much to offer you. The program offers both an M.A. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education. The program received the 1997 President's Award for Exemplary Education Program of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, and is ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. In 2006, the GPR celebrated its 50th year as a rehabilitation counselor education program. To better familiarize yourself with our programs, we invite you to review our Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation brochure.

Master's Degree Program:

Our Master's program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Professions (CACREP) in Community Counseling, and provides an exciting array of specializations to prepare clinically skilled, knowledgeable and committed rehabilitation and mental health counselors. Master's graduates obtain an excellent education in rehabilitation counseling that will qualify them for national certification through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). In addition, students select a specialization focus that more specifically prepares them to provide services in a focused area. The specializations also prepare them to better pursue employment and credentialing, such as counselor licensure or drug/alcohol counselor certification that are relevant to their future practices. Students meet with their academic advisors to determine the coursework necessary to complete their specialization. Recent specialization areas offered are:

Ph.D. Program:

Our doctoral program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education is focused on educating tomorrow's rehabilitation counselor educators, researchers, and leaders. Our doctoral students take a program of courses that provides them with in-depth education and practical experience in the areas of advanced rehabilitation counseling studies, research methods, clinical supervision, and teaching and learning at the college level. The Counselor Education and Supervision Program in the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Student Development is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) at both the doctoral level. Rehabilitation Counselor Education doctoral students may elect to complete the CACREP course requirements and receive a letter documenting completion of these courses. In addition, all doctoral students take courses in a minor area of study to explore areas of interest to them. Some recent examples are:

There is a very high demand for qualified rehabilitation counselors and rehabilitation counselor educators to meet the counseling and case management needs of people with disabilities to accomplish their goals for vocational, psychosocial, and independent living. This demand is only expected to increase in the coming years. This growing demand is influenced by such factors as: increasing retirement rates of current rehabilitation counselors and educators, increasing incidence of disability, multicultural diversity, aging of the American population, growing state and federal emphasis on special education and employment development for people with disabilities, and increased emphasis on social and vocational access of people with disability through evolving legal, policy and technological developments.

The Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation share a commitment to increasing the quality of life for people with disabilities through the preparation of qualified professionals who are able to provide competent services to people with disabilities. Our faculty are committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and they have a national reputation for leadership and research in the profession. Our blended curriculum provides a diversity of clinical opportunities in the community. We have excellent library, classroom, technological, and research resources, and our small student-to-faculty ratio provides an excellent opportunity for persons wanting a quality graduate education. You can read more about the admissions process, curriculum, and graduation requirements for these programs in other areas of our Web Site.

We would like to hear from you about your interest in rehabilitation counseling. Please feel free to contact any faculty member for further information about the profession, program, or application process. You can find out more about the faculty members by exploring the faculty biographies at this web site. You can direct general questions about the Program to The University of Iowa, N338 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, IA 52242-1529; by phone at (319) 335-5275 or (800) 553-4692; via e-mail at loreta-litton@uiowa.edu. You can also reach me directly at vilia-tarvydas@uiowa.edu. For information about The Master's Program: Dr. John Wadsworth, Director, (319) 335-5246, john-s-wadsworth@uiowa.edu. The Doctoral Program: Dr. Jodi Saunders, Director, (319) 335-5278, jodi-saunders@uiowa.edu.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Vilia M. Tarvydas, Ph.D., L.M.H.C., C.R.C.