Mentored-Based Concentration Areas

Upon admission to the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences program, you will select an area of concentration and a mentor with whom you would like to work.

The specific requirements of your program of study will be determined by your choice of one of the following three areas:

• Function, Participation, & Environment
• Rehabilitation Interventions
• Movement Science

Function, Participation, & Environment

Research in the Function, Participation, & Environment concentration is guided by biopsychosocial and socioecological theories of health, function, and disability. These approaches are used to investigate the dynamic relationship between the person and their environment, and the impact of that interaction on function and participation at home, school, work and the community. The overall goal is to identify pathways to successful participation that guide the creation of strategies, supports, programs, services, and social environments that enable persons with and without disabilities to achieve full participation in society.

Rehabilitation Interventions

Research in the Rehabilitation Interventions concentration includes the development and evaluation of theoretically informed rehabilitation interventions and programs for a broad range of people with disabilities. The focus is on the development of innovative approaches, evaluation of their effects and underlying mechanisms, and identification of effective dissemination and implementation practices and procedures

Movement Science

Research in the Movement Science concentration is concerned with the biomechanics of movement, the dynamics of coordination and control, and the processes of development, adaptation, and learning. The overall goal is to increase understanding of human movement and motor development and to apply this knowledge to improve the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders in individuals with musculoskeletal and neurological impairments.