Rehabilitation Counseling Program Climbs Rankings

by Brad Duncan

In the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings of colleges and programs, the University of Kentucky College of Education’s graduate program in rehabilitation counseling continues to climb. Previously ranked #19 among all programs in the nation, the UK program reached #17 in the 2011 rankings.

“The ranking of the rehabilitation counseling program as the 17th top program in the country is a reflection of the caliber of faculty in the program who produce quality scholarship, obtain grants, participate in engaged service, and who have national and international reputations,” said Debra Harley, chair of the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. “There is something to be said of the continuity of the faculty who have been here for 12-30 years. In addition, this ranking speaks to the program’s emphasis on quality, ability to meet national personnel training needs and responsiveness to timely trends. The program achieved top 20 status some years ago in response to the mandate for the university to achieve top 20 status. The amazing thing is that the program has grown and continues to move up in the rankings without the addition of new personnel or resources.”

The UK Rehabilitation Counseling Program was established in 1962 and is among the oldest rehabilitation counseling graduate programs in the nation. The program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education and is approved by the Kentucky Council on Post Secondary Education. It is the only rehabilitation counseling master’s degree program in Kentucky. The program’s mission statement says:

Promote professional excellence through personal development and the highest academic standards as we work with our students, persons with disabilities, and our state and community partners in rehabilitation counseling to achieve equal rights, social justice, and quality of life for persons with disabilities in our community, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, nationally, and globally.

For the complete program rankings, please visit http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/rehabilitation-counseling-rankings.