Students with at least a master’s degree or the equivalent in a health-related field (e.g. kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise science, movement sciences, communication sciences and disorders, rehabilitation science, nursing, biomedical science, laboratory science, etc.) may apply.

In rare circumstances, students with a Bachelor of Science degree may be considered if their research experience, mentor recommendations, undergraduate grade point average, and/or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores show exceptional promise.

Tuition and Fees

Up to five competitive, 12-month graduate assistantships are available to doctoral students enrolled in the program annually. Stipends will be provided for assistantship recipients for two years, after which students are expected to be funded through faculty or doctoral student research or training grants, supplemental teaching, and/or clinical practice or clinical supervision opportunities. Awardees receive tuition support for the duration of the program as long as they remain in good academic standing.

Tuition scholarships are available for this program. Contact Student Financial Services for current program tuition and fees.

Students are expected to achieve competencies in areas of research, interprofessional content, teaching, and policy.

Research Competencies

• Apply research methods
• Demonstrate skill in scientific inquiry in research rotations
• Communicate scientific content appropriate to professional publication and grant submission

Interprofessional Content Competencies

• Utilize the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (the ICF model) to develop a research strategic plan that can be sustained throughout one’s professional career
• Apply the ICF and relevant research to the scholarly investigation of important issues and problems related to human functioning and rehabilitation
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams of researchers, educators, and students to integrate a variety of perspectives in addressing scholarly problems in human functioning and rehabilitation
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in an area related to human functioning or rehabilitation

Teaching Competency

• Integrate evidence-based teaching methods to develop learning experiences for teaching other students in a supervised classroom setting

Policy Competency

• Explain the impacts of health care and education policy and regulations on delivery systems and health outcomes

Candidates will demonstrate these competencies by:

• Developing and submitting a research proposal for an internal or external grant competition
• Disseminating results of scholarly work in which the candidate has played a significant role through oral presentation at one or more professional meetings
• Publishing at least one peer-reviewed publication on which they are first author
• Teaching at least one course under the mentorship of a faculty member, or serving as a teaching assistant for at least one course and mentoring or co-mentoring an undergraduate or master’s degree research project
• Analyzing a delivery system or policy process affecting health and human performance of individuals with a selected health condition

NOTE: 88 total credits for students who begin the program with a B.S. Each entering student’s academic record will be examined by the program director and appropriate supplementary courses recommended as required to ensure academic success.

Official course descriptions are outlined in the UVM Catalogue. Additional requirements are outlined in the program handbook.

Research

Research rotations allow students to contribute to the research of participating faculty and also facilitate interprofessional collaborations.

Qualifying Exam

Students who have completed all didactic course requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or better will be eligible to take the qualifying exam, which involves a research grant proposal and oral defense evaluated by a faculty committee.

Dissertation

Based on original research, the dissertation focuses on a significant problem in the student's area of specialization and includes an interprofessional application. The dissertation submission will consist of three publishable papers (at least one of which has been submitted for publication) for which the student is first author.

Teaching Practicum

Students will teach at least one course under the mentorship of a faculty member, or serve as a teaching assistant for at least one course and mentor or co-mentor an undergraduate or master’s degree research project.

Program Goals

The Doctor of Philosophy in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Science degree program seeks to prepare individuals who:

• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of human physiology, movement, communication, and exercise sciences
• Understand, create and undertake interprofessional, hypothesis-driven approaches to research, and promote the translation of findings to practice
• Demonstrate skills in a variety of approaches for studying human functioning, including assessment of cellular function and biomarkers of health and injury/disease, instrumented laboratory recordings of biomechanics, physiology and neurophysiology, as well as participant self-reported measures, psychophysical exams, clinical exams, and qualitative observational techniques
• Demonstrate analytical thinking and logic in evaluating their own work and that of others
• Exhibit effective performance as educators and scholars in the health professions

Graduation Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in didactic course work, have no more than one grade below a B, receive acceptable research evaluations, and pass a qualifying examination.

Applications must be submitted online to the UVM Graduate College. The application form requires:

• General application and associated fee
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts of all colleges attended
• Statement of purpose
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-U.S. residents

Please note the minimum TOEFL score for this program is 100. Applicants must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, which consists of 16 years of formal education.

Review of Graduate Applications

An admissions committee will review all applications and interview selected candidates.

Evaluations will be based on the applicant’s grade point average, research experience, statement of purpose, and letters of reference. Factors considered for students who have already completed a graduate degree are: previous research experience, statement of purpose, and letters of reference. Transcripts will be used to verify previous degrees. GPAs will be used only to differentiate between otherwise equally qualified students. Final decisions will be based on the personal interview.

Applicants will receive an admissions decision by March 15, 2021.

How long is the program?

The program consists of a two-year pre-candidacy stage, during which students will complete core coursework, identify research mentors, and gain experience in curricular and research endeavors. Each aspect of this pre-candidacy education will facilitate interprofessional education. Students who have not completed a graduate-level thesis or research project prior to admission to the program will use up to six elective credits to complete a directed study. Following qualifying examinations to advance to candidacy, students will complete 20 credits of original dissertation research.

Can I take classes online or part-time?

To ensure accessibility to non-traditional working professionals, we offer a hybrid educational model that includes a combination of the following:

• Traditional day classes
• Evening classes
• Online
• Intensive (time-condensed) summer sessions

Many courses will be offered during the academic year; however, summer intensive and hybrid courses will allow students to participate on a part-time basis during a portion of their program. Research in laboratories will occur year round. Part-time attendees will not be eligible for program stipend.

Must applicants have a master’s degree to be accepted into the program?

In rare circumstances students with a Bachelor of Science degree showing exceptional promise as evidenced by their previous research experience, mentor recommendations, undergraduate GPA, and GRE scores will be considered. These students’ programs will begin with 24 graduate credits with content in at least two areas within CNHS (e.g., medical laboratory science, communication sciences and disorders, exercise and movement science). The choice of courses would be guided by program faculty to ensure mastery of a cohesive body of knowledge. Following completion of the 24 initial credits, these students’ curriculum would be equivalent to those coming in with a master’s degree. Twelve of their initial 24 credits would be counted as electives for the doctoral program, while the other 12 are additional required credit.

What about financial aid and the tuition costs for the program?

Up to five competitive, 12-month graduate assistantships are available to doctoral students enrolled in the program annually. Stipends will be provided for two years, after which students are expected to be funded through faculty or doctoral student research or training grants, supplemental teaching, and/or clinical practice or clinical supervision opportunities. Awardees receive tuition support for the duration of the program as long as they remain in good academic standing. Contact Student Financial Services for current program tuition and fees. If you have questions about whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident, refer to the Registrar's Residency Policy.

Is an interview required?

Yes, an interview is required of selected applicants.