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School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences—Doctoral Programs
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offers
- Professional doctoral degrees: Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Doctor of Clinical Science (CScD)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in communication science and disorders and rehabilitation science
Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Degree
The primary objectives of the AuD program are to provide students with academic course work as well as the clinical skills and experience (beyond that obtained with the master’s degree) to enter the professional community and assume independent leadership roles. Graduates will be prepared for independent clinical practice and academic positions upon graduation and will be immediately eligible for professional licensure and for certification by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.
The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program is administered through the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. The AuD will be the required entry-level degree for audiologists in the future and it is strongly recommended for all entering the profession at this time.
This AuD program prepares entry-level audiologists to assume independent clinical and leadership roles within the professional communities of the region, state, and nation.
Contact Information
- Admissions Secretary
- Department of Communication Science and Disorders
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- 4033 Forbes Tower
- 412-383-6540
- Fax: 412-383-6555
- E-mail: sally@csd.pitt.edu
- www.shrs.pitt.edu/csd/index.html
Academic Standards
In addition to following the University-wide academic rules and regulations as detailed in the General Academic Regulations section of this bulletin, the AuD program is regulated by the SHRS Academic Standards, as well as the departmental Student Handbook on Academic and Clinical Requirements.
Degree Requirements
Students with bachelor’s degrees in communication science and disorders can complete the program in four years while students with a master’s degree in CSD can complete the program in approximately two years. Students applying to the AuD program with a completed master's degree will be required to complete two years of study with a minimum of 70 credits to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. Students applying to the AuD program with a completed bachelor's degree (major in CSD) will require four years of study with a minimum of 144 credits to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. Students with a bachelor's degree without a CSD major will have to complete an additional year of postbaccalaureate study. Other requirements include the successful completion of two comprehensive examinations, a mentored research project, and a full-time clinical externship.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the AuD program are required to successfully complete two comprehensive examinations before the Doctor of Audiology degree can be awarded. The Comprehensive Exam I is a formative examination that will identify strengths and/or weaknesses in the student’s knowledge base. An ad hoc committee of audiology faculty members will be constituted each year to administer this comprehensive examination.
In addition, students pursuing the AuD are required to successfully complete Comprehensive Exam II. During this examination, the student will demonstrate an ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a real clinical case with which the student has been extensively involved during clinical training. Comprehensive Exam II will have both written and oral portions. The student will identify a case from the student's own clinical experience in which they have been primarily responsible for case management. This case will be thoroughly presented, together with in-depth background information, including relevant clinical research on all aspects of the case. A panel of three faculty members will be constituted to evaluate each individual student’s examination performance
All audiology students in good academic standing are expected to pass their comprehensive examination(s). However, and regardless of academic standing, failure to pass either of the above examinations within three examination cycles will result in the student’s dismissal from the audiology training program.
Doctor of Clinical Science (CScD) Degree in Speech Language Pathology
A new clinical doctorate in speech language pathology is now offered in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.
The CScD is an advanced professional doctorate program recommended for the student or speech language pathologist seeking to employ state-of-the-art clinical excellence and leadership as a speech language pathologist in settings such as modern primary, tertiary, or rehabilitation medical centers.
The primary objectives of the CScD program are to provide new and continuing graduate students and returning clinicians with advanced academic course work, clinical skills, case based learning experiences, medical team rotations, and extensive mentored clinical practice to excel in their medical specialties and assume leadership roles. Graduates will be prepared for independent clinical practice in the medical setting, and clinical faculty positions upon graduation.
Entry-level postbaccalaureate students may enroll in the CScD program with the secondary objective of a master’s degree, and will earn both degrees and become eligible for both American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) certification (Certificate of Clinical Competence—CCC) and Pennsylvania state licensure over the course of their studies. Students with master’s or PhD degrees in speech language pathology, with or without a completed clinical fellowship year, may apply for advanced academic and clinical standing.
