Curriculum & Costs

What you’ll learn

The 90-credit hour curriculum covers health and rehabilitation sciences core coursework, concentration tracks, and research, culminating in the defense and publication of a doctoral dissertation. You may transfer up to 30 credit hours from your master’s degree, as approved by your advisory committee and the university graduate school.

The 90 credit hours for the Ph.D. are distributed among four content areas.

The core addresses content necessary for a successful academic career in health and rehabilitation sciences.

This content area is designed to give you specific skills for a successful research career. It includes content such as grant writing, writing for publication, and a research practicum. You will also complete coursework in research design and statistical analysis.

One of the unique features of our Ph.D. is flexibility. Unlike other programs that have fixed curricula, our program permits you to customize your program. In council with your advisory team, you will craft and title your specific Concentration area from three prevailing topical areas:

  • pathophysiology and impairment
  • functional limitations/functional participation
  • health services research

All Ph.D. students can take up to 6 credit hours of elective course work to be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor and advisory committee.

This includes a qualification project in health and rehabilitation sciences, consisting of two components: an original research project and public defense.

Sample Plan of study

1st Year

  • HLSC – H660 Rehabilitation Theories and Applications
  • HLSC – H760 Design and Analysis of Rehabilitation Research
  • Concentration course
  • HLSC – H661 Theory Application in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Concentration course
  • Research core course
  • Research core course
  • Concentration course

2nd Year

  • HLSC – H662 Health & Rehabilitation Systems Delivery
  • Concentration course
  • Research core course
  • HLSC – H664 Professoriate for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Concentration course
  • Research core course
  • Research core course
  • Concentration course

3rd Year

  • Concentration course
  • Concentration course
  • Research core course
  • Concentration course
  • Concentration course
  • Research core course
  • HLSC – H690 Dissertation Proposal in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (6cr)

4th Year

  • HLSC – H690 Dissertation Proposal in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (12cr)
  • HLSC – H692 Dissertation in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (12cr)
  • HLSC – H692 Dissertation in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (6cr)

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available. Research assistantships are available depending on grant funding. Assistantships include a tuition waiver, health insurance, and stipend. Learn more about program costs.  Cost calculator