Program Overview

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Movement Science is an interdisciplinary degree program developed through a collaborative partnership of the departments of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The mission of this collaborative degree program is to prepare applied scientists capable of approaching multifaceted health care, preventive medicine, and rehabilitation initiatives from an integrative perspective and to prepare graduates to assume research, teaching, and leadership positions within rehabilitation and movement science professions.

Program Concentrations

There are two program concentrations: applied physiology and neuromusculoskeletal dynamics. The applied physiology concentration prepares individuals to conduct research, direct external funding initiatives, and teach in the area of applied physiology, with particular focus on physical activity's impact on chronic disease states. The neuromusculoskeletal dynamics concentration prepares individuals for research, teaching, and clinical initiatives associated with the identification and rehabilitation of movement disorders.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Core Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students will:

1. Develop the skills and abilities to collect and manage research data while ensuring ethical and responsible conduct of research
2. Develop the ability to analyze research data and subsequently interpret and synthesize results and draw appropriate conclusions
3. Demonstrate teaching effectiveness in the classroom and/or clinical environment
4. Disseminate research findings effectively in oral and/or written formats

Neuromuscular Dynamics Concentration-Specific Outcomes

1. Demonstrate comprehensive foundational knowledge in neuromusculoskeletal movement systems
2. Develop testable hypotheses and appropriate study designs to address relevant research questions in the study of neuromusculos