Rehabilitation Science

M.Sc, Ph.D

The doctoral and master's programs in Rehabilitation Science at Queen's University stress the multi-disciplinary contribution of many health professions and disciplines to rehabilitation. The two fields of study (Motor Performance in Rehabilitation and Disability & Wellness in the Community) encompass these aspects of rehabilitation. There also exists an inter-dependency between the two fields and several faculty members conduct research that spans both fields.

Students are exposed to the broadest scope of rehabilitation science and are provided with a unique opportunity to develop insight and understanding of the multidisciplinary and inter-professional aspects of rehabilitation. This approach is an innovative feature of the program and is unique to the Queen's program in Rehabilitation Science.

Our students have the opportunity to work in a variety of related facilities, including the Human Mobility Research Centre (HMRC) and at Kingston General Hospital, Hotel Dieu Hospital and Providence Care in Kingston.

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"I had a wonderful experience in graduate school at Queen's. The faculty were very supportive and the research facilities were exceptional. My program provided me with opportunities to improve my teaching skills and to present my research at national and international conferences. My doctorate from Queen's School of Rehabilitation Therapy opened the door to a post-doctoral opportunity and a tenure-track faculty position within a Canadian physiotherapy program."

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.Sc. (Rehabilitation Science): 2 years
• Ph.D. (Rehabilitation Science): 4 years

Method of Completion

• M.Sc.: course work & Master's thesis
• Ph.D.: course work, comprehensive examination and thesis

Degree Level Expectations & Learning Outcomes

MSc - view this information as a PDF (105KB)

PhD - view this information as a PDF (109KB)

Supervisors and Fields of Study

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members with whom they would like to study. Final acceptance into the program is dependent on allocation of a supervisor for the student.

• Dr. Alice Aiken: Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, health policy and health systems research.
• Dr. Brenda Brouwer: modulation of projections of corticospinal pathways, balance control during activity performance, and interactions of metabolic and cardiorespiratory systems with stroke and following interventions for stroke
• Dr. Elsie Culham: postural control - neuromuscular parameters & effect of aging, prevention of falls in seniors.
• Dr Nandini Deshpande: impact of changes in sensory functions and sensory integration process on mobility in  the elderly.
• Dr. Marcia Finlayson:  falls prevention and management among people with multiple sclerosis; fatigue management among people with multiple sclerosis or other chronic conditions; supporting caregivers (including child caregivers) of people with multiple sclerosis; use of rehabilitation during multiple sclerosis relapse recovery; developing tools/resources to translate multiple sclerosis rehabilitation research findings into clinical practice.
• Dr. Terry Krupa: processes and outcomes of communitybased mental health services and supporting the occupational lives and employment outcomes of people with mental illness.
• Dr. Rosemary Lysaght: social integration of persons with disabilities; productivity and employment in marginalized populations; disability managment in the workplace; educational strategies in the health sciences.
• Dr. Mary Ann McColl: access to health services for people with disabilities, disability policy, spirituality and occupational therapy theory.
• Dr. Linda McLean: muscle injury and its influence on function in activities of daily living; contractile behaviour and patterns of muscle activation with respect to optimal continence and sexual function in women.
• Dr. Kathleen Norman: physiotherapist education, practice, and regulation; movement abnormalities of people with central nervous system disorders.
• Dr. Trisha Parsons: cardiovascular regulation and exercise rehabilitation in individuals with end-stage renal disease
• Dr. Lucie Pelland: coordination of sensory and motor functions in motor learning by children for the execution of skilled actions in both real and virtual environments.
• Dr. Wendy Pentland: the nature of occupational performance in specific populations.
• Dr. Cheryl King-VanVlack: exercise rehabilitation and functional ability in chronic conditions (chronic pain and renal failure)
• Dr. Michelle Villeneuve: examination of cross-sector service coordination and inter-professional collaboration for the delivery of health education services, for young children with developmental delays and disabilities, and their families.

Cross disciplinary aspects

Our students have the opportunity to work in a variety of related facilities, including the Human Mobility Research Centre (HMRC) and at Kingston General Hospital, Hotel Dieu Hospital and Providence Care in Kingston, as well as many community agencies and venues.

Travel Opportunities

Depending on the project, students may need to collect data off-campus. Some sites may be within Canada, or internationally such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangledesh, etc. Students are encouraged to present their data at national and international conferences.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates from our programs have found work in clinical research, academia (research and teaching), work with professional agencies and/or funding agencies, program development at the local, national or international level, and international community-based rehabilitation.

Funding Information

The basic funding package is comprised of external awards, internal awards, teaching and research assistantships and incremental growth awards.

• M.Sc.: minimum $10,000, most students receive between $12,000 and $14,000
• Ph.D.: minimum $18,000, most students receive between $20,000 and $22,000

Additional Internal Awards: Tracey Gourlay Memorial Scholarship and Gwen Keough Memorial Scholarship

External Awards: Students are encouraged to apply for funding from one of the three major granting institutions: NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR, as well as from other related associations, depending on their area of study. Recipients of federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

Academic Prerequisites

Grades: the entire transcript is reviewed, but particular attention is given to your last 20 courses and how well you have progressed throughout your academic career.

• M.Sc.: Upper second-class standing in a degree equivalent to an honours undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or a related field
• Ph.D.: Completion of a research Master’s degree at a superior level in Rehabilitation Science or a related field

Other Requirements

• Letter of Intent
• List of all previous academic awards and publications, including abstracts and full papers

Test Requirements

If required, a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Priscilla Ferrazzi- exploring mental health and criminal justice in the Canadian Arctic...
• Heather Ridgway - choosing the right school...
• Tom Flynn - his Mum was right!...
• Claudia von Zweck (alumnist) - completed her doctorate in three years.

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