Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science (Rehabilitation Medicine)

The PhD in Rehabilitation Science (PhD RS) program provides training for future rehabilitation scientists who seek to discover, integrate, and apply knowledge to improve the health and wellness of people with health conditions and disabilities. Interested applicants will include clinicians in the professions of rehabilitation medicine (occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology) and physical medicine (physiatry and orthopedics), as well as other related fields (e.g., biomechanical and electrical engineers with special interests in rehabilitation technologies and assistive devices, kinesiologists).

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units in coursework and a thesis.

In the case of transfer into the PhD from the MSc program (prior to completing the MSc), a minimum of 3 units beyond the requirements for the MSc degree (15 units) must be completed for a minimum total of 18 units.
A minimum of 12 units is required when the applicant already holds an MSc degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized institution.

Coursework

REHAB 600 - Theory and Issues in Rehabilitation Science
REHAB 601 - Research Design in Rehabilitation Science
REHAB 603 - Seminars in Rehabilitation Science
REHAB 606 - Essentials for Graduate Studies
One 3-unit research analysis graduate-level course in research analysis
At least two 3-unit graduate-level elective courses
- Elective courses will be based on the student’s research interests and selected in consultation with supervisory committee.
In cases where a student has not written a master’s thesis before entering the PhD program (e.g., course based master’s program, medical degree program), REHAB 899 (3 units) is required, as an in-lieu-of thesis project.
- This requirement may be waived if the final/capstone project is considered by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program Committee to be an “equivalent piece of publishable research to offer in lieu”. Requests to waive the in lieu of thesis requirement must be received no later than the end of the first term of study.
When the student has completed a MSc of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Alberta, they will be granted an exception and will not take REHAB 600 as part of their 12 credit course requirement, as long as REHAB 512 was successfully completed as part of the student’s MSc course work at the University of Alberta.
Students and their supervisors will develop a plan of study for the entire program and submit that plan of study for approval by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program Committee.

Thesis

Registration in 900-level THES. Students must complete and defend a thesis.

Candidacy Exam

Students must successfully complete a two-part candidacy examination. The candidacy exam is normally held within two years of a student’s entry into the doctoral program, and should be complete before the student commences their doctoral research work.

Professional Development and Ethics Requirements

Students are required to fulfill the GPS Professional Development Requirement and the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement .

Residence Requirement

The minimum period of residence is the equivalent of two academic years of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the PhD program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. In general, the PhD program will take a minimum of three years to complete. The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.