Contact Information
Admissions Secretary
Department of Communication Science and Disorders
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
4033 Forbes Tower
412-383-6540
Fax: 412-383-6555
www.shrs.pitt.edu/csd/index.html
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate, master's, or PhD degree in any discipline. Students with higher grade point averages and GRE scores will be ranked higher in the screening process. Students holding a bachelor's degree or those with a master's or PhD degree in non-communication science and disorders disciplines intending to pursue the clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology should apply to the CScD program, with the secondary degree objective of Master of Arts in speech-language pathology. Postbaccalaureate requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in speech-language pathology must be completed before graduate-level course work and practicum may begin. Those requirements may be found in the Admission Requirements section for the master's degree in this Bulletin. Both the master's and clinical doctorate degree will be earned over the course of the student's tenure in the CScD program. Professionals or students holding a master's degree or PhD in speech-language pathology may apply to the CScD program and may waive no more than 30 credits of approved equivalent academic and clinical requirements fulfilled during prior master's and doctoral-level training. Those master's and doctoral-level clinicians that hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association will be granted transfer credit for one or more doctoral-level clinical practica.
Applications to the Doctor of Clinical Science Program in speech-language pathology can be downloaded at www.shrs.pitt.edu/contact/applications.html. Download Application 1. You will apply for admission to the CScD program in speech-language pathology. Students without a graduate-level degree in communication science and disorders should apply to the CScD program as their primary degree objective, and to the master's degree program in communication science and disorders as their secondary degree objective.
Degree Requirements
Students may enter this professional doctorate program with a bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree. Those with such degrees in communication science and disorders (CSD) or equivalent are eligible to apply to the program without additional course work. Those with non-CSD degrees will be required to complete the necessary preprofessional postbaccalaureate course work in communication science and disorders before they are eligible to enter the professional doctorate program. Students holding master’s or PhD degrees in non-CSD fields of study may be eligible to transfer equivalent graduate-level course work, based on review of the individual's transcript.
Entry-level students (with a baccalaureate degree in CSD) will complete five years of study (157 credits) including all requirements for the master's degree and state licensure, as well as all clinical practicum required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), in addition to the advanced clinical practicum and clinical rotations and other medical specialization courses required for the Doctor of Clinical Science Degree.
Those entering the CScD program with a master's degree in CSD and an earned Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) will waive two to three terms of clinical practicum, and those with a completed PhD degree and earned CCC from ASHA will complete nearly two years of study with a minimum of 57 credits to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. A maximum of 30 qualifying credits of appropriate substitute academic course work may be transferred by students entering with a master's or PhD degree in CSD. Students with a bachelor’s degree without a CSD major will be required to complete an additional year of postbaccalaureate study before being eligible to enroll in the clinical doctoral program.
Other requirements include the successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations, clinical writing projects, research and clinical forums, medical service rotations, head and neck anatomy and advanced neuroscience course work, and mentored part- and full-time clinical externships.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the CScD program are required to successfully complete oral and written comprehensive examinations before the Doctor of Clinical Science degree is awarded. During this examination, the student will demonstrate an ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a real clinical case with which the student has been extensively involved during clinical training.
Academic Standards
In addition to following the University-wide academic rules and regulations as detailed in the General Academic Regulations section of this bulletin, the CScD program is regulated by the SHRS Academic Standards, as well as the departmental Student Handbook on Academic and Clinical Requirements.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is the entry-level educational program, which prepares students for careers as physical therapists. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, a student is eligible for the licensure examination, which is required to be a practicing physical therapist. The goal of the DPT curriculum is to prepare students to become self-directed, self-accountable physical therapists who can function in a cost-effective manner in all settings, and with persons of all ages. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enhance human movement and function through the use of evidence-based practice principles. Physical therapy graduates will have a foundation on which to base further knowledge and skills in specialty areas and to contribute to development of the art and science of physical therapy.
