PhD in Rehabilitation Science

Program Curriculum

The curriculum is founded on a bio-psycho-social-environmental framework and a commitment to interdisciplinary practice. Though we expect each student's pathway to be highly individualized, all students will complete a 7-quarter core seminar series, extensive coursework in research methods, and three cognates (interrelated areas of study). Each cognate will include a series of courses and/or independent studies. In addition to these requirements, curriculum for each student will include preparation for teaching, general exams, the presentation of pilot research to faculty and students, and a dissertation.

Each student will be required to take the core course series (21 credits), coursework or independent study in research methods (minimum of 18 credits), and coursework and practicum experiences in teaching (minimum of 5 credits). In addition, each student will complete three cognates (minimum of 6 credits each) specific to his or her goals. The student's committee and the Core Faculty in the Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program must approve the entire course of study. See the outline below for an overview of the curriculum for students in the Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Science.

General requirements

In addition to meeting all requirements of the University of Washington Graduate School, all students will be expected to meet the following general requirements.

1. Minimum cumulative and quarterly GPA of 3.0.
2. Total of 100 credits minimum, of which 30 are dissertation credits.
3. Completion of a minimum of one teaching practicum (3 credit minimum).
4. Satisfactory completion of a Research and Scientific Inquiry Day manuscript and presentation

We expect that the requirements will generally be the same for students entering the Ph.D. program with a practice degree (e.g., MD; Bachelors or Masters of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Rehabilitation Counseling, or Speech and Hearing Sciences; Clinical Doctorates in Occupational Therapy [OTD] or Physical Therapy [DPT]). Students entering the doctoral program with a recently completed post-professional degree can petition to have a maximum of 30-credits of coursework from that degree applied toward the doctoral degree. The Rehabilitation Science Admission, Advisement, and Evaluation Committee will determine if a portion of the credits can be applied. It will be the responsibility of the student's supervisory committee to determine the extent to which these credits can be applied to meet cognate, teaching, and cognate requirements.

Rehabilitation Science Core Course Series

The core course series for all students begins with an overview of rehabilitation science and the social constructs of disability. Specifically, models that synthesize the biological, psychological, social, and environmental perspectives to the enabling-disabling processes and the related habilitation and rehabilitation approaches across the lifespan will be introduced and critiqued. The concepts from this course will be woven through all subsequent courses, four of which focus on research methods and rehabilitation science. Though students will take many of their focused research courses from other schools and departments within the University, the four research-based courses in the rehabilitation science curriculum are designed to provide students with a broad overview of research methods specific to rehabilitation science. These courses will address research theories and methods as related to studying the constructs within a bio-psycho-social-environmental model (e.g., methods to study body functions & structures, activity & participation, environmental & personal factors and the interrelationships among factors) and will highlight the work of rehabilitation research teams. We believe this background will facilitate understanding and appreciation of multiple research methods and issues and thereby facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in multi-method research approaches.

Year 1

Title: Overview of Rehabilitation Science and Social Constructs of Disability (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the field of rehabilitation science and an introduction to social constructs of disability with an emphasis on bio-psycho-social-environmental models of the enabling-disabling process across the life span. Topics covered will include definitions and domains of rehabilitation science, psychosocial variables related to social constructs of disability, and civil rights laws and policies related to disability. All students will be involved in critiques, from the perspectives of their areas of interest, of social constructs of disability and of disability policies and laws.

Title: Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Rehabilitation (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide a critical review of the current practices in research methodologies in rehabilitation and investigate the consequences of selecting various research methodologies and analytic strategies. Topics will include a review of qualitative and quantitative methodologies ranging from phenomenological interviews to single-subject and quasi-experimental designs to descriptive studies to single and multi-site randomized clinical trials. The advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches will be examined in relationship to the various aspects of the bio-psycho-social-environmental model of human functioning, disability, and health across the life span.

 

Title: Defining and Measuring Outcomes in Rehabilitation Research (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the importance, methods, and challenges of outcomes research in rehabilitation. Topics covered will include definitions and importance of outcomes research; measurement of behaviors, functional abilities, quality of life, and consumer satisfaction; outcomes measurement specific to diverse populations across the life span; design of outcomes research; and challenges specific to outcomes research. All students will be involved in the critique of outcomes research specific to rehabilitation and all will be involved in designing research projects using outcomes at the levels of body function/body structure; activity/participation; and environment.

Title: Evidence-based Rehabilitation (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to further develop the student’s competence in evidence-based rehabilitation science, which involves the integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient/client values. Topics covered will include frameworks for evaluating the evidence in rehabilitation science; asking answerable questions; using advanced search strategies; critically appraising the literature; understanding the systematic review process; conducting and interpreting meta-analyses; developing evidence-based practice guidelines; communicating the evidence to stakeholders; and translating evidence into rehabilitation practice. Each student will use the research evidence from the literature to answer a question relevant to one or more aspects of the bio-psycho-social-environmental model.

