RSA Program Components

• Mentoring program
• Disability culture immersion experiences
• Practica and internships
• Placement support

Download the Application

COURSE INFORMATION

You may visit the Counseling and Psychology Services website within the College of Education for information on courses offered:

Mentoring Program

The RSA Scholars Program expects every student to be actively involved in the mentor program. The VR counselors who have opted to be in the program are involved professionals and are committed to helping students. Scholars are expected to contact their assigned mentor and to plan and make efficient use of any meeting time with their mentor. The mentor program is a unique experience for scholars to learn first hand from professional VR counselors and to gain knowledge, practical experience, skills and networking opportunities that cannot be achieved through the traditional classroom setting.

Disability Culture Immersion Experiences

Program staff work with advocates, centers for independent living, and other partners to identify and coordinate opportunities for RSA Scholars to experience disability culture. These experiences help students understand disability from a different perspective, and broaden the student’s insights to the supports and barriers individuals with disabilities and their families face.

Georgia State University works closely with disability support groups, grassroots advocacy organizations, and independent living advocates, all of which are excellent resources for immersion opportunities.

Practica and Internships

Through the Georgia Department of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation Program, paid as well as unpaid internship opportunities are available at sites throughout Georgia. The practicum and internship experience, which ensures the actual application and development of skills, is central to counselor education. Supervision by a qualified Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) is an integral part of this experience, providing the opportunity to hone skills, explore new possibilities, receive feedback, and build one’s repertoire and confidence as a professional. Supervision is a one-to-one process, and typically lasts a minimum of one hour. Group supervision, an additional component at some sites, typically involves case presentation and discussion of relevant issues under the direction of one or two professional supervisor(s).

Students are required to complete supervised practicum experiences (for detailed and current requirements refer to the Rehabilitation Student Handbook and Rehabilitation Practicum/Internship Handbook available through the Counseling and Psychological Services Department’s website.

Students accepted into the program will work in one of Georgia's Department of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation Program offices. There are 12 regional offices and 53 local "hubs" located throughout the state, so opportunities exist to work in rural, urban, or suburban settings.

To apply for a VR internship, you must submit the following:

• State of Georgia Employment Application
• Letter of Interest, noting any rehabilitation or rehabilitation-related experience(s); specifying a career goal after graduation; and indicating location preferences by region, city, or county.

Internships are very competitive and VR receive applications not only from scholarship recipients, but from students pursuing a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in Georgia and other states.

Timeline for applications:

• 3-6 months prior to the commencement of your internship.
• 6 months prior to the commencement of your internship if you are interested in the metro Atlanta area.

Placement Support

The Georgia Department of Labor-Vocational Rehabilitation Program already provides job announcements for counselor vacancies. Georgia State will provide additional support to RSA Scholars by coaching job seekers and providing professional networking opportunities during the critical job seeking stage.

Course Information

You may visit the Counseling and Psychology Services website within the College of Education for information on courses offered: http://education.gsu.edu/CPS/4518.html