Dual degree program with Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation

By Lena Zhu | Published by Nov. 26, 2018

Information document for dual degree program. Photo by Lena Zhu.

Have you ever thought about obtaining two degrees at once? Now there’s a program that allows you to do just that.

The program, specifically for Psychology and psychiatry rehabilitation majors, is designed to help “provide educational and clinical preparation for professional roles in Psychiatric Rehabilitation and community mental health settings,” according to the Rutgers University website.

The program is offered through the Rutgers School of Health Professions in accordance with Rutgers-Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Kean University, Georgian Court University, and Felician College.

Kean and Rutgers partnered up to help students in the Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation major back in 1996-1998.

“At the time, my school, the school of health professions wanted to develop a bachelor’s degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation,” said Dr. Kenneth Gill, chair of the department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and counseling at the Rutgers School of Health Professions. “The Kean Psychology department was looking to improve the career prospects of its students. When they saw the gap, the Kean dean and Psychology chair approached us. It seemed like a natural match.”

Kean focuses on helping the students complete the general education and Psychology major course requirements while Rutgers offers specialized Psychiatric Rehabilitation classes for this dual major program.

The curriculum has the usual 124 or 128 credit limit and students have fewer free electives in order to take the Psychiatric Rehabilitation program.

Originally, the program was only applicable to the associate’s degree. Extending the program to the bachelor’s level was always an idea that was planned.

“All of us who started the department and program had previously worked in the psych rehab program,” said Nora Barrett, vice chairwoman of the department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Rutgers. “We had a very high turnover and a lot of people with a degree in Psychology who didn’t know much about working with people.”

The department started to think about the students’ needs and the best option for their continued success. The unique program offers Psychology majors a specialization in their field and helps students find a job after obtaining dual degrees.

“Most students get jobs with the bachelor’s degree,” Sharon Boyd-Jackson, the Psychiatric Rehabilitation dual major coordinator at Kean said. “They have three options when they complete the program. The option to work, the option to attend Rutgers for the masters or PhD [in the same major], or the option to attend graduate school because they have both degrees.”

“It is a wonderful program as you get two degrees, a BS and a BA,” Urbanski said. “Every job I applied for I was hired because of my back up degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation.”

The fieldwork contained in this curricula is particularly challenging as students are required to complete a clinical practicum as part of the curricula.

“The fieldwork is very extensive and in the places where graduates will work in the future two semesters, 240 hours per semester,” Gill said. “Community mental health centers, psychiatric rehab agencies, partial care programs, self-help wellness centers and independent housing agencies are some of the places.”

However, this program also benefits its students.

“Students are learning additional knowledge and practical skills in working with people [with the dual degree],” said Barrett. “Two semesters of experience where they are placed in support programs and use what they learned in the classroom too. They start shadowing and observing. At the undergrad level, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the students.”

The department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation is also exible with its schedule and is mindful of students who have a busy life outside of the classroom.

With some online courses, students are able to “read, study, use the web, do other online activities, 24/7, and interact extensively with students and faculty,” Gill said. “But it requires real discipline, you have to manage yourself and make sure you do not fall behind.”

Although the course may be a lot of hard work, there are benefits to the program. Students are able to network with people in the field, which oftentimes leads to a higher chance of obtaining a job after graduation.

As for the courses that are not online, student schedules are kept in mind. The department tries to make the scheduling as exible as possible for its students.

“Some of the courses are hybrid, meaning that they take place both online and in the classroom. We think it helps people with scheduling,” Barrett said. “A lot of the classes are scheduled for the evening. Since Rutgers is not that far away from Kean, the students have an easier time coming to class if it is say–6 p.m.”

The department is always looking to improve on the curricula.

More content has also been added concerning trauma-informed care—a strategy to help those who have PTSD as well as content regarding helping students grapple with homelessness and poverty in the field.

“We are always updating the curricula. All of us [in the department] are very involved in the latest and best practices of the eld,” Barrett said. “If we hear about something new, we will update the curricula and find a place for it.”