SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) offers educational programs leading to a baccalaureate degree in the following areas:

• Clinical dietetics and nutrition
• Communication science
• Emergency medicine
• Health information management
• Rehabilitation science*

A concentration in athletic training is offered through the rehabilitation science major.

The school also offers four certificate programs in the following areas:

• Assistive Technology in Rehabilitation
• Emergency Medicine in Rehabilitation
• Pathokinesiology in Rehabilitation
• Psycho-Social Issues in Rehabilitation 

SHRS previously offered a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy. This program has transitioned to the graduate level. Refer to the Graduate Bulletin for program information, prerequisites, and curriculum.

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an integral part of the world-class University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The medical center comprises a variety of hospitals and clinical facilities that afford students a wealth of opportunities for professional experience.

The mission of the school is to advance the theoretical base of knowledge underlying the practice of health and rehabilitation disciplines and professions through research, teaching, and professional service.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Office of Admissions
4019 Forbes Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-383-6558
admissions@shrs.pitt.edu
www.shrs.pitt.edu

Admission Requirements

Freshman application is made through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Students typically apply to SHRS in the spring semester of their sophomore year of college. (See Admission Deadlines under Transfer Student Admissions for specifics.) Transfer students from other institutions may apply directly to SHRS. Second-career students or students who possess a bachelor’s degree may apply directly to SHRS providing prerequisite courses are successfully completed.

General requirements for admission to SHRS’s baccalaureate degree programs include the successful completion of a minimum of 60 college-level credits with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 (based on 4.00). Included in the 60 credits must be the required prerequisites for the SHRS major (see specific prerequisites listed under Program Descriptions). Students applying for transfer from other institutions and international students must have taken comparable prerequisite courses. In order to assist the Committee on Admissions in making a more accurate evaluation of academic suitability for the program, applicants should complete as many of the prerequisite courses as possible before applying to SHRS. A minimum grade of C- is required for courses designated as prerequisites.

SHRS does not evaluate College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores for credit but will accept CLEP credits that have been evaluated and posted on an official transcript from an accredited college or university.

Since many health professionals find a second (foreign) language valuable, SHRS recommends such study either during high school or the first two years of college. In addition, some computer background (a college-level computer science course) is recommended.

See SHRS Program Descriptions for additional admissions requirements.

Application Procedures

A completed application to SHRS should be sent directly to SHRS (see Admission Deadlines under the Transfer Student Admissions section of this bulletin for specifics) and should include the following:

1. All relevant application forms:

University of Pittsburgh students must complete the SHRS application for undergraduate programs.

Transfer students and students possessing a bachelor’s degree must complete the SHRS undergraduate application as well as a transfer application from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

International applicants must complete both an SHRS and a transfer application as well as an application from the Office of International Student Services. (See International Student Admissions.)

2. Self-evaluation—Applicants must submit a brief typed statement discussing when and how they became interested in the field and program to which they are applying and outlining their long-term professional goals.

3. Transcripts—Official transcripts from high schools and colleges attended. Students currently enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh are not required to submit high school transcripts. Credits shown on a transcript as transfer credits from another institution cannot substitute for the official transcript of the college or university at which the credits were earned.

4. Evaluation form—One form of evaluation is required from a faculty member, academic advisor, or work supervisor. Evaluations must be enclosed in a sealed envelope signed by the evaluator.

5. The application fee of $35 (only if transferring from another institution; University of Pittsburgh students do not have to pay this fee).

Admission Status

Students admitted to SHRS are admitted to one of three statuses: full, provisional, or special.

• Students admitted to full status have met all admission criteria and have been admitted either as full-time or part-time students for study toward the baccalaureate degree.
• In certain circumstances, when an applicant is admitted with a GPA of less than 2.50, he/she is admitted on a provisional basis and must earn 2.00 in the first term (or first 12 credits for part-time students) in order to be granted full admission. Students who are admitted provisionally who then do not earn a 2.00 in the first term (or first 12 credits for part-time students) may not continue in SHRS.
• Applicants not matriculated in any school in the University who wish to take courses for credit without reference to a degree may be admitted as special students if they present evidence of ability to follow successfully the courses for which they apply. Students admitted to SHRS as special students may take a maximum of 6 credits toward a degree without submitting an application. A student wishing to register for more than 6 credits as a special student has the right to appeal in written form to the dean. Information concerning such requests should be directed first to the University of Pittsburgh, SHRS Registrar, 4024 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

Acceptable Academic Status

All students must receive a C- or better in all required courses in the professional curriculum. Students who receive a grade below a C- must repeat that course and attain a grade of C- or better. Students will not be permitted to register for a course if they receive a grade below C- in a prerequisite for that course.

