Description
The PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science is an interdisciplinary post baccalaureate degree program with concentrations in Pathology and Impairment, Functional Limitations, and Health Services. The concentration areas encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between students and faculty and train team scientists to approach complex disorders and conditions from a cross-discipline and cross-system perspective. The doctoral program fits the conceptual framework established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and strategic initiatives set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Graduates of the Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Science will become the scholars, researchers, program directors and educators who advance the body of knowledge about health and rehabilitation sciences.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program emphasizes curriculum and research that center around function, factors, and interventions that disable or enable people. Qualified students may enter the program with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in several health related areas such as, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, medicine, occupational therapy, exercise science, health administration, biology and engineering.

Within MUSC, the College of Health Professions (CHP) collaborates with the College of Graduate Studies (CGS). Students have opportunity to take courses with peers from other basic and translational research-based master’s and doctoral programs at MUSC. The relationship with CGS greatly increases the number of potential faculty mentors and advisors for students and enhances the program’s ability to partner and collaborate with other disciplines critical to the study of rehabilitation science.

ENROLLMENT
Admissions Criteria: The program enrolls students once a year in the fall semester who meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate through previous academic work and relevant professional experience the likelihood of success in the Ph.D. program and research career.
• Potential for successful pairing with a faculty mentor and mentorship team conducting research in the student’s area of interest.

To determine the likelihood of success, the admissions committee will interview the candidates and review:

• Scores on the Graduate Record Exam
• Grade-point average in prior academic work
• Personal Statement
• Baccalaureate or graduate degree in a relevant discipline or first professional degree such as DPT
• Professional experiences in the discipline
• Letters of professional reference

CURRICULUM
The Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Science requires a minimum of 90 semester hours organized as follow:

• Professional Develop Core (15 semester hours)
• Research Core (minimum 21 semester hours)
• Concentration Core (30 semester hours) in Pathology & Impairment, Functional Limitations, or Health Services
• Electives (12 semester hours)
• Dissertation (9-12 semester hours)

The Professional Development Core and the Research Core are required, ensuring that all students receive a thorough grounding in Health and Rehabilitation Science, a teaching practicum, and a critical overview of key issues in the profession. All students acquire the research skills (design, methodology, and analyses) and training necessary to position them to become leading research scholars in the field.

The concentration area will be designed and overseen by the primary mentor and doctoral committee based upon the student’s previous preparation and experience, area of specialization, and research interests.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the program, please contact Dr. Bonnie Martin-Harris, Program Director, at (843) 792-7162 or harrisbm@musc.edu .

Requirements
Applicants to the program must have the following:

• Bachelors Degree or higher
• Coursework, employment or research in a related field
• Acceptable Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores verbal, quantitative and analytical writing parts of the General Test
• Acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) in prior academic work
  

Application Process
In addition to the application itself the applicant must provide three (3) letters of reference from professional or academics who know your research aptitude.

In addition to the application itself the applicant must complete supplemental reference materials specific to the program to which they are applying. These forms are provided via email once an application has been submitted. These forms are available in PDF format within the application and are also sent through email one an application is submitted.

To proceed to the next step in the online application you may review filing fees here and then choose a term below:

You must create a CollegeNet account before you apply.

Term Status Campus Accepting Applications Available   Fall 2013     Full Time     Charleston     July 1, 2012 - Feb 28, 2013     closed     Fall 2014     Full Time     Charleston     July 1, 2013 - Feb 28, 2014     not yet

Created: June 20, 2002 Modified: June 24, 2011