Interprofessional Health Sciences

Program Overview

Students benefit from tailored interdisciplinary research and teaching opportunities, acquiring a comprehensive grasp of how health science influences individual and societal functioning. The program adopts a dynamic systems approach to assess individuals with disabilities and to devise interventions that improve health, drawing inspiration from the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.

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Concentrations

The Interprofessional Health Sciences degree program offers four concentration areas. Students choosing a concentration will engage in focused research within a particular discipline, while also benefiting from the wide-ranging interprofessional curriculum.

• Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Integrative Health
• Rehabilitation and Movement Science

Curriculum

The curriculum begins with 12 elective credits transferred in for those holding a graduate degree OR 24 credits taken in the program prior to starting the remainder of the curriculum for those coming in with a B.S., 12 of which would count as electives towards the Ph.D. and 12 of which are required additional credit.

Year 1

Fall

- Designing Clinical and Translational Research
- Analyzing Clinical and Translational Research
- Topics in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Science Measurement
- Health Policy and Policy Health

Spring

- Multivariate Analysis in Clinical and Translational Research
- Reporting on Clinical and Translational Research

Summer

- Application of the ICF Model in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation

Spring

- Three 5-week Research Rotations (approximately 20 hours per week)
- Weekly Doctoral Student Seminar

Year 2

Fall

- Conducting Clinical and Translational Research
- Applied Educational Research
- Courses in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Science

Spring

- Advanced Courses in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Science
- Seminar and Practicum in Health Professions Education and Learning
- Weekly Doctoral Student Seminar and Journal Club

Spring or Summer

- Participation in a Mentored Research Project (20 hours per week for 10 weeks)

Summer

- Professional Writing and Grantsmanship

Years 3-5

Fall and Spring

- Weekly Doctoral Student Seminar
- Ph.D. Dissertation Research

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.

Information for Current Students 

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.

OUR FACULTY

Our faculty expertise involves clinical populations representing national and global health epidemics, including movement disorders associated with neurodegenerative disease, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and Down syndrome, pediatric and adult obesity, and aging and fall risk. Additionally, a number of basic research faculty are utilizing molecular biology approaches to understanding the pathogenesis of human diseases, like cancer, infection and autoimmunity.

Deadlines

Applications are due February 15.

Admissions Requirements

Individuals who have obtained a master's degree or its equivalent in a health-related discipline, such as kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise science, movement sciences, communication sciences and disorders, rehabilitation science, nursing, biomedical science, or laboratory science, are eligible to apply. Under exceptional circumstances, students holding a Bachelor of Science degree may be eligible for consideration if their research experience, mentor endorsements, undergraduate GPA, and/or GRE scores demonstrate outstanding potential.

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

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

Kindly be advised that the minimum TOEFL score required for this program is 100. Applicants are expected to possess an equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, entailing 16 years of formal education.

Review of graduate applications

The admissions committee will evaluate all submissions and conduct interviews with chosen applicants.

Applicant evaluations will consider the grade point average, research experience, statement of purpose, and reference letters. For students with a graduate degree, the focus will be on their research experience, statement of purpose, and reference letters. Transcripts are required to confirm prior degrees. Grade point averages will serve as a tiebreaker among similarly qualified candidates. Final decisions will be based on the personal interview.

Outcomes

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

Costs and Scholarships

Annually, up to five competitive 12-month graduate assistantships are offered to doctoral students in the program. Recipients of the assistantships will receive stipends for two years. Subsequently, students are anticipated to secure funding via faculty or doctoral research grants, training grants, additional teaching, or through clinical practice or supervision opportunities. Tuition support is provided to awardees for the entirety of the program, contingent upon maintaining good academic standing.

Scholarships for tuition are offered for this program. Please reach out to Student Financial Services for the latest information on program tuition and fees.

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HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM?

The program includes a two-year pre-candidacy phase where students complete essential coursework, find research mentors, and acquire experience in both curricular and research activities. This phase is designed to promote interprofessional education. Students lacking a graduate-level thesis or research project before joining the program may use six elective credits for a directed study. After passing the qualifying exams to become candidates, students will undertake 20 credits of original dissertation research.

CAN I TAKE CLASSES ONLINE OR PART-TIME?

To accommodate non-traditional working professionals, we provide a hybrid educational model comprising the following components:

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

A variety of courses will be available throughout the academic year. Additionally, summer intensive and hybrid courses will enable students to engage on a part-time basis for part of their program. Laboratory research will be conducted throughout the year. However, part-time participants will not qualify for a program stipend.

MUST APPLICANTS HAVE A MASTER’S DEGREE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM?

Under exceptional circumstances, students holding a Bachelor of Science degree may be considered for admission if they demonstrate outstanding potential through their research experience, mentor endorsements, undergraduate GPA, and GRE scores. Their program will commence with 24 graduate credits covering at least two disciplines within CNHS, such as medical laboratory science, communication sciences and disorders, or exercise and movement science. Course selection will be directed by faculty advisors to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Upon completing the initial 24 credits, the curriculum for these students will align with that of individuals entering with a master's degree. Half of the initial credits will count as electives towards the doctoral program, and the remaining half will fulfill additional required credits.

IS AN INTERVIEW REQUIRED?

Yes, an interview is required of selected applicants.

Meet current Ph.D. candidates 

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