Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy in Therapeutic Science is an interdisciplinary doctoral program designed for professionals seeking to advance knowledge and improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The program emphasizes research experience, coursework in theoretical perspectives, and the completion of a doctoral dissertation. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in research programs related to human disability.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Therapeutic Science is an interdisciplinary doctoral program that involves faculty across a variety of departments and schools at KU. It is administered through the Department of Occupational Therapy Education in the KU School of Health Professions. The program is designed for graduate students with interests in disability and quality of life requiring an integrated, interdisciplinary course of study that cannot be provided by existing programs. Typically, applicants will already have obtained a graduate degree (or accumulated 24 research-related course credits at the graduate level) and have a professional credential or identity (e.g., occupational therapist, recreational therapist, speech-language pathologist, social worker, clinical psychologist, special educator). Many are likely to be working in their chosen field related to issues of disability, but now seek to generate knowledge for understanding disability and improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The curriculum is purposely flexible to allow students to pursue this program of study while working professionally.
Outline:
- Coursework: The program consists of coursework, research experience, and the successful completion of a doctoral dissertation.
- Research Experience: Students are required to complete research experience as part of the program.
- Dissertation: Dissertation research culminates in a final dissertation examination consisting of an oral presentation by the candidate and an examination by the faculty.
- Program Structure: Degree requirements are normally completed within 4 years of admission to the program, although a maximum of 8 years is allowed.
- Core Courses:
- TS 800 Research Proseminar (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- TS 805/OTD 860 Multidisciplinary Theoretical Perspectives (Spring)
- TS 850 From Beliefs to Evidence (Fall, Spring)
- TS 900 Evolving Interdisciplinary Views of Disablement (Fall, Spring)
- TS 950 Designing Effective Knowledge Transfer (Fall, Spring)
- Dissertation Related Courses:
- TS 980 Advanced Study in Therapeutic Science (no more than 6 hours in one semester)
- TS 990 Dissertation in Therapeutic Science
- Required Elective Courses: 30 credit hours total
- Interdisciplinary electives (6 credits)
- Advanced Study electives (3 credits)
- Focused Scholarship (6 credits)
- Research (6 credits design and methods, 9 credits statistics/analysis)
- Total Hours: 60 credit hours minimum (presumes the student already has at least 24 graduate credit hours in content courses and 6 hours in research methods and analysis courses that have been accumulated toward a master's degree before beginning the Ph.D. program)
Assessment:
- Written Qualifying Exam: Successful completion of a written qualifying exam after three semesters or 18 credit hours.
- University's Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship Requirement: Successful completion of the University’s Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship requirement prior to scheduling of the Oral Comprehensive Examination.
- Residence Requirement: Successful completion of the Residence Requirement prior to the semester the Oral Comprehensive Examination is scheduled.
- TS 980 Advanced Study in Therapeutic Science: Successful completion of TS 980 Advanced Study in Therapeutic Science which includes a written preliminary examination.
- Oral Comprehensive Examination: Successful completion of the Oral Comprehensive Examination. Students are recognized as formal doctoral candidates after they have passed the comprehensive examination. The format for this examination is an oral defense of a written dissertation proposal.
- Post-Comprehensive Enrollment Requirement: Successful completion of the Post-Comprehensive Enrollment requirement, typically through continuous enrollment TS 990 Dissertation in Therapeutic Science
- Final Oral Examination (Dissertation Defense): Successful completion of the Final Oral Examination (dissertation defense). At least 5 months must elapse between the successful completion of the comprehensive oral examination and the date of the final oral examination.
- Dissertation Submission and Publication: Successful Dissertation Submission and Publication (according to Office of Graduate Studies policy).
- Minimum Credit Hours: Successful completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours including core courses, dissertation-related coursework, and interdisciplinary content coursework.
Careers:
- The program prepares graduates to assume leadership in research programs related to human disability.
- Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to articulate theory and perform scientific research.
Other:
- The department will provide a program-specific handbook to each student upon their entry into the program.
- Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change.
- Any courses taken as an equivalent must be approved by the Therapeutic Science Program Director and the Office of Graduate Studies.
