How to Apply

M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling

The on-campus rehabilitation counseling program admits students every fall semester. The distance program option typically admits students once every three years, with the next expected start date being fall 2027.

Important Dates for Fall 2027

Priority Consideration Deadlines

Item	Due Date
1. Cal State Apply application (opens August 1 each year)	March 1, 2027
2. Program application	March 15, 2027
3. Official transcripts due	April 15, 2027

Final Deadlines

Item	Due Date
1. Cal State Apply application (opens August 1 each year)	April 1, 2027
2. Program application	April 15, 2027
3. Official transcripts due	April 15, 2027

Before You Begin

When completing the Cal State Apply application, you are prompted to choose between one of two program concentrations (rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling). Please make sure you fully understand the differences between the concentrations before you begin your application. See Program Track Options.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Submit Cal State Apply Application to SDSU

SDSU uses the California State University common admission application through the Cal State Apply website. Complete the first steps through the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office.

SDSU Graduate Admissions: Steps to Apply

Step 2: Submit Slate Application to Program

Within 72 hours of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email containing a personalized link to Slate, where you must complete your program application.

Please ensure that all required program-specific documents listed below are prepared in advance and ready to upload to your Slate application.

Application Guide: Slate Applicant User Guide

Program Track Options

The RCP offers a generalist degree option (Rehabilitation Counseling, addressing a wide range of disabilities) and a psychiatric rehabilitation degree option (Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, focused more narrowly upon psychiatric disabilities) in the campus-based version of the program. When applying to the university’s College of Graduate Studies (the Cal State Apply application) applicants will be asked to select a program track. Please review the presentation for important information about deciding between program track options. (Transcript of the presentation) The psychiatric rehabilitation degree option is not available in the distance program; all distance program students are enrolled in the generalist degree option.

Resume/CV

Prepare a resume or curriculum vitae. We expect that this will at least include your education, paid and volunteer work history, as well as your community activities.

Letter of Recommendation

Request 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who you have interacted with professionally. You will enter their name and email addresses into the program application and recommenders will add the letter electronically to your application in PDF or MS Word format.

Personal Statement

This is your opportunity to supply the Admissions Committee with a verbal picture of yourself as a person. Particularly helpful would be a discussion of your professional goals as they apply to your reasons for seeking admission to the Rehabilitation Counselor program. Please type your personal statement, using double-spacing and at least 12-point font.

Step 3: Submit Official Transcripts

After you submit your Cal State Apply application, send Official Transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended to SDSU. Continue to monitor your email account for correspondence from SDSU.

Step 4: Monitor my.SDSU

Be sure to follow all instructions provided by SDSU, particularly those related to setting up your my.SDSU account. Once your account is active, regularly monitor your my.SDSU Application To-Do List for any items or requests issued by Graduate Admissions. Prompt attention to these items is essential to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

Step 5: Admission Interviews

All applications will be initially reviewed by Rehabilitation Counseling Program faculty. Following this review, some applicants will be invited to interview for admission to the program. Applicants will be interviewed by one or more Rehabilitation Counseling Program faculty members. Interviews are held once an applicant's materials have been submitted (i.e., both to Cal State Apply and to the Rehabilitation Counselor Program Application for Admission). Interviews typically occur from February through May, but are sometimes conducted earlier once all materials have been submitted, and the applicant is determined to be eligible for admission consideration.

Step 6: Consideration for Stipend Funding

Stipend funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration may be available to qualified students. Please contact us for further information.