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school of health professions - student handbook 2022-2023


Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences

PhD RS Program 


SHP General Information
Review information that pertains to all students within the School of Health Professions (SHP) that is located at the beginning of the SHP Student Handbook.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Policies, Procedures, and Student Responsibilities
Review information that pertains to all students within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (DRS) that is located in the Rehabilitation Section of the SHP Student Handbook.
This section of the Student Handbook describes academic policies and procedures that are specific to the TTUHSC Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science (PhD RS) program. Student policies that are common to the School of Health Professions are provided at the following website address:

https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/current/policies.aspx


Accreditation and Program Overview
Program Information
The PhD RS program prepares students to become faculty scholars (educators and researchers) in rehabilitation science specialties that contribute to the athletic training, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professions. Program concentrations include academic and research emphases in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and Movement Sciences and Disorders (MSD). Students enrolled in the PhD RS program are officially students within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Additional information about the program is available at the following website address: 
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/phd-rehabilitation-science/default.aspx 
Accreditation Statement
Program accreditation occurs in conjunction with the accreditation of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, doctoral, and professional degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Mission Statement
The Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science program's mission is to educate students to be academic and research scholars, leaders, and innovators by providing an excellent research and teaching foundation in communication and movement sciences and disorders.
Technical Standards
The Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science (Ph.D. RS) program's technical standards are admission requirements directly related to essential functions that are considered necessary for the Ph.D.-level professionals working in academic or research settings. The ability to meet these technical standards, with or without accommodations, is required for admission to the program, and they must be maintained while the student is in the program. These technical standards may be amended over time and are subject to change.
In keeping with applicable federal and state law regarding disabilities, the program is committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform successfully. Any student with a disability who is accepted to the Ph.D. RS program must contact Student Disability Services (SDS) in the TTUHSC Office of Student Affairs as soon as possible. SDS staff will determine whether the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws and work with the program's faculty to determine reasonable accommodations.
To successfully complete the Ph.D. RS program, an individual must be able to perform the following essential functions: 
1. Observation
a. Observe participants’ activity and behavior accurately while completing teaching and research activities
b. Accurately monitor, through both visual and auditory modalities, materials and equipment used for teaching and research
2. Communication
a. Communicate effectively orally and in writing at a level that will support competent professional practice
b. Communicate professionally orally and in writing as required for course work, teaching and research activities
c. Use technology to meet the requirements of course work, teaching and research activities (e.g., computer skills including the use of word processing, spreadsheet and slide preparation software, applications for internet access, learning management systems, data capture, and analysis hardware and software, etc.)
3. Cognition
a. Comprehend, integrate, and synthesize a large amount of information in a short period of time
b. Read, comprehend, record, and interpret information accurately from tests, equipment, and records to ensure success in course work, teaching, and research activities
c. Accurately assess academic performance, teaching, and research skills in oneself and in others
4. Social and behavioral skills
a. Demonstrate respect for individual, social, and cultural differences in all people during all interactions and activities
b. Demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing situations and uncertainty during course work, teaching, and research activities
c. Conduct oneself ethically and legally, demonstrating honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions and situations
5. Motor skills
a. Sustain the necessary physical activity level required for course work, teaching, and research activities
b. Efficiently manipulate materials and equipment necessary to accomplish course work, teaching, and research activities
c. Access and utilize transportation to attend course work, teaching, research, and other required professional activities
Program Administration and Faculty
The PhD RS program is administratively operated by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (DRS), with close collaboration from the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS). Program administration consists of a Program Director from the DRS, an Associate Program Director from SLHS, and three concentration coordinators.
Core program faculty are from the DRS and SLHS. Faculty affiliated with the Communication Sciences and Disorders concentration is from the SLHS, while faculty affiliated with the Movement Sciences and Disorders concentration is from the DRS. Information about faculty can be found on the PhD RS program's website.

