Master's Program

The Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling offers both a non-thesis and thesis program, and all students are initially admitted to the non-thesis program. There is no language requirement; however, a comprehensive examination is required of all students before the degree is awarded.

How To Apply

Non-Thesis Program

Students in the non-thesis program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Program (REH) and 150 hours in the Five-Year Program (REF). Electives may be taken from Department offerings or from offerings outside the Department with the consent of the student's advisor. In addition to the 54 hours of required courses, REF students must have a minimum of 10 elective hours at or above the 4000 level.

Thesis Program

All students are initially admitted to the non-thesis program. Admitted students may subsequently apply to the faculty for a thesis program. Students in a thesis program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Program (54-hour core curriculum plus a minimum of three hours of RCS 6970), and no less than 150 hours in the Five-Year Program (including 54-hour core curriculum plus three hours of RCS 6970). Additional hours to complete the minimum of 150 hours for students in the Five-Year Program may be elected from other Department offerings or from related programs with the consent of the advisor. An oral defense of the thesis is required.

Five-Year Master's Program for USF Undergraduates (150 Semester Hours)

NOTICE: The 5-Year Program is currently under administrative review; no new applications are being accepted at this time.

USF undergraduates who have completed General Distribution, CLAST, and Gordon Rule requirements may, if selected for admission, start the five-year master's program the first semester of their senior year. The Master of Arts degree is awarded at 150 semester hours (minimum requirement), and students may also receive a bachelor's degree at the same time (if concurrently meeting graduation requirements in an undergraduate major). Admissions are on a competitive basis. The application deadline for Fall semester is February 15th of each year, and for Spring semester October 15th. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores should be reported to USF by those dates, and undergraduates should generally take the GRE at the start of their junior year (after completing 60 semester hours).

Students considering the five-year program should also concentrate on taking only required courses in their undergraduate major during their junior year. This is the only way to meet requirements for both a bachelor's and master's degree at 150 semester hours. Completing a bachelor's degree is not, however, required of five-year program students.

For additional information on the Five-Year Master's program contact: Dr. Gary DuDell at (813) 974-1257 or E-mail.