Contact: Karie Patton
A new federal grant of more than $477,000 continues support for Mississippi State graduate students preparing for careers in vocational rehabilitation counseling.
The U.S. Department of Education-supported training allowance provides up to $300 monthly in tuition and stipends to qualified university students in the master's degree program. The department of counselor education/educational psychology has offered the program since 1965 and awarded grants of this nature since 1967.
Glen Hendren, the department's coordinator of rehabilitation programs, said persons accepting the assistance must agree to work in a public rehabilitation service area for a specific time after graduation. The requirement may be fulfilled anywhere in the United States.
"We are principally training rehab counselors for work in rural areas, but the skills they are learning are very versatile," Hendren said. "These graduates will be able to work in both rural and urban areas upon completing this program."
Hendren said the grant "has really helped attract quality students to the program and the university." Nearly 35 currently are seeking master's degrees in vocational rehabilitation counseling, which requires a minimum of 48 course hours of study.
The traineeships are awarded on a competitive basis, with a faculty selection committee working to achieve as diverse a representation of recipients as possible. Grade-point averages and other indicators of academic ability are considered in the selection process.
First priority is given to students already receiving traineeships.
To apply for a traineeship or to obtain more information on this and other counselor education programs, contact Hendren by telephone at (662) 325-7918 or e-mail at ghendren@colled.msstate.edu.