Student Responsibilities and Expectations
Consensual Relationships
Consensual relationships between a student and an instructor, patient, or research participant are prohibited. Refer to the policy statement on consensual relationships in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences section of the student handbook.
Facility Keys
Students may be issued key or badge access to student office spaces and research laboratories. Each student is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the facilities, including university property and equipment, personal property, and confidential records. Students must ensure that doors to unattended rooms remain locked at all times. Students must comply with university policies including reporting lost or stolen keys and badges and returning them when graduating or when no longer needed.
Membership in Professional Organizations and Attending Conferences
Students are encouraged to join one or more professional organizations that represent the student’s primary field of study or clinical interest (e.g., American Physical Therapy Association, American Academy of Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, American Occupational Therapy Association, National Athletic Training Association, American College of Sports Medicine, American Society for Biomechanics, American Association of Anatomists). Membership in one or more professional organizations and attending professional conferences are part of the socialization of an academic scholar into the profession and will assist students in maximizing their professional potential. Students are responsible for the costs associated with membership and conference attendance.  Participation in such organizations is voluntary but strongly encouraged. The PhD program offers funding assistance for university-related research travel. Contact the Program Director for information and an application form. 
Office Hours and Appointments
Students who seek a meeting with a faculty member should either attend posted office hours (if available) or contact the faculty member to set up an arranged meeting time. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and schedule a mutually acceptable meeting time. Because faculty schedules are often quite busy, students should be prepared to wait several days for an arranged meeting to take place. If after several attempts a student cannot arrange a meeting with a faculty member, the student should contact the Program Director for assistance.
Publication of Student Research
Research is an integral part of PhD study and students are encouraged to seek publication of work performed in pursuit of their degree. It is expected that the student will publish, or attempt to publish, in an appropriate peer-reviewed scholarly journal the results from the required research and doctoral dissertation projects. In research activities where close collaboration with a faculty advisor occurs, it is entirely appropriate for publications to be co-authored by students and the contributing faculty. In cases where authorship is not determined alphabetically, the student will normally be the first author in publications resulting from the student’s research. In cases of considerable revision or addition of other data, the order of authorship will be subject to mutual agreement based on the nature and extent of contributions made by the parties involved, and in accordance with accepted practices by the journal and/or in the discipline.
If a student elects to not pursue publication of a research project or dissertation within a reasonable time period after graduation (normally about one year) or the faculty member contributes substantially to the research beyond normal expectations, the faculty member may choose to pursue publication on the student’s behalf. The faculty member will list the student as a co-author according to the conventions of the journal and/or discipline involved, and the amount of additional work contributed. Issues relating to intellectual property rights will be managed in accordance with TTUHSC OP 52.06 and TTU System Regent's Rules Chapter 10.
Research Laboratories
Research laboratories associated with the PhD program have state-of-the-art equipment. Approval to use the research laboratories must be obtained from the laboratory directors, with the knowledge and consent of the PhD Program Director and affiliated concentration coordinator. Additional information about the research laboratories is available on the websites of the Center for Rehabilitation Research and the Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research:
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/research/center-for-rehabilitation-research.aspx 
https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/research/speech-language-hearing-research.aspx
Information about the research interests of faculty is available on the faculty page of the PhD RS website.
Residence Requirement
The PhD RS program is offered only in Lubbock, Texas, and is not a distance education program. Students who do not live in Lubbock are expected to travel to Lubbock when necessary to complete academic requirements.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Teaching and in some cases research assistantships are available for PhD students. These assistantships are limited in number and are awarded on a competitive basis. Assistantships are typically limited in duration to a maximum of four years. The continuation of an awarded assistantship is dependent upon academic performance, performance related to assistantship duties, and the availability of funding. A student who receives an assistantship must enroll as a full-time student.