A transitional DPT (t-DPT) program is available to physical therapy practitioners on a part-time basis with courses offered evenings and weekends to accommodate work schedules. Requirements for the t-DPT degree vary based on the student's background and previous physical therapy education.
Contact Information
- M. Kathleen Kelly, PhD, PT
- Vice Chair, DPT Program
- Department of Physical Therapy
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- 6035 Forbes Tower
- 412-383-6637
- Fax: 412-383-6629
- E-mail: kkelly16@pitt.edu
- www.shrs.pitt.edu/physicaltherapy/index.html
Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program is only available on a full-time basis. The DPT program begins the first week of June each year.
Academic Standards
In addition to the University-wide academic rules and regulations as detailed in the General Academic Regulations section of this bulletin, the DPT program is regulated by the SHRS Academic Standards.
Statute of Limitations
All requirements of the DPT must be completed within three years. Extension of the statute of limitations may be granted if there are extenuating circumstances. Such requests, listing reasons for the extension and the amount of additional time needed, must be approved by the department chair.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the DPT program are required to successfully complete both a written and oral comprehensive examination before the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree can be awarded. The written comprehensive examination is a cumulative examination covering the core clinical sciences and focusing on physical therapy practice. During the oral portion of the examination, students are expected to demonstrate clinical decision-making knowledge and skills using evidence-based practice principles.
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a three-year professional course of study requiring 109 credits, including clinical internships.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The University-wide academic requirements for students pursuing a PhD are detailed under General Academic Regulations, beginning on page 17 of the bulletin. Students pursuing the PhD should review Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees before reading their program-specific requirements below. The residence and registration requirements detailed below apply to students in both SHRS PhD programs, and are specifications of previously detailed University-wide requirements:
Contact Information
- Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Science
- 4019 Forbes Tower
- 412-383-6558
- Fax: 412-383-6535
- E-mail: shrsadm1@pitt.edu
- www.shrs.pitt.edu
Residency and Registration Requirements
It is beneficial for most students to register for full-time study (9–15 credits) throughout their doctoral program. However, in some instances students have significant off-campus responsibilities. Therefore, if the student receives approval, the PhD can be completed by a combination of full-time and part-time study. All students must engage in a minimum of one term of full-time doctoral study, which excludes any other employment except as approved by the department chair.
Active Status
PhD students are required to register for at least 1 credit within each 12-month period to maintain active status. The student who is placed on inactive status must file an application for readmission to graduate study before being permitted to register. Upon readmission, the student's Plan of Study will be adjusted to meet the PhD requirements at the time of readmission.
Probation and Dismissal
PhD students are required to maintain a 3.00 grade point average (GPA). If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.00, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the student is on probation for two consecutive terms, the faculty of the PhD program may choose to dismiss the student from the program.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Communication Science and Disorders
The doctoral program in communication science and disorders is oriented toward the basic scientific questions in the discipline, with an emphasis on basic and applied research training.
The expectations of graduating doctoral students are that they are able to conduct a program of independent, creative, scholarly research and that they can plan and execute effective teaching at all levels of pedagogy.
Financial assistance is often available from a variety of sources, including teaching assistantships, doctoral traineeships, targeted Clinical Fellowship Years, and graduate research assistantships. Such appointments typically require 20 hours each week of teaching, research, and/or clinical service, in exchange for a monthly stipend. A scholarship based on merit covers at least partial tuition remission, fees, and health insurance. The Department's Financial Aid Committee works with each admitted student's advisor to secure a funding opportunity that is rewarding academically and financially. Prospective applicants who are interested in financial support should indicate this on their application for admission.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree level is needed for the PhD degree in communication science and disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. For further detail on allowable credits, see Credit Requirements under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study.
All doctoral students are required to take the Departmental Doctoral Research Seminar (CSD 3048) and a minimum of three additional departmental doctoral seminars: one in speech and language, one in hearing, and one in the student's major area of study.
