Alabama State University News August 6, 2013 ASU Offers A First In Education Statewide ASU's College of Health Sciences is offering online Graduate Certificates in Rehabilitation Counseling, and Disability Studies, Policy & Services - the first of their kind in Alabama. Rehabilitation professionals throughout Alabama have graduate certificate options at Alabama State University that never were available before in the state, which are online Graduate Certificates in Rehabilitation Counseling, and Disability Studies, Policy & Services that are now being provided by ASU's College of Health Sciences, said its dean, Dr. Steven Chesbro. "These online graduate certificates provide a valuable opportunity to those seeking to continue their education in the area of disability," Chesbro said. He added that the graduate certificate in Disabilities Studies, Policy & Services was designed to add to the knowledge of skills of those working in disability-related areas such as schools, universities and state agencies. The graduate certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling was developed in response to a new certification category approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (www.crccertification.com<http://www.crccertification.com/>), a national and international credentialing entity for Rehabilitation Counselors. "The goal of the online Rehabilitation Counseling, and the Disability Studies, Policy & Services certificate programs is to target professionals already working as vocational rehabilitation counselors and who have a master's degree in other closely related professions," said Dr. Dothel Edwards, chair of ASU's Department of Rehabilitation Studies. Edwards said the online certificate programs should attract professionals in fields such as occupational therapy, psychology, special education and disability studies. He added that ASU's online certificate program in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares qualified individuals to earn education hours and sit for the national exam to become certified rehabilitation counselors. Registration for the online graduate certificate program is now open for ASU's fall semester, which begins Aug. 21. For more information on ASU's Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling, call 334-229-8776<tel:334-229-8776> or visit www.alasu.edu/healthsciences<http://www.alasu.edu/healthsciences>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.