Repeating Courses

Students must repeat required courses in the professional curriculum in which they receive a grade below C-. Students are permitted to repeat a course one time only. Failure to achieve a C- or better after the second opportunity will result in departmental review of the student's status. When a student successfully repeats a course at the University of Pittsburgh, the repeated course grade and not the original grade is computed in the GPA.

Because major portions of the various curricula are sequential in nature and courses are offered only once a year, most courses cannot be repeated until the following academic year. (See Repeating Courses in the Grading and Records section of this bulletin for more information.)

Class Designation

Class designation of undergraduate students is based on successful completion of course requirements for each curricular year in the school. Therefore, all requirements in the junior year must be met before promotion to the senior year.

Statute of Limitations

Part-time students must complete bachelor’s degree requirements within a reasonable period of time. A plan of study will be worked out with the student’s advisor detailing the length of time needed to complete the program.

Advanced Standing

A maximum of 60 credits will be posted on the SHRS transcript unless indicated to the Office of Student Services via the plan of study that the student qualifies for more than 60 credits. Grades of D will be accepted for advanced standing from all universities and colleges provided the D indicates passing. However, a D grade will not be accepted for advanced standing if it occurs in a prerequisite course.

Advanced standing for courses in the professional curriculum is a departmental decision. If advanced standing is not granted, credit by examination for specified courses may be taken to demonstrate mastery of the course content. Advanced standing is reflected on the plan of study, which the student completes with his/her academic advisor. The Office of Student Services will post advanced standing only as indicated by the plan of study.

Clinical Education—Directed Practice

Clinical or field learning experience is an integral and essential part of SHRS undergraduate professional programs. All students preparing to be athletic trainers, clinical dietitians, emergency medicine technicians (paramedics), or health information managers will spend a specific amount of time in a variety of clinical education experiences. These experiences are planned sequentially and in coordination with classroom or laboratory courses taken on campus.

All clinical education experiences take place at sites that have signed contracts with the University of Pittsburgh. An SHRS faculty member, usually called a coordinator of clinical education, assigns students to these sites. Supervision or instruction during clinical education is provided by health professionals qualified appropriately for the type or level of content studied by the student. Students are required to carry professional liability insurance and personal health insurance during all phases of clinical education.

Students may be required to travel a distance or to relocate outside the city for their clinical education assignments. All expenses for transportation, housing, food, etc., are the student’s responsibility.

Students must wear proper attire, which may vary with the clinical education. Students studying to be health information managers, for example, will dress in street clothes, while students studying to be clinical dietitians may wear white lab coats. Safety may be a consideration. The coordinator of clinical education will provide specific information about clothing or uniforms for each program.

Because of clinical education time requirements for accreditation purposes, any student who misses clinical time for any reason must see the appropriate practicum instructor or coordinator of clinical education to arrange for any needed make-up time.

Graduation

Candidates for a bachelor’s degree from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences must have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 120 credits, 30 (at minimum) of which must have been taken while registered in the school, and candidates must have completed the requirements for the program in which they have enrolled. The student’s advisor must approve these credits. To qualify for graduation, students must have completed all courses and other degree requirements and must have a plan of study on file in the Office of Student Services, 4024 Forbes Tower.

The GPA used for graduation and for the awarding of honors will be calculated as a composite of all courses taken at the University of Pittsburgh counting toward completion of the degree. The baccalaureate degree student attaining an outstanding scholastic record may, upon vote of the faculty, be graduated with program honors if a minimum of 60 letter-graded credits have been earned at the University of Pittsburgh. A minimum GPA of 2.00 is required to graduate. A student failing to remove a D, F, G, or I grade in a required course will not graduate.

An application for graduation must be filed in the SHRS Office of Student Services at the time of registration for the term in which the student expects to complete all requirements for graduation. Students must be registered for a minimum of 1 credit in the term/session in which they plan to graduate. Students who have maintained an excellent academic record may also graduate with University honors. (See the Graduation section of this bulletin for further details.)