Resources
Student Organizations
Chi Sigma Iota-Rho Omega Chapter National Honor Society for Students
Chi Sigma Iota is an international honor society of professional counselors and counselors-in-training. Its purpose is to promote and recognize exemplary attainment in the study and practice of counseling. Rho Omega typically holds an initiation ceremony each spring with business meetings, community projects and social meetings throughout the academic year.
Dr. W. Leigh Atherton (athertonw@ecu.edu) is the faculty advisor to the chapter.
ECU Student Addictions and Rehabilitation Association (SARA)
The Student Addictions & Rehabilitation Association (SARA) is the student organization of the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies. The primary function of SARA is to offer students within the program ways to get involved in the community through social and service activities. Students that belong to the department are eligible for officer positions, which are voted upon once a year. The student organization is recognized by the East Carolina University Student Government Association and works closely with the College of Allied Health Student Leadership Council.
This East Carolina University student organization has also supported student travel to professional meetings across North Carolina including the VEWAA and PARC conferences. For, more information please contact our faculty advisor, Dr. Steve Leierer (leierers@ecu.edu).
Financial Assistance & Scholarships
Graduate Research/Assistantships
Several graduate students each year are selected to assist the department’s faculty in research or special projects. These are usually rewarding projects and may lead to ideas and possible data for students’ term papers or research papers. The stipend which assistantships provide each semester varies. Students interested in applying to the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies for the assistantship must contact the departmental secretary. If students are working full-time, they are not eligible for the Graduate Research/Assistantships.
Scholarships for Doctoral Study (PDF)
Beth Lambeth Memorial Scholarship
Each academic year, an outstanding student in the department is selected for the Beth Lambeth Memorial Scholarship. The student is selected by the faculty and students, and the presentation is made during the fall or spring semester. A cash award, along with a plaque, is presented to the student. A departmental plaque also displays the names of previous Lambeth award winners. The scholarship is bestowed in memory of an exceptional graduate student who died in the last semester of her graduate studies.
Graduate Rehabilitation Literary Awards
The purpose of the annual Graduate Rehabilitation Literary Awards competition is to encourage the writing of professional literature among graduate students preparing themselves to work professionally with people with disabilities (i.e., physical, substance abuse, psychiatric) and to facilitate professional communication among all rehabilitation personnel. It is sponsored by the National Rehabilitation Association with the special assistance of its National Rehabilitation Counseling Association. Annual cash prizes of $300, $125, and $75 will be awarded to first second and third-place winners, respectively. Consideration will be given also for honorable mention certificates or awards.
Literary contributions will be accepted only from persons preparing at the graduate level in colleges and universities to work professionally with persons with disabilities. The entry must be written while the student is enrolled in the graduate program and during the year of the contest for which the entry is being submitted (i.e., between March 2 of any year and March 1 of the following year).
Gravely Foundation Scholarships
Nominees for this scholarship must have a minimum grade point average of 3.2 and can be either a junior, senior, or graduate student from the following departments: Biostatistics/Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Medical Technology, Physical Therapy, Social Work and Corrections or Rehabilitation Studies. Nominations are made by the department in January.
T. L. McClellan Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established to promote professional excellence in the practice of rehabilitation through granting scholarships to full-time students in rehabilitation and/or related helping or human service professions. Each applicant must demonstrate his/her potential to make positive contributions to the advancement of rehabilitation in North Carolina. Full-time students in technical or degree programs in the helping or human services are eligible for consideration.
Berbecker Scholarship
There will be one (1) scholarship of $2,500 awarded to a student who is currently enrolled in full-time graduate study in the College of Allied Health Sciences, Medicine, or Nursing. The student will be awarded $1,250 each semester of the academic year. The deadline varies from year to year and is announced annually.
Paid Clinical Internships
The Internship in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling occurs in the last semester of the student’s program. The student will be working full-time at an agency and receive 12 semester hours of credit. Paid internship settings are sometimes available. Please see the Directory of Field Sites for Practica and Internships, your advisor, or departmental internship supervisor for information on paid internships.
View other scholarships available to College of Allied Health Sciences students
East Carolina University Financial Aid Office
For other types of financial aid information, please write, call, or visit the Financial Aid Office, Division of Student Life, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, telephone 252-328-6610.
College Foundation of North Carolina
Forgivable Education Loan Service (FELS) for graduate students who are from NC are seeking either of our MS degrees or PhD. All of which are FELS approved Allied Health Programs (additional requirements apply). Annual loan amounts are up to $10,000 (>9 credits MS) or $14,000 (.9 credits PhD). Additional information and application are on the web page.
Employment Opportunities
- Job Bank for Graduates (DOCX)
- North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Information and Current Vacancies
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- US News and World Report – Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Indeed – Mental Health Counselor
- Indeed – Substance Abuse Counselor
- Future Projected Job Opportunities for Counselors (PDF)
- ECU Career Center
Military & Trauma Counseling Network
Mission
Military and Trauma Counseling Network (MTCN)
The MTCN is dedicated to provide an online network of resources for active duty service members, veterans, veterans with disabilities, and their family members. The MTCN recognizes that more than two million American troops have deployed to the Middle East since September 11, 2001 in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation New Dawn (OND), and the Global War on Terror. More servicemen and women are surviving combat injuries than ever before due to improved battlefield medicine, post-operative medical technology, and better body armor. Many have experienced catastrophic physical injuries/disabilities (i.e., traumatic brain injury, muscular skeletal injuries, amputations) and serious mental health concerns (i.e., post-traumatic stress, anxiety conditions, substance abuse). The MTCN also understands that transitioning from active duty to civilian life as a veteran can pose many medical, physical, and psychological challenges for the individual service member and their families. Thus, ECU’s Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies stands ready to provide an online resource for those who have served as well as their family members.
Operation Military and Trauma Counseling (OMTC)
OMTC’s mission is dedicated to provide research and resources for professional counselors and counselor educators that address active duty military and veteran concerns in the areas of medical, physical, mental health, psychosocial, and career/occupational, spiritual, and other areas related to military and trauma counseling.
Jobs & Careers in Military Counseling
Resources for Active Duty and Vets
Quick Links
Contact
Dr. Paul Toriello
252-744-6297
toriellop@ecu.edu