Department of Rehabilitation Science
Ability. Promise. Growth.

Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science

Curriculum

The program of study for each doctoral candidate will reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program. A set of core courses will be required of all candidates to insure their understanding of the current body of knowledge in Rehabilitation Science and relevant research methods.

Requirements for Degree Completion

  1. A minimum of 72 semester hours of academic coursework is required (exclusive of 12 credits for the dissertation). As many as 18 credit hours of relevant coursework at the master's level or post master's level may be applied toward the 72 hours.
  2. A minimum of one academic year of full-time residency is required. University regulations require that all graduate work credited to the doctoral degree must be completed within seven years of the first registration date in the doctoral program.
  3. Maintenance of a 3.0 GPA or better is required each semester.
  4. Upon admission, an advisor will be assigned for the first year. With the advisor's assistance, by the end of the second semester, a schedule of relevant coursework should be filed with the program director.
  5. At least two semesters prior to graduation, students will be expected to pass a qualifying exam. The exam will require the candidate to synthesize and integrate knowledge gained in coursework toward the analysis of one or more significant problem areas in Rehabilitation Science.
  6. Once admitted to candidacy, a dissertation committee will be selected in cooperation with the major professor. The degree candidates will defend their dissertation proposals in an open forum. Once the dissertation proposal is approved by the Dissertation Committee, candidates must file a formal Application to Candidacy to the UB Graduate School.
  7. To complete the dissertation, a minimum of 12 semester hours of Dissertation Guidance is required.
  8. Supervised teaching experiences are highly recommended. A variety of such experiences are available through the participating departments.
  9. Upon completion of all coursework and the dissertation, candidates are required to present and defend the dissertation research in an open forum. The dissertation committee will have final approval on the dissertation.

 

photo of a students studying

Coursework Required for Degree Completion

The core courses are listed below and represent 23 semester hours of the required 72 hours. A one credit hour (per semester) graduate seminar is required for 6 semesters. The remaining 43 semester hours will include elective courses chosen by the candidate with approval by the candidate's major advisor and advisory committee. These courses may be chosen from the list of elective courses offered by the Rehabilitation Science program, from other graduate courses offered by the participating departments, and from other University at Buffalo programs.

Understanding Rehabilitation Sciences (12 credits)

Methodology of Rehabilitation Sciences (11 credits)

Electives - Rehabilitation Science courses:


Choose from the courses below, or choose courses in your area of interest for the remaining 43 credit hours.

Dissertation Requirement

Candidates are required to complete a dissertation. Upon being admitted to candidacy, a dissertation committee will be selected in cooperation with the major professor. Members of the dissertation committee should represent at least two fields within Rehabilitation Science. Dissertation topics should focus on research problems framed within the domains of functional limitation, disability, or societal limitation. Once the dissertation proposal has been defended by the candidate and is approved by the dissertation committee, candidates must file a formal Application to Candidacy to the University at Buffalo Graduate School. Candidates are required to register for 12 semester hours of Dissertation Guidance during this phase of their educational program.

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