Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science
Program Overview
Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science Program
The central mission of the Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science undergraduate major is to provide a vibrant student body with a diverse educational background toward maximizing academic, commercial, and/or government employment opportunities. The Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science major provides focus on disability inclusion science as well as prevention, health promotion, and wellness integrated across the entire curriculum.
Program Description
The program prepares students for direct entry into rehabilitation-related professions such as therapeutic recreation, rehabilitation through health promotion or community health, as well as health-related professional degrees such as physical/occupational therapy or research-related graduate degrees centered around rehabilitation science. The Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science program leverages the significant expertise of faculty in the Department of Physical Therapy as well as throughout the UAB campus in disability studies, mobility, health promotion, and continuum and transitional care.
Program Admission
- Students intending to enroll in the Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science program must meet all undergraduate admission and academic requirements for UAB and the School of Health Professions.
- Entering freshmen are admitted directly to the Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science program through the UAB Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- Admission to the program from high school requires graduation from an accredited high school with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Transfer admissions from another college or university and UAB students changing their declared major to Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher and an institutional GPA of 2.75 or higher, if applicable.
Academic Requirements
- The minimum overall and institutional GPA required for admission to the program (2.75) must be maintained for continued enrollment throughout the program.
- A student whose GPA falls below the minimum will be allowed two semesters to recover before dismissal from the major.
- A letter grade of C or higher is required for each course in the program curriculum.
Curriculum Requirements
Required Blazer Core Curriculum Coursework
- 41 credit hours
Required Coursework for the Degree
- BY 115: Human Anatomy (4 hours)
- BY 116: Introductory Human Physiology (4 hours)
- BY 123: Introductory Biology I (4 hours)
- BY 123L: Introductory Biology I Laboratory (0 hours)
- BY 124: Introductory Biology II (4 hours)
- HRP 101: Experience the University Transition (3 hours)
- MA 106: Pre-Calculus Trigonometry (3 hours)
- PY 212: Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
- CH 115: General Chemistry I (3 hours)
- CH 116: General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 hour)
- CH 117: General Chemistry II (3 hours)
- CH 118: General Chemistry II Laboratory (1 hour)
- MA 180: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
- PH 201: College Physics I (4 hours)
- PH 201L: College Physics Laboratory I (0 hours)
- PH 202: College Physics II (4 hours)
- PH 202L: College Physics Laboratory II (0 hours)
- HCM 350: Medical Terminology for Health Professionals (3 hours)
- RHB 210: Introduction to Rehabilitation Science (3 hours)
- RHB 220: Rehabilitation and Healthcare in the US (3 hours)
- RHB 320: Environmental and Community Considerations of Mobility (3 hours)
- RHB 330: Adapted Mobility and Exercise Interventions (3 hours)
- RHB 340: Living with Disability (3 hours)
- RHB 360: Scientific Inquiry (3 hours)
- RHB 370: Tests and Measures in Rehabilitation Science (3 hours)
- RHB 410: Aging in the Community (3 hours)
- RHB 430: Current Trends in Rehabilitation Science (3 hours)
- RHB 460: Leadership/Lifelong Learning and Rehabilitation Science (3 hours)
- RHB 490: Quantitative Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation (3 hours)
- RHB 495: Senior Capstone for Rehabilitation Science (5 hours)
- Major Electives (8 hours)
Total Hours
- Minimum requirement of 120 hours to complete the degree
- Total Hours: 134
Courses
RHB 210: Introduction to Rehabilitation Science
Encapsulating science from the level of the cell and body structure to the person, family, community, and society level, rehabilitation science serves as a foundation and the body of knowledge by which individuals may develop and evaluate current and emerging approaches to enhancing enablement and minimizing disability.
RHB 220: Rehabilitation and Healthcare in the US
Overview of the history of rehabilitation and healthcare in the United States; impact of societal events and factors on the evolution of US healthcare; growth of specific health disciplines that contribute to or support rehabilitation healthcare teams.
RHB 320: Environmental and Community Considerations of Mobility
Factors that promote and hinder mobility for individuals with chronic disease and disability; issues concerning accessibility, safety, transportation, and occupation; resources, services, legal rights, and policy issues that promote mobility.
RHB 330: Adapted Mobility and Exercise Interventions
Health benefits of physical activity for people with disabilities; evidence-based exercise prescription, including strengthening, aerobic, and balance training; theory-driven physical activity promotion including behavioral coaching and intervention strategies to overcome barriers and support success.
RHB 340: Living with Disability
Psychosocial and health issues faced by individuals with disabilities; individual and societal views of people with disabilities; historical and current trends concerning disability rights.
RHB 360: Scientific Inquiry
Nature of research and application of the scientific approach to rehabilitation science topics; research design and method, interpretation of research findings, and ethical considerations.
RHB 370: Tests and Measures in Rehabilitation Science
Introduction to and application of tests and measures used to assess rehabilitation needs and outcomes related to body function and structure, activities, and participation, and physical, mental, and social issues; measurement theory and psychometric qualities.
RHB 410: Aging in the Community
Overview of aging-related challenges to healthy living and function; individual and societal views of older adults along with historical and current trends concerning their rights.
RHB 430: Current Trends in Rehabilitation Science
Seminar course using speakers from within and outside of UAB will examine current issues/topics influencing rehabilitation science.
RHB 460: Leadership/Lifelong Learning and Rehabilitation Science
Personal leadership skills that target leading oneself, leading others, and leading change; effective self-directed skills for lifelong learning.
RHB 490: Quantitative Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation
Material, mechanical, electrophysiological, and energetic principles of human movement.
RHB 495: Senior Capstone for Rehabilitation Science
This course summarizes, evaluates, and integrates coursework completed by students to assure optimal application in future employment and/or graduate studies, with content tailored to students' personal career plans and goals.
Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science Minor
Requirements
- RHB 210: Introduction to Rehabilitation Science (3 hours)
- RHB 220: Rehabilitation and Healthcare in the US (3 hours)
- Disability Inclusion Science & Advocacy (Choose one) (3 hours)
- RHB 320: Environmental and Community Considerations of Mobility
- RHB 340: Living with Disability
- RHB 460: Leadership/Lifelong Learning and Rehabilitation Science
- Scientific Literacy (Choose one) (3 hours)
- RHB 360: Scientific Inquiry
- RHB 430: Current Trends in Rehabilitation Science
- RHB 370: Tests and Measures in Rehabilitation Science
- Disability Health & Function (Choose one) (3 hours)
- RHB 330: Adapted Mobility and Exercise Interventions
- RHB 410: Aging in the Community
- RHB 490: Quantitative Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation
- Additional course from one of the three study areas above (3 hours)
- Total Hours: 18
Faculty
- Eberhardt, Alan, Associate Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, 1991, BS, MS (University of Delaware), PhD (Northwestern University), Solid Mechanics, Injury Biomechanics, Biomedical Implants, Analytical and Numerical Methods in Biomechanics.