Rehabilitation Sciences
ScD in Rehabilitation Sciences
The mission of the Doctor of Science Program in Rehabilitation Sciences is to prepare students committed to understanding and improving the lives of individuals with—or at risk of developing—injury, disability, or long-term health conditions. Program graduates will have the critical thinking skills needed to become independent, internationally recognized researchers, capable of leading and contributing to interdisciplinary research teams. They will be able to teach in higher education, publish and present their research, and write successful research proposals to funding agencies.
Rehabilitation science is an interdisciplinary field of study with the primary aim of enhancing health, function, and quality of life among those who have, or who may be at risk of developing, acute injuries or long-term conditions. Rehabilitation professionals—both scientists and clinicians—strive to optimize performance of functional activities and participation in work, personal care, and social roles. The conceptual and theoretical foundations of rehabilitation and movement studies, clinical outcomes research, and program evaluation are fundamental aspects of rehabilitation science.
Graduate education and the training of clinicians, researchers, educators, and managers must be multidisciplinary and multi-tiered. Multidisciplinary refers to observational and theoretical training in the movement, behavioral, and psychological sciences, and in qualitative and quantitative methodology (mathematical/computational modeling measurement and statistical analysis). Multi-tiered refers to the requirement that rehabilitation covers assessment and intervention processes whose targets range from function to activity and participation.
The ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences at BU Sargent College has the crucial components for graduate education in rehabilitation sciences, including collaboration among programs in athletic training, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. The ScD program’s strengths include its internationally renowned faculty members, state-of-the-art research facilities, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Academic and research programs focus on evaluation, analysis, development, and modeling of functional disablement, role performance, rehabilitation and recovery. Faculty research spans the entire life course, from infancy to older adulthood, and addresses a wide variety of populations, including individuals with and without disabilities in diverse cultures.
The interdisciplinary ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences is seeking outstanding applicants interested in deepening and broadening both research and clinical practice. Applicants will be considered with and without a clinical professional degree. Current students come from varied backgrounds, and include BS and MS graduates in biology, health sciences, psychology, and engineering, as well as experienced professionals with licensure or certification in fields such as athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychiatric rehabilitation, and rehabilitation counseling.
Doctor of Science Degree Program in Rehabilitation Sciences (ScD)
The Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences prepares students for research and teaching careers in the rehabilitation sciences domain. The degree awarded is the Doctor of Science (ScD). Prerequisites for entering the program depend on the area of research that the student chooses (see Admission Requirements). The program beyond the core requirements is flexible, and necessary coursework is determined on an individual basis by the student’s specialization.
Curriculum
The ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences includes a core curriculum of six courses taken by all ScD students, a series of elective courses, a comprehensive examination, and dissertation research. Together with their mentor, students select a field of specialization that determines the specific requirements of their programs of study.
Degree Requirements
Students are required to take a minimum of 32 credits at Boston University, although more credits may be required to complete the program. Most students complete a total of 58–64 credits. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree, and students who have not taken any prerequisites, are required to take additional courses. Students must be enrolled full time for at least two consecutive semesters, usually during the first program year. The exact sequence of the specialization courses, comprehensive examination, and dissertation research is determined by the mentor, in consultation with the individual student.
The requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of initial matriculation.
Common Core Coursework
- SAR RS 650 Philosophy of Science (2)
- SAR RS 890 Doctoral Seminar in Rehabilitation Sciences (2 cr/sem.)
- CAS MA 614 Statistical Methods I (4)
- CAS MA 684 Multivariate Statistics (4)
- SAR RS 750 Research Design (4)
- SAR RS 790 Teaching Skills (2)
Elective Courses
Because the resources of Boston University and the surrounding area are extensive, doctoral students may take courses in various schools and colleges of the University, and benefit from the many other universities and training programs in the surrounding area. Electives are selected in consultation with the student’s mentor. Students take a variety of elective courses, such as health care management, administration, psychology, statistics, computer science, engineering, disability law, and public health.
Mentorship
The ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences is built around a mentorship model, where the mentor plays a specific role in guiding the professional development of the student. The mentor serves as a professional role model, while providing individualized professional and academic development opportunities. An initial mentor is assigned to each student at the time of admission. Early in the student’s first semester, a mentorship plan is developed with the mentor for the first year, which specifies learning goals, performance expectations, and required tasks. For example, the mentorship relationship is likely to involve the student working on the mentor’s research project; and the mentorship plan would indicate work schedule, responsibilities, and supervision format. Typically, the first-year mentorship experience will include collaboration on a publication.
While a mentor is responsible for facilitating a student’s professional development, the Program Director is responsible for overseeing a student’s registration, monitoring financial aid, tracking satisfactory completion of the program requirements, maintenance and verification of records, and approval for graduation.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have completed at least an undergraduate degree in a related field at an accredited college or university. Students who have completed a master’s degree in a related field also may enter the program. While professional experience is not an explicit requirement, applicants with relevant experience may be given priority for admission. Applicants are required to submit their test scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, which must have been taken within the previous five years.
