Meaningful Support Pathways.
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation) will train you to identify, provide and/or coordinate services for people with disabilities. Turn your passion for people into a meaningful career related to counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation, social work or substance abuse and create a difference in the lives of those who deserve our support.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
Prepare for your career with hands-on experiential learning. Through a carefully planned sequence of experiences, the B.S. Rehabilitation Services program will introduce you to the career field through a pre-practicum course. You'll refine your knowledge with two required practicums:
- A community-based experience that develops your skills and understanding working with persons with disabilities.
- An applied experience designed to enhance your impact in a chosen area of concentration.
Career-Defining Curriculum
The program is dedicated to promoting your academic and career success, self-growth and leadership development. As part of your educational experiences, you'll learn about the many types of services provided to clients.
Program Overview
Program Concentrations
- Social Work
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Individualized: Focuses on the student's area of interest, ie. Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Program Highlights
- Hands-on learning in the classroom and through two practicums providing services in the community
- An experienced faculty and a national reputation for preparing graduates to work effectively with older adults and people with disabilities
- Networking with community agencies
- Affiliation and collaboration with the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Services.
Request Information
Vocational Evaluation Laboratory
The Vocational Evaluation laboratory located in the Vocational Rehabilitation building includes current assessment systems designed to help the rehabilitation professional identify the potential of individuals with disabilities. Computers, assessment software, situational assessment and work samples are utilized.
Passionate & Supportive Faculty Leaders
Faculty are highly skilled, caring individuals. They are committed to providing quality education, giving personal attention to students, and to helping students develop personal and professional skills that help them best serve their clients.
"UW-Stout was truly my second home. I could not say enough wonderful things about my program and the professors I worked with. Professionally and personally this was one of the best experiences of my life and the growth I have experienced has been tremendous!"
-- Alexa DeMoeB.S. RehabilitationM.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Earn Your Rehabilitation Degree Online
The Department of Rehabilitation and Counseling provides academic and experiential coursework leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Services. The mission of the B.S. in Rehabilitation Services program is twofold: first, to prepare individuals for careers as specialists in a variety of rehabilitation settings. A second objective is to provide a comprehensive broad-‐based education for those persons wishing to pursue advanced professional study in rehabilitation. All students enrolled in the B.S. in Rehabilitation Services program must also complete a concentration, specialization, or minor as a requirement of the program.
Program Objectives
There are three basic broad objectives of the B.S. in Rehabilitation Services:
- Students will have a thorough understanding of the “Foundations of Rehabilitation," which includes philosophy, values, and professional ethics.
- Students will have a comprehensive understanding of people and disabilities as they relate to rehabilitation.
- Students will understand and demonstrate professional behaviors in the application of the rehabilitation process as it applies to persons with disabilities or who are disadvantaged.
Expected Objectives Upon Graduation
- Understand the underlying philosophy of rehabilitation in America.
- Recognize the historical significance of legislation in the development and evolution of the vocational rehabilitation movement.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rehabilitation process.
- Examine the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and vocational implications of disability.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of planning in the rehabilitation process.
- Evaluate community agencies and resources devoted to helping persons with disabilities through vocational rehabilitation and independent living services.
- Demonstrate skill in communicating professionally and effectively with clients, referral personnel, colleague, and representatives of rehabilitation resources.
- Recognize the needs of the diverse client population.
- Discuss the family's impact on the client and the rehabilitation process.
- Identify the ethical and professional responsibilities of rehabilitation professionals.
- Understand the importance of advocacy and improvement in the rehabilitation process.
- Examine the current and future role and functions of rehabilitation professionals.
Graduates of the program have excellent job prospects, both in the number of openings and in the diversity of positions available. Salaries have shown a steady increase over the past several years. Three-year follow-up studies show steady advancement and salary increases.
The Rehabilitation Services program prepares you for dynamic careers in the human services field. You'll select coursework that will prepare you for positions such as:
- Case Manager
- Work Experience Coordinator
- Behavioral Specialist
- Job Placement Specialist/Employment Counselor
- Rehabilitation Specialist or Technologist
- Independent Living Coordinator
- Case Manager/Social Worker
- Residential Counselor
- Community-Based Specialist
- Activities Program Director
UW-Stout Graduates at Work
- Behaviorist Counselor
Supported Employment Program, Eau Claire, Wis. - Job Placement Specialist
Eau Claire Job Center - Residential Counselor
at Correctional Program in Wittenburg, Wis. - Disability Case Manager
Private Rehabilitation Center, Madison, Wis. - Vocational Specialist/Social Worker
Mental Health Center, Baraboo, Wis. - Counselor
Opportunity Partners, St. Paul - Manager of Residential Services
Lutheran Social Services - Jail Program Coordinator
Triniteam, Eau Claire, Wis.
Advisory Committee Members
| Maria | Alm | Dean | UW-Stout |
| James | Arenz | Alumni & First Year Advisor/Testing Coordinator | UW-Stout |
| Asha | Bahr | Alumni, Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant | O'Hara & Hunter Consulting, Inc. |
| Kira | Blake Sullivan | Manager, Business & Partnership Development | Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin (NCW) |
| Jeff | Dunbar | CCS Services Facilitator | Eau Claire County DHS |
| Tom | Hallgren | Alumni and Social Worker | Pepin County Social Services |
| Natasha | Howison | Coaching Coordinator | L.E. Phillips Career Development Center |
| Daniel | Kelsey | Department Chair | UW-Stout |
| Kyle | Kleist | Alumni and Executive Director | Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin |
| Ellie | McKee | Alumni & CLTS/CCS Facilitator | Dunn County Dept of Human Services |
| Greg | Quinn | Veterans Service Officer | Dunn County Veterans Service |
| DeLeana | Strohl | Program Director, Rehabilitation Services | UW-Stout |
| Jeffrey | Sweat | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Kevin | Drzakowski | Associate Dean | UW-Stout |
| Kyle | Walker | Executive Director | UW-Stout |
If you are a high school student contemplating a career in rehabilitation services, you should take college preparatory classes. Effective communication skills are important, so technical writing and speech courses are recommended. You are strongly encouraged to gain related experience by volunteering in community work or joining organizations like ARC (an advocacy group for persons with cognitive disabilities).
Learning Experiences
Courses in the program cover three areas: general education studies, professional studies and concentrations. Instructional methods include both classroom and field-based experiences. Classroom experiences provide you with a theoretical foundation. Field-based experiences allow you to apply what you have learned. Concentrations allow you to focus newly acquired skills on a specific clientele or service delivery system. Five main concentrations are offered through the program.
Enjoying Student Life
The campus learning environment includes a wide variety of activities. Intramural sports, social clubs, sororities and fraternities, honor societies and professional organizations are all included. The student professional organization related to the Rehabilitation Services program is the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Club.
