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Welcome
The Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida prepares rehabilitation scholars, including skills in research, teaching, and interdisciplinary teamwork in rehabilitation science. Students design their own specialty area within the broad categories of 1) movement science, 2) disability science 3) communication and swallowing science. Upon successful completion of this 90-credit postbaccalaureate program, students receive their PhD and are well positioned for opportunities in research and higher education.
Most graduates go on to post-doctoral positions or faculty positions at major research universities. Several issues were considered in designing this doctoral program. In recent decades, life-saving medical intervention has extended the lives of Americans, increasing the elder population and saving the lives of individuals of all ages who, heretofore, would have succumbed to disease or injury. At the same time, these medical advances have resulted in an increased need for rehabilitation services for persons who survive but have temporary or chronic disabling conditions which interfere with their ability to function. Consequently, the demand for the training of rehabilitation personnel has dramatically increased in recent decades as therapies have been needed to assist individuals recover, adjust and adapt to health changes. The expanded role of rehabilitation personnel has increased the demand for theoretical rationale and research examination of rehabilitation outcomes and, therefore, increased the need for doctoral programs in Rehabilitation Science.
The Rehabilitation Science Program is an interdisciplinary
program within the College of Public Health and Health
Professions, which also offers programs
in:
Clinical and Health
Psychology
Health Services
Research, Management and Policy
Rehabilitation
Counseling
Communicative
Disorders
Physical
Therapy
Occupational
Therapy
The College of Health Professions is one of six Colleges
comprising the University of Florida Health Science Center, the
major teaching referral center for north central Florida and
southern Georgia. The other colleges
include:
College
of Medicine
College of
Dentistry
College of Veterinary
Medicine
College of
Pharmacy
College of
Nursing
The Health Science Center houses a spacious, modern library and is affiliated with the Brain Institute, the Veteran Administration, and Shands Hospital.