Health Sciences is a rapidly changing and evolving discipline, requiring highly trained, critical thinkers to solve some of society鈥檚 most important health-related problems. By working with faculty from multiple departments/programs in the College of Health Sciences, the Ph.D. in Health Sciences will provide students with hands on basic, applied and translational courses together with research laboratory or field experiences needed to solve these health-related problems.
PhD in Health Sciences Goals
Goal 1: Develop a mastery of a body of knowledge in a substantive area
1.1 Students will demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in core principles across health science disciplines.
1.2 Students will use existing scholarship to advance their depth of knowledge in their field of health sciences.
Goal 2: Develop a mastery of rigorous research methods and applicable skills
2.1: Students will critically analyze and evaluate scientific information.
2.2: Students execute scientific methods to design and complete research.
2.3: Students apply statistical procedures to manage, analyze, interpret and respond to patterns and trends in quantitative and qualitative data.
2.4: Students will disseminate scientific solutions/evidence-based care practices through effective communication to multiple audiences.
The Ph.D. program in Health Sciences is organized into graduate specialization groups that include Communicative Disorders (CMD) Human Development and Family Science (HDF), Kinesiology (KIN), Nutrition (NUT) and Physical Therapy (PT). These graduate specialization groups are described in more detail below, along with the admissions and degree requirements for Ph.D. students in Health Sciences.
January 2025
University of Rhode Island
Kingston Campus,
75 Briar Lane,
KINGSTON,
Rhode Island,
2881, United States
Applicants must have a post-baccalaureate degree in Communicative Disorders, Human Development and Family Science, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Physical Therapy or other appropriate discipline. Up to 30 credits from a previously-earned master鈥檚 degree or clinical doctoral degree may be applied toward the PhD if the prior degree is in Communicative Disorders, Human Development and Family Science, Kinesiology, Nutrition, or Physical Therapy. A minimum of 42 credits must be taken at the University of Rhode Island. Transfer credits for students with degrees in other related disciplines will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with course deficiencies will be expected to take additional coursework to ensure expertise. It is expected that the applicant will contact prospective research mentors to discuss the potential for graduate study.
Language Proficiency
Required scores on the Internet-based (iBT) and Computer-based TOEFL:
An overall score of 80 or above AND Minimum scores in the following areas: Reading: 19; Writing: 18; Listening: 17; Speaking: 18 (the suggested minimum speaking score for a teaching assistantship is 20).
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): All scores must be sent directly to URI. Required minimum score of 6.5, AND minimum scores in the following areas: Reading: 6.5; Writing: 6.5; Listening: 6.5; Speaking: 6.5 (The suggested minimum speaking score for a teaching assistantship is 7).
Duolingo English Test: Required minimum score of 105 (Score of 110 for a teaching assistantship)
Pearson Test of English: Required minimum scores are Reading 53, Writing 59, Listening 47, and Speaking 47 (62 for international teaching assistants)
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): Required minimum score of B2
Applications deadline: Fall semester - 15 July; Spring semester - 15 November.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
