In this program, students learn to work with both individuals and groups across a wide range of ages, limiting conditions and disabilities. Students may follow their individual interests by specializing in areas such as psychosocial rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, career services and addiction rehabilitation. Real-world practical experience is built into the program with a required 120-hour third-year practicum and a 450-hour internship in the fourth year. The hours in the field offer rich background material for classroom discussion. Faculty work closely with students to insure a coordinated plan that matches their career goals, interests and talents. Students move on to careers in a variety of settings, counseling, social work, human services, mental health, community support services, employment services, family services, and to a wide variety of graduate programs. For a full description, visit the UMF catalog.
How do I explore Rehabilitation Services at UMF?
There are many ways to explore a major. You could:
- Review the webpage for this major.
- Talk to faculty members in the major. Ask about their career path.
- Sit in on a class in this major. Choose a class of interest and contact the faculty member to find out which day might be best to drop in on. If you have access to myCampus, click here to go to Schedule Planner to view classes.
- Talk with upperclass students in the major. They can give you insights into the courses you will take and professors who will instruct you. Just remember, their reasons for liking a major may be different from your own. Ask your advisor, your CA or other UMF staff to help you find someone in the major.
- Enroll in one of the following courses:
- REH 110 Introduction to Disability Studies
- REH 120 Introduction to Social Services
- Get involved with a Club & Organization related to the major (for example, Rehabilitation Club, Council for Exceptional Children).
- Volunteer or intern with an organization that is aligned with this major. Or set up an informational interview or job shadow to learn more about their opportunities. Contact Career Counselors Stephen Davis or Cyndi McShane to discuss further.
- Make an appointment to talk to a Career Counselor (Stephen Davis or Cyndi McShane) or Academic Advisor (Lori Soucie) about the major.
What can I do with this major?
Learn more about the major using this resource maintained by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Can I minor in Rehabilitation Services? Are there related majors at UMF?
Yes! UMF has minors in Rehabilitation, Psychology, Community Health, Health & Medicine, and many other choices. Majors related to Rehabilitation include Psychology and Community Health Education. Read more about majors and minors.
Three accelerated 3 plus 2 programs have been created – a Psychology Counseling program, a Rehabilitation Services Counseling program, and a Social Work program. Students complete a Bachelor’s Degree at UMF in 3 years followed by a Master’s Degree at USM in 2 years. A different application process is required. For more information on these new degree programs, please contact Dr .Nicole Achey at nicole.achey@maine.edu.
What kind of jobs have UMF graduates obtained with this major?
Children’s Case Manager, Child Protection Worker, Licensed Social Worker, Counselor, Guidance Counselor, Occupational Therapist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Addiction Counselor, Program Coordinator for an Adaptive Sports Company, Abused Women’s Advocate, International School Counselor, Vice President Client Services, Executive Director of Coastal Counties Workforce, Community Support Worker, Physical Therapy Aide, Crisis Worker, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Victim/Witness Advocate for the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, Director of Admissions at Edgewood Rehab & Living Center, Enhanced Police Intervention Collaboration Advocate with Family Crisis Services, Vice President of Agency Services with Good Shepard Food Bank, Practice Manager/Corporate Compliance Officer, Director of Outpatient Services at HealthReach, Senior Occupational Therapist, JMG Specialist, EMT, Training & Development Coordinator at Nutri System, Director of Women’s Programs, Primary-Chemical Dependency Counselor, Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor at the State of Maine Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and others.
What other career paths can I pursue?
Other career paths include Vocational Counselor, Mobility Specialist, Case Worker, Criminal Justice/Corrections Specialist, Child Welfare Services, Policy Advocate, and many more. Talking to faculty in the major or a career counselor can provide you with more information about a variety of career paths associated with this major.
How to I declare this major?
The first step is to communicate with one of the faculty in the major: Dr. Karen Barrett, Education Center, kbarrett@maine.edu, 207-778-7111 or Dr. Nicole Achey, Education Center, nicole.achey@maine.edu, 207-778-7268.
A minimum GPA of 2.50 is required; however, students with less than a 2.50 may be accepted as a probationary student.
A change of major form, an application form specific to this major, and a 1-2 page essay should be submitted to the Division’s Administrative Specialist Kimberly Ladd. Your essay should be a well-written 1-2 page (double-spaced) typed paper concerning your interest in working with individuals with disabilities. Be sure to include information about previous work, school, or other experiences that have influenced you.
After submission of materials, you will be contacted by a representative of the Division.