Students from different rehabilitation disciplines work in a group with a person who uses a wheelchair.

The field of rehabilitation sciences is increasingly recognizing the vital role of interdisciplinary approaches in restoring function, enhancing quality of life, and promoting long-term health. A wide variety of rehabilitation professionals are essential in helping individuals recover, adapt, and thrive following injury, illness, or disability.

The MS Rehabilitation Science and Technology (MS-RST) Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) track is designed for students who wish to gain advanced knowledge in biomechanical, physiological, and/or psychological factors that contribute to prevention and rehabilitation of injury. Depending on the student’s career goal, the RS track can prepare the student for a path to various careers in healthcare, research, or teaching in higher education.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

Request Information
Loading…

Rehabilitation sciences is

an interdisciplinary field focused on understanding human function, participation, and its connection to health and well-being. It addresses limitations in human functioning associated with health conditions and encompasses various professions such as athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and more.

Students from Athletic Training, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy work with a person simulating being a patient in and Interprofessional Education Experience.
  • MS-RST RS track provides students opportunities to gain specialized knowledge in body systems (e.g. cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular) that contribute to prevention and rehabilitation of injury.
  • All students have the opportunity to participate in research, either through a thesis or capstone project experience, by working closely with a faculty advisor.
  • Faculty have a wide range of international and national experience in teaching, research, and practice.

Employment Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track rehabilitation sciences specifically.  Individuals with a MS in Rehabilitation Science can work in various professional settings such as industry, research laboratories, teaching, or healthcare.



 

To apply for the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science & Technology: Rehabilitation Sciences (MS-RST RS) track, all application materials must be submitted through the UWM Graduate Application Portal. The MS-RST RS seeks to admit highly qualified students interested in a career in rehabilitation sciences.

Application Deadline

MS-RST RS accepts rolling admissions.

Admission Criteria

Students must meet the general requirements of admission to a graduate program at UWM. As stated by the Graduate School, these requirements include:

  1. a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent as determined by the UWM Center on International Education, from a regionally accredited institution, completed before the first term of enrollment in the Graduate School;
  2. proficiency in the English language, and;
  3. a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent measure on a grading system that does not use a 4.0 scale.

Additional admission requirements include:

  1. transcripts from all university degrees/coursework;
  2. reasons statement that include a rationale and career goals;
  3. current resume or curriculum vitae, and;
  4. two letters of recommendation from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant’s recent academic and relevant work experiences.
  5. Submission of GRE scores for the MS-RST RS is optional.
    a. The general test of the GRE should have been taken within the last five years. Applicants are encouraged to complete the GRE approximately six months before application submission, if not sooner. This allows an applicant to repeat the test to increase scores if desired. Applicants are encouraged to prepare in advance for the test. Additional information (including preparation materials) is available on the GRE’s website. UWM’s institutional GRE Code is 1473. 

Prerequisites

Students applying to the MS-RST RS must have completed the following undergraduate prerequisites:

  1. statistics (3 credits);
  2. laboratory-based natural sciences (4 credits), and;
  3. psychology or sociology.

A grade of B- or better must have been obtained in each prerequisite course. Prerequisites will be verified through transcript review at the time of application. Students deemed not to have satisfied one or more of the prerequisites may be admitted on probation and complete the prerequisite(s) as deficiency credits within their first two semesters. Deficiency coursework will not count towards the MS-RST degree..

Additional Requirements

  1. The Graduate School requires that each student have a major professor to advise, supervise, and approve the program of study.
  2. Students are assigned a faculty advisor upon acceptance to the program. 
  3. The student must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years of initial enrollment.

Prospective Students

If you have questions about pursuing a career in rehabilitation sciences, reach out to:
 
Dr. Monna Arvinen-Barrow
Associate Professor
Email: arvinenb@uwm.edu
Office: PAV370

For more information on graduate programs in rehabilitation sciences at UWM, please visit https://uwm.edu/rehabilitation-sciences-technology/.

Students

At UWM, students in MS programs are assigned a Faculty Advisor upon admission. Depending on the MS-RST program track you are enrolled in, and your program of study, you will also be assigned a Capstone Project Chair or a MS Thesis Chair. It is possible that one person may serve in various roles. To avoid confusion, below you will find brief explanations of various faculty roles at UWM related to MS-RST.
 
Capstone Project Chair is a UWM faculty, who is also a member of the School of RST Graduate Faculty, responsible for supervising your capstone experience.
 
