Curriculum

The program requires 72 credit hours; a minimum of 12 credits must be dissertation credits. 

The UB Graduate School requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum grade of B in every required course.

Required Courses

Courses are offered alternating years.

  • RSC 600 Research in Rehabilitation Science (1 credit each semester for 4 semesters)
  • RSC 603 Theories and Mechanisms of Change in Rehabilitation Science (3 credits)
  • RSC 604 Disability and Rehabilitation (3 credits)

In addition, the School of Public Health and Health Professions requires all students to complete CHB 550 – Public Health and Population Well-Being (3 credits)

If you have completed any of these courses, or their equivalent, the course can be waived by the program director.

Statistics/Research Design

Courses include:

  • RSC 522  Research Design and Methodology for Clinical Problems (3 credits)
  • STA 527  Introduction to Medical Statistics Statistical Analysis I, including recitation (4 credits)
  • STA 528  Statistical Analysis II, including recitation (4 credits)

Plus one of the following:

  • STA 529  Statistical Analysis III, including lab (4 credits)
  • NUS 697  Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (3 cr)
  • NUS 710  Interpreting Phenomenology (3 credits)

Research Electives

You will  take research-oriented electives, including research ethics (RSC 602) and grant writing courses (e.g. ES 620, CHB 605). Coursework can be within or outside of the Department of Rehabilitation Science. For example, if you were concentrating on assistive technology, you could take several related courses, such as: OT 530 Computer Access 1, CDS 670 Augmentative Communication and ARC 558 Design for Inclusive Environments.

Additional Program Requirements

Formal Teaching Experience

LAI 699 Seminar in College Teaching (or equivalent) and RSC 598 Supervised Teaching

A formal teaching experience, supervised by a faculty member, is required and preferably completed by the end of your third year in the program. Previous teaching experience can be used to meet this requirement with approval from the program director.

Research Ethics

RSC 602 – Research Ethics for the Health Sciences - is required in order to begin preparation for your research. This course will include completing the federal requirements to conduct research on human subjects.

Qualifying Exam

Upon completion of all required courses, each student must take a qualifying exam that will consist of questions prepared by the faculty from all core courses, including the foundational Rehabilitation Science courses, Statistics courses, research design and methods, and questions specific to the student’s research program.

Dissertation

Following successful completion of the qualifying exam, the student will complete a mentored original research dissertation that begins with a formal public proposal and culminates with an approved written document and public defense.

Sample Curriculum Plan

Year 1 – Fall – 12 credits

RSC 600 Research in Rehab Science (1)
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I (Lec) (3)
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I (Rec) (1)
RSC 602 Research Ethics in the Health Sciences (3)
RSC 603 Theories and Mechanisms of Change in Rehab Science (3)
RSC 599 Independent Study (1)

Year 1 – Spring - 14 credits

RSC 600 Research in RS (1)
STA 528 Statistical Analysis II (Lec) (3)
STA 528 Statistical Analysis II (Rec) (1)
RSC 604 Disability and Rehabilitation (3)
RSC 522 Research Design & Methodology for Clinical Problems (3)
Elective (3)

Year 2 – Fall – 13 or 14 credits

RSC 600 Research in RS (1)
CHB 550 Public Health & Population Well-being (Lec & Rec) (3)
STA 529 or NUS 697 or NUS 710 (3 or 4)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)

Year 2 – Spring – 13 credits

RSC 600 Research in RS (1)
LAI 699 Seminar in College Teaching (3)
RSC 599 Independent Study (3) or Elective
Elective (3)
Elective (3)

Year 2 – Summer – Qualifying Exam

Year 3 – Fall – 9 or 10 credits

RSC 598 Supervised Teaching (1)
Grant writing course (ES 620, CHB 605 or equivalent) (2 or 3)
Elective (3)
RSC 699 Dissertation Guidance (3)

Year 3 – Spring – 9 credits

Elective (3)
RSC 699 Dissertation Guidance (6)

Year 4 – Fall – 2 credits

RSC 699 Dissertation Guidance (2)

Year 4 – Spring – 1 credit

RSC 699 Dissertation Guidance (1)