Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Science

The Doctor of Science (D.Sc. or Sc.D.) is a terminal doctoral degree that recognizes advanced expertise and scholarly contributions to a scientific or technical field. It conveys advanced expertise and major contributions to a field of science or technology. It is generally seen as academically equivalent to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), though more practice-oriented — emphasizing applied research, innovation and practical impacts.

Rehabilitation science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to improving function, health outcomes and quality of life for people with disabilities or chronic conditions. It encompasses applied research, clinical innovations, education and leadership aimed at advancing rehabilitation practices. Rehabilitation scientists work at the intersection of health services, technology and evidence-based interventions to enhance patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiency.

A Doctor of Science in rehabilitation science degree is a post-professional degree, which means it is open to those who already hold a professional degree, such as a bachelor’s, master’s or clinical doctoral degree. In the field of rehabilitation, the D.Sc. degree can be a career path for therapists, physicians and other rehabilitation professionals interested in science.

The D.Sc. program is designed for rehabilitation professionals who aim to integrate research, leadership and education into clinical and academic environments to drive innovation, improve rehabilitation outcomes and develop systems-level solutions to real-world healthcare challenges.

Our program is structured to meet the needs of working professionals across rehabilitation disciplines, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics/prosthetics and other rehabilitation specialties.

Clinical doctorate degrees (e.g. O.T.D., D.P.T., Psy.D., SLP.D., D.A.T.) primarily focus on developing clinical competency and preparing graduates for direct patient care. In contrast, the D.Sc. serves as an applied doctorate degree, helping develop expertise in research, education and leadership in real-world clinical and academic settings.

The D.Sc. in rehabilitation science is distinct from degrees such as the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or a Ph.D. in education or health professions education. Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs in education focus on teaching, instructional design and educational leadership. Ph.D. programs tend to emphasize basic science and discovery-based research, while the D.Sc. program focuses on real-world, practice-oriented education.

The interdisciplinary nature of the D.Sc. program prepares graduates for roles in academia, healthcare administration, clinical practice and applied clinical research. Graduates of the D.Sc. program will be equipped to:

• Lead healthcare organizations and interdisciplinary teams.
• Hold academic and faculty roles in rehabilitation science education programs, helping educate future rehabilitation professionals.
• Shape rehabilitation policies.
• Design and implement innovative rehabilitation programs, and address complex rehabilitation challenges.
• Contribute to the advancement of rehabilitation science through applied research and evidence-based decision-making.

Tuition for academic year 2026–27 is $1,440 per credit. The program takes 54 credits to complete. Some courses (up to 18 credits) are eligible for credit transfer. Each student will complete 36–54 credits, depending on transfer eligibility.

The school of medicine finalizes tuition each year in May for the following academic year, and a year-over-year increase of 3% is typical.

Yes, we have a scholarship for rehabilitation professionals interested in limb loss. The Charles “Herb” Dankmeyer Scholars Program provides full tuition support for up to two students each year whose scholarly work has strong potential to advance limb loss care through education, leadership or clinical research. Applicants to the D.Sc. program can apply for the Dankmeyer scholarship at the same time by submitting an essay.

The program length depends on the number of credits taken per semester and the number of transfer credits. A person who is enrolled part-time will earn 15 credits per year (two courses/6 credits fall and spring, one course/3 credits summer). At this rate, it will take:

• Eleven semesters (three-plus years) to complete 54 credits.
• Nine semesters (three years) to complete 45 credits.
• Seven semesters (two-plus years) to complete 36 credits.  

Time to completion also depends on the required courses and when they are offered. Please contact us to discuss your personal study plan.

Learn more about the program curriculum and structure.

Our program is designed to be part-time, with students working in their discipline throughout the program. The time expectation is 10-15 hours per week per course. Courses are 3 credits each and offered in eight-week terms. Students will typically take two courses per semester, so students will need to commit 10-15 hours per week over 16 weeks for the two-course semester.