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

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 of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and American Board of Audiology Certification.

The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program is offered through the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. The AuD is the required entry-level degree for audiologists.

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 Assistant

Department of Communication Science and Disorders

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

4033 Forbes Tower

412-383-6540  

Fax: 412-383-6555

E-mail: csdadmissions@shrs.pitt.edu

www.shrs.pitt.edu/aud/

Admission Requirements/Application Process

Graduate students must have a 3.000 cumulative GPA to be eligible to graduate.

Graduate students who have completed at least 9 credits and whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.000 will be placed on academic probation and will receive written notification of this status. At this point it is the student's responsibility to meet with his or her advisor.

In order to be removed from academic probation, the student will need to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.000 within his or her next two terms of study. Failure to do so may subject the student to immediate dismissal from the program at the discretion of the Department Chair.

Students who fail to demonstrate progress toward meeting graduation requirements in a timely manner may be placed on academic probation or be dismissed from the program at the discretion of the Department Chair.

Financial Aid

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 approximately 51 credits to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. A review of successfully completed graduate coursework in the master's degree in CSD (focus in Audiology) will be conducted after being admitted to the AuD Program. 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 119 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 administers 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.

AuD Curriculum and Course Descriptions

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: 412-383-6630

E-mail: ptinfo@shrs.pitt.edu

www.shrs.pitt.edu/dpt/

Admission Requirements/Application Process

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.

Financial Aid

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 pass a written 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.

Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a three-year (9 semester) professional course of study including clinical internships.

DPT Curriculum and Course Descriptions

Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

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 and Research

School of Health and Rehabilitation Science

4019 Forbes Tower

412-383-6558  

Fax: 412-383-6535

E-mail: csdadmissions@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 PhD 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 PhD 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

Graduate students must have a 3.000 cumulative GPA to be eligible to graduate.

Graduate students who have completed at least 9 credits and whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.000 will be placed on academic probation and will receive written notification of this status. At this point it is the student’s responsibility to meet with his or her advisor.

In order to be removed from academic probation, the student will need to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.000 within his or her next two terms of study. Failure to do so may subject the student to immediate dismissal from the program at the discretion of the department chair.

Students who fail to demonstrate progress toward meeting graduation requirements in a timely manner may be placed on academic probation or be dismissed from the program at the discretion of the department chair.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Communication Science and Disorders

The PhD 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 PhD 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.

Admission Requirements

Financial Aid

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 CSD PhD students are required to take the PhD 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.

CSD PhD 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 3060), which includes student and faculty participation, invited speakers, and "think aloud" research talks by students at various stages of their research training. Students also have the opportunity to take courses in teaching and grant preparation, and to complete teaching practica.

Three formal degree requirements must be satisfied before a student initiates PhD dissertation work:

1. 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.
2. The student must complete a pre-dissertation research project, culminating in a publishable data-based manuscript resulting from a research practicum experience. This project must be completed prior to the comprehensive examination.
3. 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 must then successfully complete both the written dissertation overview (prospectus document) and file the oral examination application for admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. For details 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 PhD 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.

Admission Requirements/ Application Process

Financial Aid

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:

The student will also be expected to participate in the teaching of at least one course and show competency in the area of statistics and research methodology related to the student's area of research interest.

Areas of Study

• assistive technology
• biomechanics
• evidence-based practice and epidemiology of disability
• functioning, disability and health
• 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
• neuromuscular aspects of sports injuries

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 plan course work and other experiences to enable the student to meet program requirements and his/her academic goals.

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 Student Services Office for approval by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. A copy of this plan will be placed in the student's file.

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 Student Services Office for approval by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Preliminary Examination

Prior to taking dissertation credits, the student must demonstrate competency in the materials covered in the Core Areas - Methods of Inquiry for Rehabilitation Scientists and Core Concepts in Disability and Rehabilitation through the preliminary examination. The preliminary examination will be administered by the associate dean of graduate studies once each year, typically in 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. According to University of Pittsburgh doctoral guidelines, the Comprehensive Examination "should be administered at approximately the time of completion of the formal course requirements and should be passed at least eight months before the scheduling of the final oral examination and 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.