Year 2

Title: Epidemiological and Health Services Approaches to Rehabilitation Research (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the application of principles and methods from the fields of epidemiology and health services to rehabilitation research. Topics covered will include an overview of epidemiological research methods applicable to rehabilitation research, application of program evaluation and access to care models in rehabilitation research, application of biostatistics to rehabilitation research, and limitations and challenges of using these methods in rehabilitation research. Students will be expected to critique published research illustrating the application of these methods to rehabilitation research.

Title: Technology and Disability (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide an intensive introduction to policy, clinical, and research issues around technology and disability through an interdisciplinary approach. Topics covered will include overview of issues around technology and disability, legal and policy issues, assessment and evaluation issues, potential impact of technology on activity and participation, special problems in research, and innovative trends in engineering and computer sciences. Students will participate individually and in groups in hands-on laboratory experiences.

Title: Special Topics Courses (Spring) - Examples

Cognitive Disabilities (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide an overview from a bio-psycho-social-environmental perspective of key clinical and research issues in rehabilitation and cognitive disabilities. Topics will include brain function and assessment, insider perspectives, policy and ethics considerations, research methodologies including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and an overview of psychosocial variables and interventions targeted toward activity, participation, and quality of life.

Motor Control and Rehabilitation (3 credits)
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide advanced study of motor control from a bio-psycho-social-environmental perspective and directly relate it to rehabilitation processes and research. The course will provide an overview of the current theory and evidence base for understanding human movement from the perspective of typical development and pathological processes. The processes of motor learning and recovery of function will be examined with an emphasis on their relationship to motor control and rehabilitation. The underpinnings of motor control will be explored through the critical examination of the current literature in the field and through interaction with faculty researchers in the area of motor control and rehabilitation. Based on their areas of interest, students will conduct an evidence-based search, and prepare and present a literature review on a selected topic in motor control and rehabilitation.

Research Methods Courses/Independent Studies
Each student will be required to take a minimum of 18 credits of research courses and/or independent studies appropriate to the student's chosen line of inquiry. The student working in cooperation with his or her interdisciplinary supervisory committee will determine these. We expect that students will take coursework in statistics and research methods from colleges, schools, and departments such as Public Health and Community Medicine, Educational Psychology, Special Education, Nursing, and Speech and Hearing Sciences. In addition, we expect that all students will work on an interdisciplinary team that focuses on complex rehabilitation research questions. If the student and his or her committee members feel that the research experience on a specific team is too limited, the student can do one or more independent study options outside his or her primary area.

Grant Writing
Multiple opportunities to learn about and participate in grant writing will be embedded throughout each student's program. First, students will be made aware of grant-writing courses offered in other departments and schools within the University. Depending on their needs and in consultation with their mentors, students may elect to take one or more of these courses. Second, students will be required to participate in University sponsored grant-writing workshops (e.g., Grants for Lunch Series). Third, early in the program, each student, working with an interdisciplinary team, will participate in the preparation of at least one grant application. This will involve a sequence of mentored activities. Later in the student's program, he or she will take the lead role in the preparation of a grant application to support his or her own research/ scholarship.

Teaching Courses and Practica
At a minimum, all students will be required to complete one course on teaching methods (e.g., MedEd 520: Teaching Methods in Medical Education or equivalent) and a teaching practicum. The latter will focus on the development of skills (the design, implementation, and evaluation of instruction) for entry-level practitioner preparation, continuing education, and/or in-service training and clinical supervision. Though students only will be required to complete the first level of teaching practica, all students will have the opportunity to be involved in three levels. The first level involves shared teaching of a class or workshop with all work completed under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor. The second level involves assuming major responsibility for a course (lecture/discussion or laboratory) or workshop, with intermittent supervision to provide mentorship and monitor progress. The third and most advanced level students will choose to do one or more of the following: (a) planning and teaching a course independently; (b) developing a new course; (c) serving on a committee focused on accreditation or curriculum revisions; or (d) completing a major project related to curriculum development (e.g., a web-based module). It is expected that a student whose goal is to become an academician will complete all three levels of teaching practica and may use "teaching" as a cognate.

Cognates (Focused Areas of Study)
Each student will be required to complete three cognates (focused areas of study). Each cognate will be a minimum of 6 credits and will include a series of courses and/or independent studies (conducted under faculty supervision). These will be highly individualized and related to the student's area(s) of study within rehabilitation science. The student's supervisory committee must approve these cognates.

For example, a student interested in studying measurement of pain in youths with cerebral palsy might complete cognates in "pain and physical disabilities," "neuromuscular disorders in childhood," and "measurement." The following is an example of possible cognates for a student interested in pediatric pain and occupational therapy.

