Attending Penn State Abington and majoring in Rehabilitation and Human Service positively impacted my college career. The different courses touch on different aspects of RHS, to help students build skills for the fields they want to enter. They all have one goal: to help students to become professionals for the respective populations they hope to serve, with the proper tools and education. To acquire knowledge and apply the knowledge, and gain the skills to improve on that knowledge. The professors are experts and have diverse perspectives in the classroom. They bring outside experience to the classroom beyond the textbook. What always touched me was the personal experience and transparency professors brought as well! In fact, two of the professors in the RHS department served as mentors for me during the last semester of my college career. The knowledge, skillsets, tools, and education helped me to see the field within RHS that would be the best fit for me. It helped me to have a more concrete view of my personal and professional development goals.
The education I received was eye-opening! From learning about disability culture to chronic conditions to mental health assessments, writing a treatment plan, to learning about chemical dependency and counseling. The Human Services field is vast and evergrowing, with so many different pathways to choose from. It is not one-size-fits-all. Students choose careers in family services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health technician, mental health, and substance abuse to name a few. I was able to graduate with my RHS degree and earn the Chemical Dependency Prevention and Counseling Certificate. With my RHS degree, I've chosen the path of family and child social work. Post graduate school, I hope to serve populations in need of mental, behavioral, and psychosocial support services. That is how dynamic and multi-faceted RHS is for students to explore, grow, learn, and become even more skilled in their different areas of interest.
Viana Zamis,December 2021 Graduate
Attending Penn State and graduating with a Rehabilitation and Human Services Degree opened so many doors for my future. Throughout my college career I was introduced to some of the most down to earth and intelligent professors. The passion they have for this field shaped me to become the employee I am today.
This degree teaches you every aspect of the field, where you feel comfortable going into multiple different fields once you graduate. The professors help you to work with all sectors of the vulnerable populations, such as those with mental health issues, behavioral issues, motor skill issues, substance abuse, the aging population, the young, people with disabilities, learning disorders. The list goes on.
Carleigh Dow,Rehabilitation and Human Services graduate
Coming to PSU Abington and finding the RHS program changed my life. It equipped me with the tools I needed to work my way up in the field with practical application that I could take right to work with me and use in real time. As a practicing clinician, I feel comfortable to say this major is taught by expert level clinicians with diverse experience in the field.
Using what I've learned in RHS, I've earned three promotions in the past year. I am now a full counselor at a non-profit co-occurring drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. After graduating from Penn State with a degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services I know I can achieve anything in this field.
Eric Barthmaier,Rehabilitation and Human Services graduate