Course Instructor is a member of the UWM faculty responsible for course delivery. Depending on your program of study, your course instructors may belong to other UWM schools and colleges (e.g., counseling, engineering, kinesiology, psychology, social work).
 
Faculty Advisor is a UWM faculty, who is also a member of the School of RST Graduate Faculty, and typically responsible in assisting and guiding you throughout your studies.
 
MS Thesis Chair is a UWM faculty, who is also a member of the School of RST Graduate Faculty, and responsible for guiding your independent study courses and thesis courses.

MS Thesis Committee Member is a UWM faculty, who is also a member of the School of RST Graduate Faculty, chosen by you and your Thesis Chair to be a member of your Thesis Committee.


The MS-RST RS track provides students opportunities to gain specialized knowledge in body systems (e.g. cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular) that contribute to prevention and rehabilitation of injury. The curriculum consists of minimum 30 credits to degree and all students are required to complete either a thesis or a capstone as a culmination of their degree program.

Curriculum – Thesis Option

Core Courses (12 Credits)

Course TitleCourse CodeCredits
One of the following:
Qualitative Methods in Health Research or
Quantitative Methods in Health Research or
Evidence for Practice II or
Survey Research Methods in Public Health

NURS 882
NURS 883
OCCTHPY 542
PH 729

3
One of the following:
Educational Statistical Methods I or
Statistical Analysis in the Health Sciences or
Single Case Experimental Design

EDPSYCH 624G
KIN 702
OCCTHPY 742

3
Independent Study II PRPP 7993
Research and Thesis PRPP 8903
Core Credit Total12

Foundation Courses (6 Credits)

Course CodeCredits
Psychological Considerations for Optimizing Health & Performance
PRPP553G3
Physiological Regulation in Exertion & DiseaseATRAIN723/PT7233
Foundation Credit Total 6

Specialization Courses (12 Credits)

Course TitleCourse CodeCredits
Psychology of Injury: Prevention, Rehabilitation & Return to ParticipationPRPP 551G
3
Psychology of Personal ExcellencePRPP 552G3
Professional Studies in Sport & Performance PsychologyPRPP 8543
One of the following:
Essentials of Counseling Practice or
Multicultural Counseling or
Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Psychology or
Mentored Fieldwork in Sport and Performance Psychology

COUNS 714
COUNS 715
COUNS 814
PRPP 855

3
Specialization Credit Total12
Credit Total30

Curriculum – Capstone Option

Core Courses (9 Credits)

Course TitleCourse CodeCredits
One of the following:
Qualitative Methods in Health Research or
Quantitative Methods in Health Research or
Evidence for Practice II or
Survey Research Methods in Public Health

NURS 882
NURS 883
OCCTHPY 542
PH 729

3
One of the following:
Educational Statistical Methods I or
Statistical Analysis in the Health Sciences or
Single Case Experimental Design or

EDPSYCH 624G
KIN 702
OCCTHPY 742

3
CapstonePRPP 8953
Core Credit Tatal9

Foundation Courses (6 Credits)

Course TitleCourse CodeCredits
Psychological Considerations for Optimizing Health & Performance PRPP553G3
Physiological Regulation in Exertion & DiseaseATRAIN723/PT7233
Foundation Credit Total6

Specialization Courses (15 Credits)

Course TitleCourse CodeCredits
Psychology of Injury: Prevention, Rehabilitation & Return to Participation PRPP 551G3
Psychology of Personal ExcellencePRPP 552G3
Professional Studies in Sport & Performance PsychologyPRPP 8543
Two of the following:
Essentials of Counseling Practice
Multicultural Counseling
Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Psychology
Mentored Fieldwork in Sport and Performance Psychology

COUNS 714
COUNS 715
COUNS 814
PRPP 855

6
Specialized Credit Total15
Credit Total30


Portrait of Jennifer Earl-Boehm
  • Program Director, Athletic Training & Sports Psychology
  • Executive Committee Chair
  • Professor, Athletic Training & Sports Psychology
Wendy Huddleston 2021 Headshot
  • Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
  • Director, Physical Therapy
Portrait of Bhagwant Sindhu
  • Associate Professor, Programs in Occupational Therapy, Science & Technology
Portrait of Inga Wang
  • Professor, Programs in Occupational Therapy, Science & Technology
  • Program Director, Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy
  • Coordinator, Assistive Technology and Accessible Design (ATAD) Certificate