The Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) at The Ohio State University aims to train independent scientific researchers who will make meaningful contributions to their field in research-focused careers in academia, government, or industry. The program’s mission is to develop transformative leaders at the forefront of scientific discovery with a vision to be a global leader in advancing scholarship and leadership by developing excellent interdisciplinary scientists. HRS Ph.D. students become stewards of their science by applying rigorous and ethical scientific methods and cutting-edge analytical approaches in a focused domain of science that aligns with their professional goals. Our graduates lead their disciplines by engaging in life-long research.

PhD Application

Autumn 2026: Application opens August 1, 2025 and closes November 1, 2025

Spring 2027: Application opens June 1, 2026 and closes October 1, 2026

Summer 2027: Application opens October 1, 2026 and closes February 1, 2027

Ph.D. Advisor

Finding a potential advisor is necessary for your application to be complete and is critical to your success in the Ph.D. program. Visit our MS and PhD Faculty Advisor page to find potential P-Status advisors who may be a good match for your interests.

Professional or Master’s Degree (or equivalent)

GPA

3.0+ cumulative GPA

Personal Statement

An applicant’s written personal statement should address the following:

• What type of research do you want to pursue as a Ph.D. student at Ohio State? Ideally, pose a question, define a problem, or indicate a theme you want to address as part of your graduate training. Show depth of understanding in your chosen research area and a capacity for creative, original thought. Include how/why a chosen mentor is right for you and how you fit within their research program.
• What is your motivation for pursuing a Ph.D. in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences? How is the program a strong fit for your career goals?
• What is your preparation for the HRS Ph.D. program? Discuss your background and training in the health and rehabilitation sciences field and/or related fields, along with your relevant research experience in terms of class projects, fieldwork, laboratory research, etc. For research experience, discuss your specific role in the work, the scientific questions you asked, methods, results, and conclusions. Without duplicating responses from elsewhere on the application, briefly relate your past experience to the research you would like to conduct in graduate school and to your future goals.
• What circumstances in your life have contributed to your development as an individual and a researcher? How will these experiences influence your success? Is there any other information you wish to share?

Three Recommendations

There are two components to each recommendation: 1) Prospective Ph.D. Student Attributes Survey, and 2) Letter of Recommendation

1. The Prospective Ph.D. Student Attributes Survey will be sent via Qualtrics by the HRS Graduate Program Office to each recommender’s provided email address once their contact information is submitted by the applicant on their application.
2. Letters of Recommendation should be submitted to Graduate and Professional Admissions by the recommender AFTER completing the Attributes Survey. It is crucial that letters reflect the outcomes of the survey and address at least the following criteria. Please advise your recommenders to address these in the letter:
   • Based on at least one example, provide your opinion of the applicant’s ability to think critically and problem-solve.
   • Comment on the integrity and ethical standing of the applicant and provide supporting evidence.
   • Describe any other noteworthy attributes that speak to the likelihood of the applicant’s success in the HRS Ph.D. program.

Applicants Note: Recommenders should complete the Attributes Survey first, then submit letters of recommendation after.

Writing Sample

Provide evidence of the highest standards of research the applicant has taken part in (e.g., a master’s or undergraduate honors thesis, published manuscript, etc.)

Additional Requirements

Official Transcripts

Updated CV/Resume

TOEFL (if applicable)

Application Review and Interview: The HRS Graduate Studies Committee will review only complete applications. Candidates for admission may be invited to participate in a formal verbal interview (in person or virtual), which will include at least two HRS graduate faculty.

REQUIRED COURSES

CORE (19 credits)

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 7403 Motivation in Learning and Teaching (3 credits) Autumn OR EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 7404 College Teaching (3 credits) Autumn

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7250 Teaching and Curriculum in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (3 credits) Spring (Robinson)

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES GRADUATE PROGRAM 7070 Fundamentals of Grant Writing (4 credits) Autumn

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7100 Health and Rehabilitation I (3 credits) Autumn (Buford)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7150 Health and Rehabilitation II (3 credits) Spring (Basso)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7883 Responsible Conduct of Research (3 credits) Offered every other Summer beginning Summer 2024 (Funderburg)

PRACTICUM (6 credits)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8289 Teaching (1 credit) Autumn, Spring, Summer

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8998 (Pre-Candidacy) Research (5 credits total, 1 credit per experience) Autumn, Spring, Summer

SEMINAR (at least 5 credits)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7888 (Pre-Candidacy) Grand Rounds (4 pre-candidacy credits, 1 credit per course) Autumn, Spring (Di Stasi)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8888 (Post-Candidacy) Grand Rounds (1 post candidacy credit) Autumn, Spring (Di Stasi)

RESEARCH (1-15 credits)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8999 (Post-Candidacy) Dissertation Research (1-15 credits) Autumn, Spring, Summer

COGNATE COURSES

RESEARCH METHODS AND DESIGN (AT LEAST 6 CREDITS)

Consult with your advisor and choose courses that are relevant to your area of research (the list is not exhaustive)

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP 8855 Research Methods and Design (3 credits) Autumn

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP 8877 Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation (3 credits) Spring

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP 8880 Instrumentation and Procedures for Data Collection (2 credits) Spring

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7900 Evidence-Based Practice I (1 credit) Autumn (Pottkotter) AND HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 7910 Evidence-Based Practice II (1 credit) Spring (Pottkotter & Kemp)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8200 Research Dissemination (3 credits) Summer (Hand)

HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES 8250 Advanced Statistical Methods (3 credits) Summer (Hand)

PUBLIC HEALTH: BIOSTATISTICS 6210 Design and Analysis of Studies in the Health Sciences I (3 credits) Autumn, Spring, Summer AND PUBLIC HEALTH: BIOSTATISTICS 6211 Design and Analysis of Studies in the Health Sciences II (3 credits) Autumn, Spring

PSYCHOLOGY 6810 Statistics Methods in Psychology I (4 credits) Autumn

PSYCHOLOGY 6811 Analysis of Variance (4 credits) Spring

AREA OF EMPHASIS (at least 12 credits)

Consult with your advisor and choose courses relevant to your area of research.