Interprofessional Health Sciences

Program Overview

This program emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to reduce compartmentalization of health professions by training doctoral students in interprofessional competence. Students benefit from tailored interdisciplinary research and teaching opportunities, acquiring a comprehensive grasp of how health science influences individual and societal functioning. In addition to the core curriculum in interprofessional training, the Interprofessional Health Sciences program offers concentrations in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Integrative Health, and Rehabilitation and Movement Science.

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Concentrations

The Interprofessional Health Sciences degree program offers the following concentration areas. Students choosing a concentration will engage in focused research within a particular discipline, while also benefiting from the wide-ranging interprofessional curriculum.

• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Integrative Health
• Rehabilitation and Movement Science

Curriculum

The program curriculum includes core courses in research methods, interdisciplinary research, teaching and learning, and grantsmanship. Students supplement these core courses with additional training in their relevant concentration(s) and discipline(s).

Years 1-2

• Topics and Measurement in Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS 7010)
• Seminar and Practicum in Health Professions Teaching (IHS 7300)
• Professional Writing and Grantsmanship (IHS 7500)
• Additional coursework in research methods, experimental design, and statistics (identified in collaboration with the student's mentor and program director)
• Two to three research rotations (2-3 credits each)
• Electives

Years 3-5

• Ph.D. Dissertation Research

Students may transfer up to 12 credits toward these requirements, with the exception of core IHS courses. Transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate College and must:

• Be no more than nine years old
• Appear on an official transcript from an accredited institution
• Be designated as graduate-level coursework by the awarding institution
• Have been completed with a grade of B or higher

Official course descriptions are available in the UVM Catalogue. Additional program requirements are detailed in the program handbook.

Deadlines

Applications are due December 1.

Admissions

Individuals with backgrounds in a health-related discipline, such as kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise science, movement science, communication sciences and disorders, rehabilitation science, nursing, biomedical science, or laboratory science, are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must identify a primary mentor before submitting an application. Review the list of Program Faculty and contact prospective faculty mentors before applying to determine their availability, assess mentor-student fit, and discuss potential funding support.

Applications must be submitted online through the UVM Graduate College. The application requires:

• A completed application and application fee
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from a UVM faculty member who has agreed to serve as the applicant's Ph.D. mentor if admitted to the program
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• A statement of purpose
• Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English

Accepted English proficiency tests and minimum scores include:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum score of 100
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 7.0
• Duolingo English Test: minimum score of 120

Applicants are expected to hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, which typically includes 16 years of formal education. Complete application instructions for international students are available on the UVM Graduate College website.

Review of Graduate Applications

The admissions committee evaluates all completed applications and conducts interviews with selected candidates. Application reviews consider academic preparation, research experience, teaching experience, funding potential, and mentor-student fit. Official transcripts are required to verify previously earned degrees. Final admission decisions are based on the overall application review and interview.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Program Director Emily Coderre (emily.coderre@med.uvm.edu) before applying.

Outcomes

Students are expected to achieve competencies in areas of research, interprofessional content, teaching, and policy.

Research Competencies

• Apply research methods
• Demonstrate skill in scientific inquiry in research rotations
• Communicate scientific content appropriate to professional publication and grant submission

Interprofessional Content Competencies

• Utilize the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (the ICF model) to develop a research strategic plan that can be sustained throughout one’s professional career
• Apply the ICF and relevant research to the scholarly investigation of important issues and problems related to human functioning and rehabilitation
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams of researchers, educators, and students to integrate a variety of perspectives in addressing scholarly problems in human functioning and rehabilitation
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in an area related to human functioning or rehabilitation

Teaching Competency

• Integrate evidence-based teaching methods to develop learning experiences for teaching other students in a supervised classroom setting

Policy Competency

• Explain the impacts of health care and education policy and regulations on delivery systems and health outcomes

Candidates will demonstrate these competencies by:

• Developing and submitting a research proposal for an internal or external grant competition
• Disseminating results of scholarly work in which the candidate has played a significant role through oral presentation at one or more professional meetings
• Publishing at least one peer-reviewed publication on which they are first author
• Teaching at least one course under the mentorship of a faculty member, or serving as a teaching assistant for at least one course and mentoring or co-mentoring an undergraduate or master’s degree research project
• Analyzing a delivery system or policy process affecting health and human performance of individuals with a selected health condition

Costs and Funding

A limited number of competitive graduate assistantships may be available each year. Assistantship recipients receive a stipend for up to four years, along with full tuition coverage. After this period, students are expected to secure funding through faculty research grants, doctoral research grants, training grants, teaching opportunities, or clinical practice and supervision opportunities.

Students may also receive support through non-program funding sources, such as faculty research grants, doctoral student research grants, or training grants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss funding opportunities with their identified faculty mentor before submitting an application.

Tuition coverage is available to all enrolled full-time students, regardless of whether they receive a graduate assistantship. Tuition coverage is not available to part-time students.

For current information about tuition and fees, please contact Student Financial Services.

More

Full details about the program, including forms and policies, are available in the Program Handbook.

 View Interprofessional Health Sciences program handbook (PDF)

Program Faculty

Our faculty expertise involves clinical populations representing national and global health epidemics, including movement disorders associated with neurodegenerative disease, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and Down syndrome, pediatric and adult obesity, and aging and fall risk. Additionally, a number of basic research faculty are utilizing molecular biology approaches to understanding the pathogenesis of human diseases, like cancer, infection and autoimmunity.

Meet our faculty 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Is the Program?

The program includes a two-year pre-candidacy phase during which students complete required coursework, participate in faculty lab rotations to gain interdisciplinary training, and develop experience in both academic and research activities. This phase is designed to support interprofessional education.

After successfully completing the qualifying examination and advancing to candidacy, students complete 20 credits of original dissertation research. The candidacy phase typically lasts 1.5 to 3 years.

Can I Take Classes Online or Part-Time?

All core IHS courses are offered in person during daytime hours. Depending on the electives and additional coursework selected, students may have access to evening classes, online courses, and/or intensive summer sessions. Laboratory research activities take place throughout the year.

International students should contact UVM International Student Services for information about maintaining immigration status.

The program is designed as a full-time, in-person program. Part-time enrollment may be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, tuition coverage is not available for part-time students.

Is an Interview Required?

Yes. Selected applicants are required to participate in an interview as part of the admissions process.

Meet current Ph.D. candidates