Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences

Applicants seeking admission consideration for the Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences (RHS) program at ISU must apply to, and meet all criteria for, admission to the ISU Graduate School. The program has rolling admissions with the following priority consideration dates: February 15 (summer and fall) and October 15 (spring). In addition, the following items will be evaluated for admission consideration: 

• Submit documentation of cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or greater over the last 60+/- semester credits (90± quarter credits)
• Submit three recent letters of professional recommendation
• Submit an example of scholarly writing (e.g., thesis, publication, term-paper, etc)
• Submit a letter of intent (1000 words or less) describing your professional area(s) of interest and experiences that led you to pursue your PhD degree at Idaho State University and how this would help you attain your professional goals
• Submit a current professional resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
• Submit documentation of the applicant's identified potential major advisor and written consent from the potential major advisor indicating a willingness to work with the applicant if they are accepted into the program (e.g., pdf of an email exchange) 

International Students 

Applicants whose first language is not English need to meet the following TOEFL requirements for Classified admission:

• Internet-based test (iBT): a total score of 80 with a score of at least 20 on each Section (graduate assistants who teach courses must score 23 or above on the Speaking Section) on the iBT; or
• Computer-based test: a total score of 213 with a score of at least 21 on Section 1 (Listening Comprehension) on the computer test; or
• Paper-based test: a total score of 550 with a score of at least 55 on Section l (Listening Comprehension) on the paper test or a score of 84 on the MTELP, or a score of 6 on the IELTS.

*Altered consideration may be given to items evaluated for admittance pending petition approval from the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Executive Council (PhD EC)

All applicants are reviewed on a competitive case-by-case basis. Qualified applicants may be invited for an interview with members of the RHS faculty. Meeting entry-level requirements for admission does not guarantee a seat in the program. Admission into the program is separate from an offer of funding.  

Preferential consideration will be given to those applicants already holding graduate degrees / clinical certification and demonstrated academic potential in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or other related fields. Others may apply and will be considered for admission based on merit and potential for success.  

General Requirements  

The Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences requires a minimum of 60 credits post-graduate degree or equivalent across: Academic Core, Research Core, Specialized Program, and Dissertation areas. Prior to starting the program, the applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree; completion of a graduate degree is also preferred. If a student is accepted to and starts the program without having completed a graduate degree in Audiology, Occupation Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, or a related field, or if they are currently enrolled in a graduate program, they may be required to complete graduate-level clinical-entry didactic coursework within their primary discipline during their program (typically an additional 30 or more credit hours). These students may or may not receive specific clinical education training along with clinical placements during their program, but it may be an option if desired and if approved by the student’s advisory committee, Ph.D. EC, and Ph.D. Program Director(s).  

All students and candidates must adhere to: 

• ISU / ISU Graduate School policies, procedures, and requirements
• RHS PhD program policies, procedures, and requirements

*Failure to adhere to the policies, procedures, or requirements, poor performance/progress, or unprofessional/unethical conduct may result in probationary actions or immediate dismissal from the program.

Special Requirement (may not apply to all students) 

Thesis Equivalent (1-6 credits of COH 7050): Students who did not complete a graduate thesis (or comparable research project) must complete a supervised research project prior to starting their research practicum. The project will follow ISU Graduate School requirements, policies, and procedures with the exception of not having to submit the final document to the graduate school for approval.  

Program Requirements

• The student/candidate must have a major advisor and advisory committee as defined in the RHS Ph.D. studies manual. Mutual consent from both the student/candidate and a major advisor must be obtained and maintained throughout the program of study. Following the student’s self-evaluation the major advisor and advisory committee will initially be responsible for monitoring and evaluating annual performance and progress. Student progress will also be evaluated by the Ph.D. EC and Ph.D. in RHS Program Director(s).
• Curriculum Requirements: The program of study consists of four core elements: Academic Core, Research Core, Specialized Program, and Dissertation. Students will work with their major advisor and their advisory committee to develop a program of study, which must be approved by the Ph.D. EC and Ph.D. in RHS Program Director(s). Programs of study are individualized per student therefore the courses listed below provide a sampling of potential options. Changes to the program of study, major advisor, or advisory committee members may occur and will be handled by the Ph.D. in RHS petitions process as described in the RHS Ph.D. in the manual.
  • Academic Core (12 credits): Academic core is focused on enhancing the student’s understanding of the related professions, interprofessionalism, and pedagogical theory and application.

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  COH 8001	Overview of Rehabilitation Disciplines	3
  COH 8010	Mentored Teaching Practicum	1
  Select 3 of the following or related coursework:
  EDUC 6602	Theories of Learning	3
  EDLH 7732	College and University Curriculum	3
  EDLH 7734	Issues and Trends in Higher Education	3
  DENT 6605	Program Development and Evaluation	3
  DENT 6620	Advanced Educational Theory and Methods	3