Ph.D in Rehabilitation Science: The Profession

The PhD in Rehabilitation Science 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. Most of our graduates teach and conduct research in professional education programs in universities in Texas and across the nation. Some graduates have elected to focus on clinical research careers.

The demand for rehabilitation science faculty is high, and new faculty scholars are needed to support the projected growth of the rehabilitation professions in Texas as well as across the United States. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, athletic training, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology employment will increase by 27-37% by the year 2024. The expected growth in rehabilitation professions has resulted in a projected growth in employment of postsecondary teachers in related health specialties by about 29%.

Additional information about postsecondary teaching in health specialties is available on the Texas Career Check website.

It is a great time to be a faculty scholar in rehabilitation science!