Academic Requirements
Academic Credit Hour Requirements and Transfer Hours
The PhD RS program requires the completion of 86 semester credit hours including a 38-hour core curriculum that is required of all students and a 36-hour concentration in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Movement Sciences and Disorders. Completion of at least 12 hours of doctoral dissertation is also required. Additionally, all students must complete a research project and a comprehensive qualifying examination prior to admission to candidacy, as described below. Completion of the doctoral dissertation is required prior to graduation. See the SHP catalog for additional information about coursework requirements.
With approval, new students entering the program may transfer in up to 24 graduate hours from a different academic institution, as described below. Students must complete at least 62 graduate hours from required and elective courses in residence.
A. Students with a graduate degree in a rehabilitation science discipline may transfer up to 24 semester credit hours to the PhD program.
B. Students with a graduate degree in a related discipline may transfer up to 12 semester credit hours to the PhD program.
C. Students without previous graduate-level rehabilitation science or related course work may not be permitted to transfer any credit hours to the program.
D. The transfer of graduate credit hours will be subject to approval by the student’s Planning Committee and the Program Director. The student may be asked to provide information, such as a syllabus, about each requested transfer course.
Advising and Academic Committees
During matriculation, students will interact with many different faculty members, both within and outside of the PhD program. These faculty members will serve as advisors, instructors, and mentors to the student. The Program Director will serve as the initial advisor to all students entering the program and will continue in that capacity until the student selects a major advisor. The major advisor will be a core faculty member of the PhD program whose teaching and research areas are aligned with the student's interests and goals. The major advisor will be selected by the student in consultation with the Program Director and program faculty. The student is encouraged to identify the major advisor as early as possible and is required to select the major advisor after nearing completion of approximately 15-18 hours of course work.
Each student will be required to select and assemble a series of advising committees, as described below. The student’s major advisor, or the Program Director for the planning meeting, normally will serve as the chairperson of all committees. Committee members will be selected based on the student’s academic and research interests. Different committees may or may not include the same committee members.
A. Planning Committee: 3 members including the Program Director and other PhD RS program faculty members representing the student’s academic and/or research interests
B. Research Project Committee: 3 members including the advisor who serves as Chair of the Committee and at least one other PhD RS program faculty member
C. Comprehensive Qualifying Examination Committee: 3 members including the advisor who serves as Chair of the Committee and at least one other PhD RS program faculty member
D. Doctoral Dissertation Committee: 5 members including the advisor who serves as Chair of the Committee, 2-3 members from within the concentration area, 0-1 members from the PhD RS program, and 1 member from outside the program
Enrollment Requirements
A. Full-time Study
Full-time enrollment for PhD students varies between 9 and 13 hours in regular fall and spring semesters, and between 6 and 9 hours in full (HSC) summer semesters. Minimum enrollment required to maintain full-time graduate status is 9 hours in a regular semester and 6 hours in a full summer semester. Maximum enrollment for PhD students is 13 hours in a regular semester and 9 hours in a full summer semester. Students typically will not be allowed to enroll in more than the maximum number of hours per semester.
B. Maximum Allowable Hours in the Program
Students not making timely progress toward completion of the degree are subject to termination by the Dean of the School of Health Professions. Doctoral students beyond the maximum allowable graduate hours as determined by the Texas Legislature (129 hours) may be required to pay out-of-state tuition, regardless of residence status. Students approaching the maximum allowable hours should meet with the Program Director and their advisor to establish a plan to complete the degree promptly. Extensions must be requested in advance and must be approved by the Department Chairperson and the Dean.
C. Minimum Enrollment in a Semester and Year
The required minimum enrollment for part-time students is 3 credit hours each semester until the student is admitted to candidacy and begins enrolling in doctoral dissertation hours. After admission to candidacy, the required minimum enrollment is 2 hours each semester. Additional hours may be required depending on the candidate’s level of involvement in research, use of university facilities, and demands upon faculty time.
A minimum of 12 hours of HPPH 8000/8001 Doctoral Dissertation must be completed while working on the dissertation. The candidate must maintain continuous enrollment (except in the case of an approved Leave of Absence) throughout the dissertation process until graduation.
The minimum annual enrollment is 6 hours. If the student has met the minimum annual enrollment in fall and spring, summer enrollment is not required. If the student has not met the minimum enrollment in fall and spring, the student must enroll in summer to meet the minimum annual enrollment requirement. If the student has not met minimum enrollment requirement but cannot enroll in summer, the student must request a leave of absence.
Students are responsible for verifying their minimum number of annual and semester enrollment hours for financial aid and health insurance purposes. If the student receives a stipend, full-time enrollment in each semester (including summers) is required. If the student on a stipend cannot register in the summer, a leave of absence must be requested and continuation of funding is not guaranteed.
Grading Procedures
The PhD RS program adheres to the School of Health Professions grading policy. The specific procedures for determining a course grade will be established by each course instructor and explained in the course syllabus. Refer to the SHP grading policy: https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/current/policies.aspx 
Major Steps for Completing the PhD Degree
1. Course Work
Students must complete courses and credit hours as required by the PhD degree and as reflected on the official plan of study. A research project, as described below, must be completed as part of the required course work.
2. Research Project
A research project is required of all PhD RS students prior to sitting for the Comprehensive Qualifying Examination. The aims of the research project are to: 1) provide the student with the experiences necessary to learn how to conduct research, and 2) ensure that the student possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct research. Although not an explicit requirement for completing the research project, the student is also encouraged to submit the finished manuscript for publication.
3. Comprehensive Qualifying Examination for Admission to Candidacy
Each student is required to pass a comprehensive qualifying examination. The comprehensive qualifying examination is one of the major features of the PhD program and will encompass the academic and research emphases as indicated on the official plan of study. The purpose of the exam is to evaluate the student’s preparedness to advance to the dissertation phase of the program. Students will sit for the exam after completing all coursework and other program requirements except for the dissertation. Students may sit for the comprehensive qualifying examination while enrolled in their final semester of course work. The examination requires synthesis, evaluation, and application of knowledge acquired during the course of study in the PhD program, including formal and informal educational experiences. Consequently, satisfactory performance in course work does not necessarily guarantee successful performance on the comprehensive qualifying examination. The examination consists of written and oral components that must be completed successfully.
4. Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation represents the most scholarly work produced by a graduate student in the SHP and is the capstone event for the PhD degree. The dissertation must demonstrate a mastery of the techniques of research, a thorough understanding of the subject matter and its background, and a high degree of skill in organizing and presenting the materials. A doctoral dissertation should embody a significant contribution of new information to a subject or a substantial reevaluation of existing knowledge presented in a scholarly style. The candidate is expected to complete the work independently under the supervision of a dissertation committee and within a specified time prior to graduation.
A major steps checklist and program policies for the research project, comprehensive qualifying examination, and doctoral dissertation are available upon request from the Program Director or may be obtained from the PhD RS website.
Policy for Time to Completion of the Degree
All requirements of the PhD degree must be completed within 8 consecutive calendar years or 4 years following admission to candidacy, whichever comes first. Students who have extenuating circumstances may request an extension that is subject to approval by the Program Director and Department Chair.

