Why Major in RHS?
The RHS major trains students interested in improving quality of life for persons impacted by disabilities. RHS professionals work with a variety of people across the lifespan who experience problems in psychosocial, physical, mental, educational, vocational, and recreational aspects of their lives.
Examples of client groups RHS professionals work with include people with mental, cognitive, developmental, addiction, sensory, and/or physical disabilities and chronic illness; people experiencing violence; people living in poverty; and people who are homeless.
Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 Internship Funding Opportunity
There is funding to offer monetary stipends to Penn State Abington students who will be completing internships at local agencies that treat substance use disorders (or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders)!
This opportunity is available to all RHS majors, but preference will be given to students who are concurrently enrolled in the Chemical Dependency Prevention and Counseling Certificate. This funding will also allow students to visit various agencies in the area to learn more about the treatment of substance use disorders.
For more information, contact Professor Lavetsky ([email protected]).
Your Experience as an RHS Major
We are committed to a student-centered approach to education that fosters success through close interaction with faculty and peers. The proximity of our suburban campus to Philadelphia creates unique opportunities for students to make career connections through internships and other partnerships.
Careers in RHS
Penn State Abington RHS graduates pursue employment in a variety of settings:
- rehabilitation centers
- drug and alcohol programs
- senior citizens centers
- community mental health programs
- corrections systems
- hospitals
Increasing opportunities are available in private for-profit insurance programs for the industrially injured, and in employee assistance programs within business and industry.
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Cameron Manser, RHS class of 2023, earned an Honorable Mention in the 2023 ACURA Poster Fair. She, and her faculty mentor Dr. Abigail Akande, explored narratives of people with disabilities pertaining to the theme of reproductive justice. In light of the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, they sought to highlight the perspectives of an often-excluded group. Learn more about the project here.
