Graduate Admission
Develop the specialized skills and understanding of what is required to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities with the Rehabilitation Counseling graduate programs at Hofstra University. Our graduate programs include a Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation Counseling and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health, both accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as well as an advanced certificate program. Choose a proven pathway to both the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) certifications, and benefit from extensive fieldwork at rehabilitation facilities in the Long Island and the New York metropolitan areas. No GRE is required, and scholarships are available for qualified candidates.
*Note for International Students: Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health is a STEM program. For international students, the STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field. Students who finish their program of study and participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (often for 12 months) have the option to apply for a STEM OPT extension. Student could file extension request to USCIS for additional two years OPT extension.
Visit the Hofstra campus or connect with the graduate admission team. We will answer your questions and put you in touch with program faculty or degree candidates to learn more. Contact us at graduateadmission@hofstra.edu, or call 516-463-4723.
To be considered for master's programs in Rehabilitation Counseling at Hofstra, you must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of three courses from the following areas: psychology; human services; criminal justice; disability studies; sociology; and/or community health. Students may be admitted conditionally pending completion of these prerequisites. In addition, the Advanced Certificate program require a master’s degree.
Start your application online where you can upload the following documents:
Visit the Rehabilitation Counselor program page to learn more.
International students: Please review additional admission requirements.The preferred application deadline for the fall semester is August 15 and for the spring semester is January 15. All others will be reviewed based on available space.
Master of Science (MS) Programs
The Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation Counseling and the Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health are awarded to students who successfully complete 60 hours of coursework. Learn more about MS program offerings.
Advanced Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling
The 12-credit Advanced Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling is for professionals in a related field who wish to qualify for the national certification exam for Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC). Learn more about the Adv. Cert. in Rehabilitation Counseling.
Advanced Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health
The 21-credit Advanced Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health is intended for rehabilitation practitioners or those in a related counseling profession who may need courses or field-based experience in mental health counseling to become eligible to sit for the LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) examination in New York. Learn more about the Adv. Cert. in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health.
Advanced Certificate for the Interdisciplinary Transition Specialist
The 18-credit Advanced Certificate for the Interdisciplinary Transition Specialist is designed for professionals who work with students with disabilities preparing to make the transition to adult life roles following high school. You must have a master’s degree in special education, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, psychology or related field. Learn more about the Adv. Cert. in Interdisciplinary Transition Specialist.
The Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association is for graduate students in the RC program at Hofstra, as well as related programs. The purpose of this organization is for professional development, service to the community, and social/professional networking. The RCSA participates in community events, like the NAMI Walk and VOICE Day; sponsors speakers; funds students to attend professional conferences; and organizes social events, like the Welcome Back Kickoff Party and End of Year Celebration.
Dr. Andrea Perkins Nerlich, program director and professor of the Rehabilitation Counseling program at Hofstra University, worked in private non-profit and for-profit systems as a case manager, program coordinator, and vocational evaluator. Her research interests include transition services for students with disabilities; ecological assessment and vocational evaluation; sports/leisure activities for people with disabilities; collaboration; and student and professional development.
Dr. Rose serves as chair of the department of counseling and mental health professions at Hofstra. She earned a PhD in Educational Psychology with a specialization in learning and cognition and a minor in research methodology from the University of Alabama in 2007. Her research focuses on Hope Theory, a cognitive motivational construct that attempts to explain educational experiences through subconstructs of agency and pathways and informs practice through specific interventions that can facilitate improved academic motivation, self-regulation and achievement for struggling students.