Rehabilitation Science

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College: College of Health and Human Services
Phone: 703-993-1950
web: rehabscience.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Guccione (chair)

Associate Professors: Harris-Love, Keyser

Assistant Professors: Herrick, Terry, Wutzke

Assistant Research Professors: Chin, Collins

The Department of Rehabilitation Science (RHBS) is a department within the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). Rehabilitation Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to understand the relationships among chronic illness, function, and disability and how to improve the quality of life for those individuals who live with a chronic condition. This field draws its body of knowledge from multiple disciplines spanning the physiological, health, and social sciences in order to approach the individual who lives with or is at risk of disability as a complete person with a full appreciation of the biopsychosocial environment in which that person functions.

The internationally recognized faculty mentor students through active involvement in their own funded research programs. Upon graduation, students are prepared for professional careers in academic, government, health care, and industrial environments. Part-time students within the PhD program are encouraged to take at least 6 credits per semester to promote timely completion of the program.

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned an academic advisor who is a faculty member within their academic department or a professional academic advisor within the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). Academic advisor assignments are listed on the CHHS website, and students are expected to meet with their advisor regularly (at least once each semester) to seek advice about academic schedules and program plans, internships, and career guidance. Students also should meet with their advisor if they are experiencing academic difficulty or personal challenges or if they are feeling overwhelmed.

All students are responsible for knowing the requirements of their major as specified in the university catalog for their catalog year; academic deadlines outlined in the semester academic calendar; and university policies and procedures as stated in the catalog.

Students also should run their own degree-evaluation to identify graduation requirements and progress towards their degree. While academic advisors can give advice to students, students are responsible for the academic planning decisions they make. Academic advisors cannot be held responsible for mistakes made by students in selecting courses that may not count toward their degree and thus delay a desired graduation date.