Program Information

Director: David D. Fuller
Graduate Coordinator: Laura Quintana

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.  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, and Communication and Swallowing Sciences and Disorders. 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.

Admissions decisions are determined by an interdisciplinary admissions committee. 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. 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.

For more information, including admissions requirements and deadlines, please see our website: http://rehabsci.phhp.ufl.edu.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Rehabilitation Science

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

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Rehabilitation Sciences Courses

College of Public Health and Health Professions Courses

Rehabilitation science

SLO 1    Skills     
Conduct high quality rehabilitation research.

SLO 2     Knowledge
Display an understanding of the fundamental models and theories and principles underlying the discipline of Rehabilitation Science.

SLO 3    Professional Behavior  
Display understanding of the ethics of research, and exhibit ethical research conduct.