PhD Integrative Physiology and Rehabilitation Sciences

Program Overview

Program overview: The PhD in the Integrative Physiology and Rehabilitation Sciences (IPRS) graduate program educates, trains, and prepares students interested in applications of applied/integrative physiology and rehabilitative sciences. The IPRS PhD is a research-intensive terminal degree, which combines integrative physiology didactic coursework and experiential learning along with a rehabilitation-sciences directed research emphasis. The IPRS prepares graduate students that have completed an approved master’s degree (or clinical graduate degree, e.g., AT, PT, OT) to undertake academic and research-based careers in clinical and rehabilitative sciences such as Athletic Training, Cardiac Rehabilitation at research hospitals, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and other professions founded on an exercise and integrative physiology background. Possible research foci of IPRS students include Physiology, Biomechanics, Athletic Training, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Exercise/Fitness/Sport/Wellness, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. Student research interests will correspond with an identified IPAT faculty mentor and/or faculty mentors in collaborating programs (e.g., School of Physical Therapy). Partnering with a faculty mentor begins by contacting that individual, discovering mutual research interests, and coming to an agreement for a doctoral plan of study. In addition to the identification of a mentor, and plan of study, it is expected that all in-coming IPRS doctoral students will have an identified source of funding to cover their stipend (and possibly tuition and fees), research projects, and other doctoral activities. Typically, these funds are supported by the doctoral mentor’s grants, but other types of assistantships can be used to support graduate work, as available. 

Doctoral student admission decisions: IPAT PhD students will be admitted by a majority decision of voting members of the IPRS Graduate Committee. Applicants will have completed an approved master’s degree (or clinical graduate degree, e.g., AT, PT, OT) and GRE prior to admission. GRE scores must be within the past five years OR a verifiable GRE scores if the test date is over five years old. International students may substitute the TOEFL exam for the GRE. In advance of admission, the student applicant will provide the committee with an identified dissertation chair and a brief description of topical expertise.

 Doctoral program plan of study: The doctoral plan of study is typically 4 years (8 fall/spring semesters, plus summer work), although alternative plans of study are negotiable pending graduate committee approval.

Graduate coursework includes the accumulation of credits based on the following:

Graduate coursework credit accumulation

 Credit Types

Credits

Credits in required courses

54

Credits from electives

18

Total credits required beyond the MS

72


A typical doctoral plan of study, with electives, is provided below:

Doctoral coursework credit accumulation

 Credit Types

Credits

HHP 520 Educational Research

3

HHP 529 Advanced Exercise Physiology I 

3

HHP 530 Advanced Exercise Physiology II

3

HHP 531 Lab Procedures in Exercise Physiology

3

HHP 526 Higher Education Pedagogy in Integrative Sciences

3

ATEP 569 Clinical Anatomy

1

BMED 605 Biomedical Research Ethics

1

HHP 594 Seminar: HHP Grad Research

3

BMED 628 Grantsmanship Skills

1

Subtotal

21

Research Methods/Statistical Coursework (6-9 credits)

6-9

Electives

18

A total of 27 credits is required from Preparatory Research and Dissertation

6-12

Dissertation

12-18

Total

72

Up to 15 transferable credits can be carried into the IPRS PhD program pending approval from the IPAT Graduate Committee