Program Overview

Program Overview

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in rehabilitation science is offered through the College of Public Health and Health Professions. Rehabilitation science describes those disciplines which focus on both basic and applied aspects of health science and services, the social sciences, and engineering as they relate to restoring human functional capacity and improving a person’s interaction with the surrounding environment.

Program Description

An important point of emphasis is that rehabilitation science should encompass research ranging from molecular biology through population health. The program embraces a wide range of disciplines, and supports the view that collaboration is the best way to advance human health. Students work closely with their faculty mentor within three broad concentrations/emphasis areas:

• Neuromuscular Plasticity
• Disability, Occupation and Participation Science
• Communication and Swallowing Sciences and Disorders

Program Requirements

On successful completion of the program, graduates typically take positions in research universities and research centers. Requirements for the Ph.D. degree are provided elsewhere in this catalog. The program is a minimum of 90 credit hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. The curriculum includes:

• 10 credit hours in rehabilitation science application
• 6 credit hours in rehabilitation science teaching
• 13 graduate credits in research methods and statistics
• 31 credit hours in research
• 18 credit hours within the student’s concentration/emphasis area
• 12 credit hours of elective courses

Admissions

Admissions decisions are determined by an interdisciplinary admissions committee. Course work should be selected with guidance and approval from the faculty mentor and when applicable, the supervisory committee. Up to 30 credit hours may be transferred in from a master’s degree program with the approval of the faculty mentor, supervisory committee, and steering committee.

Degrees Offered

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Clinical and Translational Science
  • concentration in Communication and Swallowing Sciences and Disorders
  • concentration in Disability, Health, and Participation
  • concentration in Neuromuscular Plasticity

Courses

Rehabilitation Sciences Courses

• RSD 6110: Rehabilitation Science Theory and Application I (3 credits)
• RSD 6401: Skeletal Muscle in Aging and Disease, and Implications for Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• RSD 6410: Development and Evaluation of Rehabilitation Interventions to Promote Participation (3 credits)
• RSD 6701: Matlab Foundations for Rehabilitation Science (3 credits)
• RSD 6710: Motor Control: Translating from Fundamental Research to Rehabilitation Practice (3 credits)
• RSD 6718: Neuroplasticity: A Foundation for Neurorehabilitation (3 credits)
• RSD 6900: College Classroom: Teaching Process and Practice (3 credits)
• RSD 6905: Individual Work (1-4 credits)
• RSD 6910: Supervised Research (1-5 credits)
• RSD 6920: Rehabilitation Science Journal Club (1 credit)
• RSD 6930: Special Topics in Rehabilitation Science (1-4 credits)
• RSD 6938: Doctoral Seminar in Rehabilitation Science (1 credit)
• RSD 6940: Supervised Teaching (1-3 credits)
• RSD 7752: Measurement Development for Health and Rehabilitation (2 credits)
• RSD 7979: Advanced Research (1-12 credits)
• RSD 7980: Research for Doctoral Dissertation (1-15 credits)

College of Public Health and Health Professions Courses

• GEY 5935: Topics in Gerontology (3 credits)
• GEY 6220: Overview of Geriatric Care Management (3 credits)
• GEY 6306: Interpersonal Communication Within the Aging Network (3 credits)
• GEY 6646: Issues and Concepts in Gerontology (3 credits)
• GEY 6936: Professional Development in Gerontology/Geriatrics (1-2 credits)
• HSC 6905: Independent Study (1-3 credits)
• HSC 6910: Supervised Research (1-5 credits)
• HSC 6940: Supervised Teaching (1-5 credits)
• PHC 6053: Regression Methods for the Health and Life Sciences (3 credits)
• PHC 6193: Qualitative Data Analysis (3 credits)
• PHC 6195: Health information for Diverse Populations: Theory & Methods (3 credits)
• PHC 6447: Ecology of HIV/Aids in the Rural South (3 credits)
• PHC 6917: Supervised Research Project (1-6 credits)
• PHC 6945: Public Health Practicum (1-6 credits)
• PHC 6946: Public Health Internship (1-9 credits)
• PHC 7587: Theory Development and Testing in Behavioral & Community Public Health (2 credits)
• PHC 7907: Social and Behavioral Science Journal Club (1 credit)
• RCS 6036: Or to Forensic Vt P (3 credits)
• RCS 6601: Forensic Rehabilitation Consultation I (3 credits)
• RSD 6110: Rehabilitation Science Theory and Application I (3 credits)
• RSD 6905: Individual Work (1-4 credits)
• RSD 6910: Supervised Research (1-5 credits)
• RSD 6930: Special Topics in Rehabilitation Science (1-4 credits)
• RSD 6940: Supervised Teaching (1-3 credits)
• RSD 7979: Advanced Research (1-12 credits)
• RSD 7980: Research for Doctoral Dissertation (1-15 credits)

Student Learning Outcomes

• SLO 1: Conduct high quality rehabilitation research.
• SLO 2: Display an understanding of the fundamental models and theories and principles underlying the discipline of Rehabilitation Science.
• SLO 3: Display understanding of the ethics of research, and exhibit ethical research conduct.

Faculty

• Alappattu, Meryl J. (Research Associate Professor)
• Barnard, Alison M. (Research Assistant Professor)
• Beneciuk, Jason M. (Research Assistant Professor)
• Bialosky, Joel Eric (Clinical Professor)
• Bishop, Mark Donald (Professor)
• Bodison, Stefanie (Assistant Professor)
• Centanni, Tracy Michelle (Associate Professor)
• Chheda, Neil N. (Clinical Associate Professor)
• Clark, David J. (Associate Professor)
• Classen, Sherrilene (Professor)
• Ellis, Charles (Professor)
• Forbes, Sean Charles (Associate Professor)
• Fox, Emily Jane (Research Assistant Professor)
• Fuller, David (Professor)
• Gauger, Laurie Mercado (Clinical Associate Professor)
• Gonzalez-Rothi, Elisa Janine (Research Associate Professor)
• Hegland, Karen W. (Associate Professor)
• Hepple, Russell Thomas (Professor)
• Horodyski, Marybeth (Professor)
• Judge, Sarah M. (Research Assistant Professor)
• Kramer, Jessica M. (Associate Professor)
• Kramer, John (Clinical Assistant Professor)
• Kreider, Consuelo Maun (Clinical Associate Professor)
• Liu, Chiung-ju (Associate Professor)
• Lott, Donovan J. (Research Professor)
• Manini, Todd M. (Professor)
• Mir, Michela J. (Assistant Professor)
• Mitchell, Gordon Stewart (Professor)
• Myers, Christine T. (Clinical Professor)
• Nittrouer, Susan N. (Professor)
• Orlando, Ann-Marie D. (Research Assistant Professor)
• Pomeranz, Jamie L. (Clinical Associate Professor)
• Pozzi, Federico (Assistant Professor)
• Romero, Sergio (Associate Professor)
• Rose, Dorian K. (Research Associate Professor)
• Shakeel Ahmed, Fnu (Clinical Assistant Professor)
• Smith, Barbara K. (Assistant Professor)
• Struckmeyer, Linda R. (Clinical Associate Professor)
• Triggs, William Joseph (Associate Professor)
• Vandenborne, Krista H. (Distinguished Professor)
• Vasilopoulos, Terrie (Research Associate Professor)
• Vose, Alicia K. (Assistant Professor)
• Wang, Hongwu (Assistant Professor)
• Willcocks, Rebecca (Research Assistant Professor)
• Wu, Chien-Te (Associate Professor)