Example: Cognates

Cognate 1: Pain and Physical Disabilities

Cognate 2: Neuromuscular Disorders in Childhood

 Cognate 3: Measurement

Depending on the student's goals, either teaching or research can be developed as one of the cognates if the student chooses to do more extensive study in either of these areas. For example, a student whose long-term goal is to assume a faculty position at a small university might choose a cognate related to teaching in higher education. In such a case, in addition to taking the required course in teaching and the teaching practicum, the student might take additional course work in Medical Education ( School of Medicine) and in Curriculum and Instruction ( College of Education). Further, the student might complete advanced teaching practica involving curriculum development and/or the preparation of accreditation materials.

Departmental Research Seminars and Interdisciplinary Case-Based Seminars
In the first year, students will be required to attend the departmental research seminars and interdisciplinary case-based seminars. The research seminars will introduce the students to rehabilitation faculty and their research, while the case-based seminars will provide them with interdisciplinary problem solving focused on complex clinical cases.

Research Experiences
We expect that each student will be involved continuously in research. This will start with working collaboratively with his or her mentor and an interdisciplinary team and co-designing and co-publishing research. It will culminate with the student designing and implementing his or her own research relevant to rehabilitation science. As part of this process, early in the program, we expect that each student will participate in the preparation of at least one grant application and later will take the lead role in the preparation of a grant application to support his or her own research/scholarship.

Pilot Research (Research and Scientific Inquiry Paper and Presentation):
Each student, working with his or her mentor and an interdisciplinary team, will be required to design, conduct, and author a research project appropriate for providing pilot data for a grant application or for publication in a peer-reviewed journal appropriate to the student's field. The student will be required to present a research manuscript for review by selected faculty in rehabilitation and formally present his or her research to rehabilitation faculty, doctoral students, and invited guests. In most cases, this pilot research will provide a foundation for the student's dissertation research.

Dissertation Research:
Each student will be required to complete an original research study appropriate to his or her area of study and of sufficient quality to be publishable in a peer-reviewed journal appropriate to rehabilitation science.

General Examination
Once a student and his or her Supervisory Committee have agreed that all of the required coursework for the Ph.D. degree (excluding dissertation credits) and research and scientific inquiry paper and presentation have been completed, the student will be eligible for General Examination. The General Examination will be given in two parts. The first part will be written and will examine content in (1) the broad area of rehabilitation science, (2) the research preparation, and (3) the cognates. The second part will be an oral examination.

Mentoring
As in all degree programs in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, faculty members are committed to developing strong mentoring relationships with all students for the purpose of enhancing educational experiences and supporting student retention.

Each student will have a primary mentor from the time he or she is accepted into the program. During the student's first quarter in the program, we expect the mentor to be in contact with the student, at a minimum, on a weekly basis with a focus on building a relationship and supporting the student's success in the program. Thereafter, we expect a mentor and his or her student will meet a minimum of three times a quarter, with the actual frequency mutually determined considering the needs and style of the student. All of these contacts and meetings will be in addition to the formal quarterly advising sessions.

Admission Qualifications
Prospective students are expected to have backgrounds in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, rehabilitation counseling, prosthetics and orthotics, medicine, nursing, engineering, or other fields related to rehabilitation science. In addition, all will be required to have outstanding academic records and in most cases documentation of clinical expertise and leadership. Factors considered in admission to this degree track will be:

1. Previous background, including work experience (preferred) and licensure and/or certification to practice (as appropriate), in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, rehabilitation counseling, prosthetics and orthotics, medicine, nursing, engineering, or other field related to rehabilitation science. Applicants with bachelor's, master's, and clinical doctoral degrees will be considered.
2. Undergraduate and/or graduate minimum GPA of 3.0 in their field of study. Those students entering with an undergraduate degree in one of the identified fields would have the option of completing the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science).
3. GRE scores within the last five years.
4. Letters of reference from both academic and clinical settings as appropriate.
5. Evidence of certification and licensure to practice as appropriate.

As steps toward achieving the overarching outcomes, graduates of our program will be expected to demonstrate competence relative to the following goals.

1. Understand rehabilitation science and social constructs about disability and apply this information to excellence in research, education, service delivery, and policy development and interpretation.
2. Understand the unique role and contribution to rehabilitation science of his/her entering discipline (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language pathology, rehabilitation counseling).
3. Critically evaluate and synthesize research in rehabilitation science.
4. Understand research methods relevant to rehabilitation science.
5. Design and implement innovative research relevant to rehabilitation science.
6. Take a leadership role in preparing a grant application.
7. Design and deliver scholarly presentations and facilitate effective discussions.
8. Disseminate research and other scholarly products/manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and other venues appropriate to the field of rehabilitation science.
9. Effectively design, implement, and evaluate instruction related to a focused area of study and reflecting a rehabilitation science perspective.

[to top]