Rehabilitation and Movement Science, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with a concentration in neuromusculoskeletal dynamics [College of Health Professions]

Program goal

The Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Movement Science is an interdisciplinary degree program developed through a collaborative partnership of the departments of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The mission of this collaborative degree program is to prepare applied scientists capable of approaching multifaceted health care, preventive medicine and rehabilitation initiatives from an integrative perspective and to prepare graduates to assume research, teaching and leadership positions within rehabilitation and movement science professions.

There are two program concentrations: applied physiology and neuromusculoskeletal dynamics. The applied physiology concentration prepares individuals to conduct research, direct external funding initiatives and teach in the area of applied physiology, with particular focus on physical activity’s impact on chronic disease states. The neuromusculoskeletal dynamics concentration prepares individuals for research, teaching and clinical initiatives associated with the identification and rehabilitation of movement disorders.

Student learning outcomes

Program core learning outcomes

At the completion of the program students will:

1. Develop the skills and abilities to collect and manage research data while ensuring ethical and responsible conduct of research
2. Develop the ability to analyze research data and subsequently interpret and synthesize
   results and draw appropriate conclusions
3. Demonstrate teaching effectiveness in the classroom and/or clinical environment
4. Disseminate research findings effectively in oral and/or written formats

Neuromuscular dynamics concentration-specific outcomes

1. Demonstrate comprehensive foundational knowledge in neuromusculoskeletal movement systems
2. Develop testable hypotheses and appropriate study designs to address relevant research questions in the study of neuromusculoskeletal movement systems and /or related rehabilitation

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.