The Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences offers a PhD program in human movement and rehabilitation sciences. The PhD program seeks to prepare graduates to conduct independent (original) basic, translational, and applied research with the goal of creating new knowledge about neuromotor mechanisms and methods of restoring and maximizing human functional capacity and well-being across the life span. The program emphasizes core competencies in motor control and motor learning, movement measurement and analysis, knowledge translation theory, and the use of traditional and emerging technologies. The program is based on the integration of core skills and concepts across the multiple disciplines that are associated with human movement and rehabilitation sciences, coupled with the acquisition of research methodology, analyses, and skills, as well as specialization within specific areas of human movement and rehabilitation research.
The program showcases the unique faculty and research laboratories in human movement and rehabilitation sciences, as well as highly ranked programs in Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the College of Science, and the College of Engineering. Northeastern is dedicated to advancing the field of human movement and rehabilitation sciences and translating research from bench to clinic. Students benefit from our new research laboratories utilizing state-of-the-art movement and rehabilitation methods including virtual reality, ultrasound, neuroscience, neurophysiology, robotics, and movement measurement technologies.
Advanced Entry
Based on a student’s background in their preceding master's or clinical doctorate degree, core coursework and total hours for the advanced entry program may vary. The graduate program director will consider all the program requirements and applicants' previous experience when advising students on a plan of study. All students, whether entering from traditional or advanced PhD pathways, will complete the milestones as documented in the curriculum.
Please visit Bouvé College Learning Outcomes for the specific student learning outcomes for this program.
Milestones
All students, whether entering from traditional or advanced PhD pathways, will complete the following milestones:
- Annual review
- Qualifying exam
- Dissertation committee
- Dissertation proposal
- Dissertation defense
Core Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 2 |
| Interdisciplinary Seminar in Rehabilitation Science | |
| PT 7001 | Core Concepts in Rehabilitation Science and Research | 3 |
| PT 7005 | Experimental Design and Applied Statistics | 4 |
| PT 7020 | Technologies in Movement and Rehabilitation Science | 4 |
Electives
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 19 |
| |
| Human-Centered AI | |
| Biomedical Imaging | |
| Systems, Signals, and Controls for Bioengineers | |
| Design of Biomedical Instrumentation | |
| Multidisciplinary Approaches in Motor Control | |
| Research Methods in Applied Psychology | |
| Behavioral Concepts and Principles | |
| Exploring AI Trends and Tools | |
| AI in Education | |
| Physical Activity and Exercise: Prescription, Measurement, and Testing | |
| Healthcare Research | |
| AI Across the Health Sciences | |
| Biosensor and Human Behavior Measurement | |
| Data Mining for Engineering Applications | |
| Human Performance | |
| Human Factors Engineering | |
| AI in Media Industries | |
| Robot Mechanics and Control | |
| Control Systems Engineering | |
| Musculoskeletal Biomechanics | |
| Advanced Control Engineering | |
| Strategic AI for Business | |
| Responsible AI | |
| Introduction to Epidemiology | |
| Biostatistics in Public Health | |
| Intermediate Epidemiology | |
| Applied Regression Analysis | |
| Advanced Methods in Biostatistics | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Motor Control, Development, and Learning | |
| Neurological Rehabilitation 1 | |
| Applications of Biomechanics in Human Function and Movement | |
| Neurological Rehabilitation 2 | |
Dissertation
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Dissertation Term 1 | |
| Dissertation Term 2 | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
32 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
Milestones
Annual review
Qualifying exam
Dissertation committee
Dissertation proposal
Dissertation defense
Core Requirements
Based on a student’s background in their preceding master's degree, core coursework and total hours for the advanced entry program may vary. The graduate program director will consider the following program requirements when advising students on a plan of study.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 2 |
| Interdisciplinary Seminar in Rehabilitation Science (Repeatable 2 times for 1 semester hour and 4 times for 0 semester hours) | |
| PT 7001 | Core Concepts in Rehabilitation Science and Research | 3 |
| PT 7005 | Experimental Design and Applied Statistics | 4 |
| PT 7020 | Technologies in Movement and Rehabilitation Science | 4 |
Electives
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 3-4 |
| Human-Centered AI | |
| Biomedical Imaging | |
| Systems, Signals, and Controls for Bioengineers | |
| Design of Biomedical Instrumentation | |
| Multidisciplinary Approaches in Motor Control | |
| Research Methods in Applied Psychology | |
| Behavioral Concepts and Principles | |
| Exploring AI Trends and Tools | |
| AI in Education | |
| Physical Activity and Exercise: Prescription, Measurement, and Testing | |
| Healthcare Research | |
| AI Across the Health Sciences | |
| Biosensor and Human Behavior Measurement | |
| Data Mining for Engineering Applications | |
| Human Performance | |
| Human Factors Engineering | |
| AI in Media Industries | |
| Robot Mechanics and Control | |
| Control Systems Engineering | |
| Musculoskeletal Biomechanics | |
| Advanced Control Engineering | |
| Strategic AI for Business | |
| Responsible AI | |
| Introduction to Epidemiology | |
| Biostatistics in Public Health | |
| Intermediate Epidemiology | |
| Applied Regression Analysis | |
| Advanced Methods in Biostatistics | |
| Kinesiology | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Motor Control, Development, and Learning | |
| Neurological Rehabilitation 1 | |
| Applications of Biomechanics in Human Function and Movement | |
| Neurological Rehabilitation 2 | |
| Measurement and Analysis of Human Movement and Bioinstrumentation | |
Dissertation
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| Dissertation Term 1 | |
| Dissertation Term 2 | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
16 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