Students also take a minimum of 12 credits of course work in statistics and experimental design, and 6 credits of research practicum. Doctoral students are required to attend the departmental Proseminar (CSD 2060), which includes both a colloquium series and a student-centered research roundtable that allows participation and problem solving by students at various stages of their research training. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to take courses in teaching and grant preparation, and to complete teaching practica.
Three formal degree requirements must be satisfied before a student initiates doctoral dissertation work:
- The student maintains an academic portfolio until the time at which the student takes the comprehensive examination. The portfolio, which the student recompiles on an annual basis, consists of at least three pieces of written work that are presented to the student's Preliminary Committee prior to an annual review meeting. The student's Plan of Study will also be reviewed at these annual meetings.
- The student must complete a pre-dissertation project, consisting of a publishable data-based manuscript resulting from a research practicum experience. This project must be completed prior to the comprehensive examination.
- The student must pass a comprehensive examination consisting of two substantive written projects, and an open-ended oral examination. Students on provisional or special status, or on probation, are not eligible to take the comprehensive exam.
Students should then complete the dissertation overview and file an application for admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. See below and also Admission to Candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in this bulletin for details.
Major Advisor and Advising Committees
Students admitted to the PhD program are assigned a major advisor in their main area of specialization. The advisor is primarily responsible for providing assistance and advice to the student throughout all facets of the doctoral program, and typically serves as the chair of the Preliminary and Dissertation Committees. Either doctoral students or their advisors may initiate a change of advisor, but no student may remain in the program without an advisor.
The student, upon consultation with the student's major advisor, secures the agreement of at least two other departmental faculty members with graduate faculty status to serve with the advisor on the student's Preliminary Committee. This committee initially convenes to review and make recommendations concerning the student's Plan of Study. Thereafter, the committee meets annually with the student to review, and make recommendations concerning, the student's portfolio and general progress in the doctoral program. This committee also administers and evaluates the student's comprehensive examination.
See Doctoral Committee under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees for an overview of the dissertation committee's makeup and responsibilities.
Overview or Prospectus Meeting
See Overview or Prospectus Meeting under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for the regulations pertaining to this meeting and then read the following information that is specific to the doctoral program in communication science and disorders. After securing the advisor's approval, each student must submit a written dissertation proposal to the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks prior to a formal overview meeting with that committee. (See Dissertation and Abstract section for details on the characteristics of an appropriate dissertation.)
Final Oral Examination
See Final Oral Examination under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study and then note the following additional program-specific information. After securing the advisor's approval, the student submits copies of the complete document to the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Rehabilitation Science
The mission of the doctoral program in rehabilitation science is to advance the frontiers of knowledge underlying the practice of health and rehabilitation disciplines and professions through research, teaching, and professional development. Graduates of this program will have a specific area of expertise in rehabilitation science as well as a core of interdisciplinary knowledge related to this specific area. They will become the researchers, scholars, teachers, thinkers, and planners in the demanding and changing field of health and rehabilitation sciences.
Financial assistance is often available from a variety of sources, including graduate student assistantships and teaching assistantships. These assistantships typically require 20 hours per week of research, teaching, or clinical service in exchange for a monthly salary. A scholarship based on merit covers tuition, fees, and individual medical insurance. Other forms of financial assistance, including fellowships and support as graduate student researchers, may be available through individual faculty grants. Applicants interested in financial support should indicate this on their applications. Acceptance into the PhD program does not assure that a student will be offered financial aid.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree level is needed for the PhD degree. See Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for further information on University-wide credit requirements.
The following courses or credit hours in content areas are required as part of the 72 credits:
| HRS 3000 |
Doctoral Seminar |
6 |
credits |
| HRS 3001 |
Dissertation Research |
18 |
credits |
| Content in the areas of research design and statistics: |
9 |
credits |
| Content in the area of psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation and disability: |
2 |
credits |
The student will also be expected to participate in the teaching of at least one course.
