School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) was established in 1969 as the sixth school of the health sciences. The school's mission was not only to educate entry-level practitioners but also to prepare established clinicians to be leaders in their professions. Today, SHRS offers professional and post-professional education in the following areas: clinical dietetics and nutrition, communication science and disorders, emergency medicine, health information management, health information systems, health care supervision and management, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and rehabilitation science and technology. In addition, SHRS offers doctoral programs in Communication Science and Disorders and in Rehabilitation Science.
SHRS is dedicated to developing research opportunities to enable students to meet the growing needs of the health-care and rehabilitation fields. Faculty and students have access to sophisticated research equipment and laboratories, including facilities for the measurement and study of motion; balance disorders; human performance; hearing disorders; speech, language and cognitive disorders; neurophysiological parameters; wheelchair performance and design; and the HIM computer laboratory. The school has established the Center for Assistive Technology, the NIDRR Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, and the Pitt/VA Human Engineering Laboratories. Faculty provide programmatic direction in a variety of multidisciplinary centers associated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, including the Facial Nerve Center, the Jordan Balance and Vestibular Laboratory, Sports Medicine Institute, Centers for Rehab Services, LLC, and the Comprehensive Spine Center. Students have access to all on-campus health care facilities, where graduate students assist in serving clients and conducting research.
SHRS graduate programs are administered through the Departments of:
Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition
Communication Science and Disorders
Health Information Management
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation Science and Technology
SHRS faculty collaborate with faculty from other schools in the health sciences to conduct research into professional techniques, developing and extending their effectiveness.
SHRS students at all levels learn how to apply their knowledge to promote health, prevent disease, cure sickness, and effect rehabilitation of the disabled. They learn to have the utmost respect for the value and dignity of the people they serve and to recognize the importance of a humanistic approach to health care. They question accepted practices of their professions and thus develop and improve those practices, and they work as a team with other health professionals in preventing and treating disease and disability. They learn to become professional leaders in hospitals and other health care settings.
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
- Office of Admissions
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- 4019 Forbes Tower
- Pittsburgh, PA 15260
- Phone: (412) 383-1252
- E-mail: shrsadmi+@pitt.edu
- Web site: www.shrs.upmc.edu/
Admissions: Master's Degree Programs
The minimal requirements for admission into a SHRS master's science degree program are listed below (further requirements for PhD applicants and applicants to the entry-level professional Master of Occupational Therapy and the Master of Physical Therapy programs are detailed under those sections). These criteria have not been weighted or placed in order of importance:
For admission to full status, applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree or first-professional degree with an overall QPA of 3.00 or better (based on a 4.00 point scale). An applicant with less than 3.00 QPA in the overall undergraduate and professional programs but with favorable professional credentials may be considered and may be admitted to provisional status upon recommendation of the admissions committee.
For Master of Science program emphases in clinical dietetics and nutrition, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, the applicant must be licensed, registered, or certified in the respective professions.
The applicant must present a description of professional and/or educational goals that are realistically attainable during enrollment in the graduate program. An interview may be required of the applicant at the request of the admissions committee.
Letters of recommendation should address the applicant's academic, professional, and personal attributes, as well as potential for meaningful graduate study.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to the program in Communication Science and Disorders.
Decisions regarding admission will be based on an overall evaluation of all credentials, and will be made in accord with the availability of faculty and facilities necessary to meet the applicant's expressed goals for graduate study.
Application Procedures
Applicants must complete and return the application form to the SHRS Office of Admissions, including:
Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
The completed application form, including the applicant's personal statement concerning his or her goals for graduate study. Applicants are invited to submit resumes or curriculum vitae that include summaries of professional activities and achievements and listings of any continuing professional education courses attended.
Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak with authority about the applicant's suitability as a candidate for rigorous graduate study.
Scores on the GRE examination for application to the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.
A non-refundable application fee of $40 must accompany the application in the form of a check or money order payable to the University of Pittsburgh.
Additional application requirements as required by specific SHRS programs are detailed under that program's description.
Application Deadlines
All master's programs within the Department of Communication Science and Disorders have a March 20 application deadline for admission in the Fall Term. The programs in the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences have rolling admissions. (Please note: these deadlines do not apply to SHRS doctorate programs, the Master of Occupational Therapy program, or the Master of Physical Therapy Program. Consult the information listed under those program descriptions for more information.) Class size varies from program to program; therefore, it is advisable to submit applications as early as possible.
International Student Applicants
Applicants from foreign countries must follow all of the preceding admission procedures. Students applying to the Master of Science focus in the Physical Therapy program who have graduated from allied health educational programs in foreign countries must have their credentials evaluated. (See also the Graduate Admissions of International Students section in the front of this bulletin.)
Academic Standards
In addition to following the University-wide academic rules and regulations as detailed in the General Academic Regulations section of this bulletin, SHRS has a number of school-specific academic standards as well, as detailed below.
Maintenance of Active Status
All students working toward graduate degrees must be registered for a minimum of three credits in each 12-month period from the time of admission until the degree is granted. Those students who fail to observe this rule will be placed on inactive status and will have to seek formal readmission in order to continue their graduate programs. Students must register for at least one credit during the term in which they plan to be graduated.
Readmission
As detailed in the Readmission section at the front of this bulletin, a student who has not registered for at least one credit during a 12-month period will be transferred automatically to inactive status and must file an application for readmission to graduate study (including paying the application fee and submitting three letters of recommendation) before being permitted to register again.
If the requirements for successful completion of the specific graduate program in which the student was enrolled have changed during the period of non-enrollment, the readmitted student may be required to meet the revised requirements of the program that are in effect at the time of readmission. This will be decided by the chair/director of the student's particular program.
Academic Probation
When the QPA of a graduate student falls below 3.00 in any one term or period of nine credits, the student is automatically placed on academic probation. The student will have a maximum of one term of full-time study or the equivalent (nine credits) to demonstrate the ability to achieve an overall QPA of 3.00. Failure to do so will subject the student to immediate dismissal from the program. Students whose records show a disproportionate number of G, I, N, or W grades may be placed on probation or may be dropped from the program.
Non-Thesis Option
Students pursuing a master's degree with a non-thesis option are required to take six credits in an area in which they want to further their professional skills. See description of the relevant program for a description of individual requirements.
Graduation Requirements
Candidates for the degree of Master of Arts* or Master of Science from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences must, in addition to completing all course and other degree requirements, have a minimum QPA of 3.00. All students must be registered for at least one credit during the term in which they plan to be graduated. An Application for Graduation must be filed in the SHRS Office of Student Services at the time of registration for the term/session in which the student expects to be graduated. No student will be graduated with an existing F, G, or I grade in a required course. No student will be graduated who has not resolved all financial obligations with the University. Graduation caps, gowns, and hoods may be purchased from the Book Center.
* Master's students in communication science and disorders choosing the non-thesis option will receive a MA degree.
Master of Arts and Master of Science Programs
Doctor of Philosophy Programs
Entry-Level Professional Programs: MOT and MPT
Course Listings/School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty
| 