Applicants also must submit official academic transcripts, three letters of reference, and an essay. In the essay, ScD applicants must describe their professional interests, identify a potential mentor from among the faculty participating in the Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program, and explain the reason for the selection of that mentor. Other essay requirements are detailed in the application packet. Admission into the program considers the compatibility of the applicant’s interests and goals with the interests and research activities of the faculty who would be the applicant’s mentor. Information concerning faculty research interests and current projects is available on the BU Sargent College website.
International students whose first language is not English are required to submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Additional information for international applicants is available on the website for the Boston University International Students & Scholars Office (www.bu.edu/isso).
Basic computer literacy (MS Office, Internet) must be demonstrated.
The ScD program is designed for students to begin study in the fall semester. Applicants who wish to begin their program of study in January will be considered on an individual basis.
Application Deadline
Application review for fall admission begins in mid-January. Applicants desiring consideration for financial aid should apply by January 15.
Two Examples of Mentor-Based Concentration Areas
Health, Adaptation & Disability
Theory and research in this concentration area focus on processes that support meaningful participation in daily life, particularly in the context of health challenges. Research is concerned with understanding a broad range of barriers and supports to successful adaptation, and understanding the processes that contribute to meaningful participation or to restriction and disablement. Faculty research and interests span the entire life course, from infancy to older adulthood, and address a wide variety of populations, including individuals with and without disabilities in diverse cultures.
Prerequisites
A clinical degree and experience are desirable, but not required. However, a strong interest in health-related research is essential.
Applicants must document prior coursework providing a foundation in the following areas:
- Basic research methods and introductory statistics
- Developmental theory and/or adaptive processes
- Understanding health and disability
Coursework
For students who have completed the prerequisites, a total of 58 credits is required. In addition to the common core coursework required of all students in the ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, the courses listed below are required in this concentration area. All courses listed are 4 credits, unless otherwise specified. Electives are selected in consultation with the mentor to build knowledge of theory and methodology in the area of planned research. Courses may be taken at BU Sargent College, other graduate programs at Boston University, or at Consortium schools (Boston College, Brandeis, or Tufts).
Courses
- SAR HP 804 Teaching Practicum (2)
- SAR HP 870 Theory & Research in Health, Adaptation, and Disability (2)
- SAR HP 891 Health, Adaptation, and Disability Research Seminar (1 cr/semester, attendance for first four semesters)
- SED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods
Electives (16 credits total); sample elective topics include:
- Cognition and Language
- Contemporary Issues in Maternal and Child Health
- Epidemiology
- Ergonomics
- Human Neuropsychology
- Psychometric Theory
- Research Methods, including survey research and clinical trials
- Social Perspectives on Aging and Old Age
- Work and Society
Movement Sciences
The Movement Sciences concentration area also provides outstanding training for doctoral students for careers in academia, and in clinical and theoretical research. The program seeks students with a strong background in the sciences, including engineering, mathematics, and physics, as well as experienced clinical scientists, such as physical therapists. In addition to coursework, students have the opportunity to collaborate with the program’s internationally renowned core research faculty, and to engage in ongoing research activities in the three Sargent College human motion laboratories.
Prerequisites
(must be taken during doctoral program if not completed previously)
- Calculus I & II
- Physics
- Human Anatomy
- Neurophysiology
- Psychology
- Functional Anatomy
Coursework
For students who have completed the prerequisites, a total of 64 credits is required. In addition to the common core coursework required of all students in the ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, the following courses are required for the Movement Sciences concentration area. All courses listed are 4 credits, unless otherwise specified.
Courses
- SAR HP 550 Scientific Basis of Human Movement (2)
- SAR HP 565 Biomechanics of Human Movement
- SAR HP 737 Instrumentation for Analysis of Motion
- ENG EN 124 Introduction to Engineering Computation
- SAR HP 741 Time Series Analysis
- SAR HP 771 Foundations of Motor Control
- SAR HP 782 Advanced Human Movement
- SAR HP 891 Movement Sciences Research Seminar (1 cr/semester, attendance throughout program)
Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation
The comprehensive examination process commonly occurs during the spring semester of the student’s second year. Exact timelines are determined by the faculty mentor, in consultation with individual students. Each student preparing for the comprehensive examination will have completed at least three semesters of coursework, and will have worked closely with the mentor over the fall semester to discuss areas of interest and select a comprehensive examination committee of faculty. A single comprehensive examination is required.
Additional tasks are to be completed before the comprehensive examination, and while completing the dissertation process. For all students in the ScD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, the research-related requirements include a minimum of three research papers (one manuscript published, one submitted publication, and one ready to be submitted), one professional presentation, and one grant application to complete the full dissertation research process.