Core Areas
Students will be expected to show competency in four of seven core areas in rehabilitation science plus competency in statistics and research methodology through the successful completion of a preliminary examination, taken in May after completion of at least two terms of study.
Specific core areas include the following:
- assistive technology
- biomechanics
- evidence-based practice and epidemiology of disability
- policy, organization, and management studies in health and rehabilitation
- psychosocial, cultural, and behavioral aspects of rehabilitation and disability
- health information systems and information technology related to health and rehabilitation sciences
- neural basis of sensory and motor function and dysfunction
In addition, the student must develop and show competency in the area of statistics and research methodology related to the student's area of research interest.
Academic Advisor
Upon admission into the PhD program, the student will be assigned an academic advisor in the student's main area of specialization. The academic advisor and student will determine the four specific core areas and plan course work or other experiences to enable the student to demonstrate competency in these core areas as well as statistics/research methodology through the preliminary examination.
Plan of Study
The student and academic advisor will prepare a Plan of Study during the student's first year. This Plan of Study will include transfer credits, course work, proposed date of preliminary examination, and dissertation credits leading to the PhD degree. This Plan of Study should be submitted to the associate dean of graduate studies for approval. A copy of this plan will be placed in the student's file.
After receiving the results of the preliminary examination and the recommendations of the faculty grading the examination, the student and academic advisor may need to revise the Plan of Study. This Plan of Study should be reviewed each term at registration and updated as needed by the student and academic advisor. Changes or additions to the Plan of Study should be submitted to the associate dean of graduate studies.
Preliminary Examination
Prior to taking dissertation credits, the student must demonstrate competency in four core areas and in statistics and research methodology through the preliminary examination. The preliminary examination will be administered by the associate dean of graduate studies once each year, near the end of May.
The academic advisor will inform the associate dean of graduate studies of the grades received on each part of the preliminary examination, the dates of removal of any conditional passes, and the grade for the retake of any portion of the preliminary examination. The associate dean of graduate studies will make the final decision concerning the status of the student.
Doctoral Committee and Committee Chair
The makeup and duties of the doctoral committee are detailed under Doctoral Committee under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study. In addition, the following regulations and practices apply in SHRS:
After the student has passed the preliminary examination and has completed most of the course work needed for the PhD, the student and academic advisor are responsible for identifying a research mentor who will serve as chair of the doctoral committee, subject to approval by the associate dean of graduate studies. The student and research mentor will form a doctoral committee, again subject to approval by the associate dean of graduate studies. In addition to the standard makeup of the committee as detailed in the section referenced above, non-faculty with appropriate expertise may serve on the committee with the approval of the associate dean of graduate studies.
The student will prepare a dissertation proposal, which must be approved by the Doctoral Committee. The Doctoral Committee will administer the comprehensive examination and review and approve the proposed research project before the student may be admitted to candidacy.
Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Proposal
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to assess the student's depth of knowledge and ability to use research methods in the area of specialization. The administration of this examination is the responsibility of the Doctoral Committee. This examination will normally be combined with the overview of the dissertation proposal. This examination must be held at least one term prior to the scheduling of the final dissertation defense. The chair of the Doctoral Committee will inform the associate dean of graduate studies as to the results of the comprehensive exam and dissertation proposal by submitting the Comprehensive Examination Performance form.
See Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Study for requirements for admission to candidacy, requirements for the dissertation, and regulations regarding the final oral examination.
Dissertation
The student needs to complete at least 18 credits of dissertation research. The dissertation must be submitted to all members of the Doctoral Committee, and then must be defended orally to the Doctoral Committee. The dissertation defense will be advertised and will be open to other interested individuals. After final approval of the dissertation by the Doctoral Committee, the student has then completed all requirements for the PhD degree. The chair of the Doctoral Committee will inform the associate dean of graduate studies when the student has successfully completed the dissertation defense and all revisions to the dissertation.
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