Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the backgrounds of current students?
Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Chiropractors, Industrial Engineers, Physicians, Special Educators and those interested in various areas of rehabilitation.
Is a Master's degree needed in order to apply to the Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science?
No.
Are there standards for being considered for admission to this Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science?
Yes, you must have at least a bachelor's degree, and an interest in an area related to rehabilitation. You must have a GRE score of at least 500 (out of 800), on each of the verbal and quantitative sections, and at least a 4 (out of 6) on the analytical writing assessment. For international students, a TOEFL score of 550 or 213 on the computer-based test is required. Once you are in the program, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA for each semester.
What is the deadline date for submitting an application for the Fall semester?
All applications should be received by February 1 for the Fall semester.
Do you accept new students for the Spring semester?
Currently, we do not accept students in the Spring semester.
When are applications considered for admission? By whom? When are applicants informed of their acceptance or rejection?
Applications are submitted to the Rehabilitation Science Steering Committee when they are completed by the applicant and received at this school. Applicants are informed as soon as the Committee makes a decision, usually before May 1.
Can previous related coursework be transferred?
Up to 18 credit hours of relevant coursework at the master's level or post master's level may be applied toward the minimum of 72 semester hours of required academic coursework.
Are GREs or TOEFL exams required? Is there a minimum score required?
Yes, GREs are required for everyone and must have been taken within the past 4 years. The minimum score required is 1000 which is at least 500 in each category of the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Assessments. On the essay-based "Analytical Writing Assessment" component, a minimum score of 4.0 is required. The "Verbal", and "Quantitative" components of the GRE General Test are scored on a 200-to-800 point scale; the "Analytical Writing Assessment" component is scored on a 1-to-6 point scale with half-point increments.
TOEFL exams must be taken by non-English speaking International Students before admission to the program. The applicant must have a minimum score of 550, or computer-based minimum score of 213. This exam must be taken within 2 years prior to admission.
What are possible career opportunities with a Ph.D. degree in Rehabilitation Science?
Career opportunities may include academic faculty positions, research positions in the public and private sectors, clinical and/or administrative positions.
How long will this program take?
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.
Are there opportunities to interact with other departments?
The Departments of Architecture and Planning, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Counseling, School of Nursing, Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation Science including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (University of Rochester) have faculty who are involved with this degree program in Rehabilitation Science. There is an interdisciplinary group of nationally and internationally recognized faculty who are involved in a curriculum that addresses the critical need for faculty and researchers in the area of disability and rehabilitation. This faculty is available for mentoring, laboratory and teaching experience for any student who is interested in their particular field of endeavors. Students are encouraged to seek out a particular faculty member to work with them throughout their course of study.
Where can I find housing convenient to the campus?
New townhouse apartments with twelve-month leases are available for married and unmarried graduate students. Traditional residence hall accommodations with nine month contracts are also available on both the North and South Campuses. Current information on housing options and costs is available on the Graduate School's website (http://www.grad.buffalo.edu)
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