Academic Programs
Degree Programs
Doctoral Programs
Degree Objective
To develop scholars who, through their leadership and original research, will contribute to the knowledge base of health and rehabilitation sciences. Graduates will be able to be employed in universities, health care facilities and industries that focus on teaching others and advancing knowledge in health and rehabilitation.
Admissions Policy
Requirements, in addition to those of the Graduate School, include:
- Completion of a post baccalaureate degree in health and rehabilitation sciences or in a related health care discipline, or completion of a baccalaureate degree with professional experience
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- A 300-500 word personal statement of learning objectives, research interest, and leadership potential
- Competitive scores (minimum of 500 recommended) on the verbal and quantitative sections, and a score of 3.5 or better on the analytical writing section of the GRE completed within 5 years before matriculation into the Ph.D. program. Successful completion of a post graduate degree will waive the matriculation time period
- Interview
A maximum of 30 semester credits may be transferred from the student's post baccalaureate course work as approved by the student's Advisory Committee and the University Graduate School. No course may be transferred from another institution unless the course was completed with a grade of "B" or higher.
Any exceptions to the admissions policies must be requested in writing to the Ph.D. Admissions Committee.
Curriculum Requirements
The minimum requirements for the Ph.D. are 90 credit hours of advanced study, of which 30 semester credits may be transferred from the student's post-baccalaureate degree of study, as approved by the student's Advisory Committee and the University Graduate School.
The credits for the Ph.D. are distributed in the following categories:
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Core Curriculum (12 credits in required courses)
| W660 | Rehabilitation Theories and Applications | 3 cr. |
| W661 | Theories of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 cr. |
| W662 | Rehabilitation Services in Healthcare Systems and Delivery | 3 cr. |
| W672 | Teaching Practicum within area of specialization | 3 cr. |
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Concentration (30 credits)
Students will select one of the three areas of concentration identified by the Institute of Medicine.
Students must declare an area of concentration and identify appropriate coursework within the SHRS and across campus in consultation with their Advisory Committee. Areas of concentration include:
- Pathophysiology and Impairment Research
- Functional Limitations/Functional Participation Research
- Health Services Research
Research Core (42 credits)
| GRAD-G505 | The Responsible Code of Research | 1 cr. |
| GRAD-N802 | Techniques of Effective Grant Writing | 3 cr. |
| NURS-W540 | Writing for Publication | 3 cr. |
| SHRS-W670 | Research Practicum within concentration | 6 cr. |
| Statistics and Research Design courses (courses must be approved by the student's Advisory Committee as part of the student's plan of study) |
9 cr. | |
| Dissertation | 20 cr. |
Electives (6 credits)
Minor
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Ph.D. curriculum, each student will complete 6-12 credits in an external area, and thus satisfy the minor requirement for the Ph.D. Specialized minors may be constructed on a case-by-case basis, if needed for a particular student's program.
Comprehensive Examination
Near, and usually in, the last semester of course work, students will be required to take a comprehensive written qualification examination in health and rehabilitation sciences, prepared by the student's Advisory Committee. Only students who pass the exam may continue in the program. Students may be able to retake the examination one time if they fail to pass the first time. The retake must occur within six months of the original examination.