PRS Curriculum
Introduction
Pre-doctoral trainees in Physical Rehabilitation Science (PRS) are provided with a rigorous and in-depth regimen of coursework that articulates with independent study preparation and a programmed sequence of research that culminates in a final dissertation. The PRS PhD curriculum has three objectives which provide a:
- Sound foundation in the intellectual Tools required for all human movement scientists in the areas of statistics, research design, and laboratory methods and techniques;
- Well-grounded Core frame of reference based on the interdisciplinary nature of the field of rehabilitation science in general, and
- Advanced and state of the art knowledge in a concentration area in one of the sub-disciplines of applied physiology, rehabilitation biomechanics, epidemiology, and neuromotor control.
Typically a student will seek to study with a particular advisor (typically a full-time departmental faculty) based on the student?s prior knowledge of that advisor?s research focus and the advisor?s interest in advising the student based on their curriculum vitae and stated areas of interest. This advisor is both academic and research advisor for the student. Subsequently, a student may change to another research advisor if the student?s interests develop in a different direction. This research advisor may be outside the PTRS department in which case, the original advisor typically remains as the academic advisor.
Program Curriculum
- Interdisciplinary Science Core - (10 credit minimum)
The Science Core is designed to provide an interdisciplinary foundation for further study in an area of one's choice.
- Principles of Epidemiology - PREV 600 (3 credits)
- Rehabilitation of Physiology - PTRS 708 (2 - 4 credits)
- Human Anatomy - PTRS 700 2 - (6 credits)
- Rehabilitation Biomechanics - PTRS 711 (2 - 4 credits)
- Pathology - PTRS 705 (2 credits)
- Motor Behavior - PTRS 712 (2 credits)
- Neuroscience - PTRS 706 (2 credits)
- Tools Core - (12 credit minimum)
The Tools Core provides the research skills needed in the field of rehabilitation science, as well as direct preparation for an academic career.
- Graduate Seminar in Teaching I - PTRS 702 (1 credit)
- Principles of Biostatistics - PREV 620 (3 credits)
- Graduate Seminar in Teaching II - PTRS 703 (1 credit)
- Intermediate Biostatistics - PREV 621 (3 credits)
- Physiological Signal Processing - UMCP 689D (3 credits)
- Instrumentation in the Movement Sciences - UMCP 689 (3 credits)
- Lab Rotations - PTRS 704 (3 credits)
- Other statistics or tools courses
- Interdisciplinary Research Seminar - (4 credit minimum)
Students attend weekly seminars during which faculty and speakers present and discuss current research. Presentations are also expected from each student.
- Concentration/Cognate Area - complete a minimum of 22 credits in one of the four concentration specialties.
- Neuromotor Control
- Rehabilitation Biomechanics
- Applied Physiology
- Epidemiology
As part of their assistantship or an independent study, students are expected to begin their research career early in the program. Initially, their research will be supervised, preparing them for later independent dissertation research. Publication and national presentations are expected.
Milestones and Evaluation points of the PRS Ph.D. Program
A formal evaluation of the PRS student begins with the plan of study meeting at the end of the first year. The second formal evaluation is the comprehensive examination at the beginning of the third year. The comprehensive exam consists of 4 days of writing and a verbal defense. Two days of writing are in the concentration area and the remaining two days split between a secondary area and tools courses. After passing the comprehensives and gaining admission to doctoral candidacy, a dissertation committee is formed including one member who is outside the department and/or student’s field of study, pertinent to the student’s dissertation research. In addition to the formal methods of evaluation, an annual review of the students’ progress is conducted by the Department Chair and Ph.D. Director.
Criteria for the review of student progress and performance are as follows:
- Maintenance of satisfactory GPA: All Ph.D. students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA overall (4.0 maximum). Students earning a letter grade of “C” must retake the course and receive a grade of “B”. The student transcript will include both the letter grade of “C” and the grade for the retake of the course. Two semesters of below 3.0 will typically be cause for dismissal.
- Performance in the laboratory: Students must learn laboratory skills, techniques and theory, as well as laboratory maintenance and management functions. These abilities are seen as crucial to a successful career in research and are monitored by the advisor and Ph.D. Director.
- Student Research: The student is expected to engage the research process at all levels, including data collection, reduction and analysis, research design, and publication. Aspects of this criterion monitored by the mentors and Steering Committee include number and quality of research proposals, quality of data collection and analysis, number of primary and secondary manuscript and abstract submissions, percentage or submissions published, and other products in which the development involved the student’s effort.
- Progress on the Plan of Study: Maintenance or amendment of this timeline is monitored by the advisor and the Plan of Study Committee. Minor amendments are approved by the advisor while more extensive amendments must be approved by the Plan of Study Committee.
- Research Agenda: Prior to the dissertation phase of the program, the student engages in research not only to gain experience but to develop preliminary information leading to proposing a hypothesis or identifying a dissertation question. The mentoring committee will ensure that the student’s research is focused and aimed at accomplishing this objective.
- Dissertation Phase: The advisor and student ensure that the student maintains the appropriate timeframe for completion of the comprehensive examination as well as the dissertation proposal and defense timeframes. It is recognized that there is often a need to modify these timeframes due to the nuances of conducting research and the frequent need to conduct additional experiments to make the work interpretable. The dissertation committee is charged with ensuring the quality of the student’s dissertation, while the advisor and student are charged specifically with ensuring the maintenance of the timeline.