Academic and Conduct Policies
Probation and Dismissal
A student will be placed on academic probation for any one or more of the following reasons:
A. Earning a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 after accumulating at least 24 credit hours in the program.
B. Earning a semester GPA of less than 3.0 at any time in the program.
C. Earning a grade of D, F, fail, or no credit in any course. If a student earns a grade of D or lower (including no credit) in any course, the student must retake the course and earn a grade of C or higher or obtain approval from the planning committee and the Program Director to take a different substitute course. Both the original and new grade will be used to calculate the cumulative GPA, and both course grades will appear on the student's transcript after retaking the course.
As per the SHP policy on Academic Probation (SHP OP ST. 04), students will be notified if they are being placed on academic probation in a letter signed by the Program Director. Copies of the letter will be provided to the student, Program Director, Department Chair, and the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
A student may be subject to dismissal for any of the following reasons:
A. Meeting the conditions of academic probation for a third semester.
B. Failing to earn a grade of C or better or credit/pass when repeating a course in which the student previously earned a grade of D, F, fail, or no credit. 
C. Failing to pass the research project proposal or defense after two attempts.
D. Failing to pass the comprehensive qualifying examination after two attempts.
E. Failing to pass the doctoral dissertation proposal or defense after two attempts.
F. Failing to complete the curriculum within the maximum allowable time.
G. Failing to complete at least 6 credit hours within each academic year.
H. Violating academic or non-academic misconduct policies of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
As per the SHP policy on Academic Dismissal (SHP OP ST. 02), students will receive an “intent to dismiss” letter generated by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs and signed by the Department Chair. This letter will provide information about the student’s right to appeal the dismissal. Copies of the letter will be provided to the student, Program Director, Department Chair, and the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. For policies and procedures related to behavioral deficiencies and misconduct, refer to the TTUHSC Student Affairs Handbook: Code of Professional and Academic Conduct.
Required Forms
Students should work with their major advisor and Program Director to ensure completion of required forms. All forms should be submitted to the Program Director for placement in the student’s file. Copies of all forms are available upon request from the Program Director and on the PhD RS website.