Rehabilitation Science, BS

Return to: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

The Bachelor of Science Program in Rehabilitation Science (BSRS) offers a dynamic curriculum designed to prepare students for graduate education in occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, prosthetics and orthotics, rehabilitation counseling and assistive technology, in addition to other health care professions. The program has core curriculum requirements with enough flexibility to permit students to pursue their particular interests and goals. Students are encouraged to explore other areas of academic inquiry through elective courses, minors and certificates throughout the University and abroad; to participate in clinical experiences; to involve themselves in undergraduate research; and to develop their leadership skills through participation in student organizations and community service.

Faculty who teach in the BSRS program constitute a strong interdisciplinary group of individuals from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences including representation from the departments of Emergency Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Rehabilitation Science and Technology. In addition, instructors from other Schools of the Health Sciences (e.g., Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health) teach within the program along with community leaders, clinicians and researchers with experience in selected areas.

Contact Information:

Amy Evans, MPPM
Academic Advisor and Assistant Director 
Undergraduate Program in Rehabilitation Science
Suite 5048, Forbes Tower
412-383-6644
undergradrehabscience@shrs.pitt.edu

Admission Requirements

SHRS is updating our General Education requirements. Students entering the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2021 as first-year students, students currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and external transfer students entering the upper-level programs offered at SHRS in Fall 2023, must complete the new general education requirements before graduating. Our General Education Requirements are included in our upper-level program prerequisites and curriculum requirements; therefore, changes will be reflected in prerequisites and curriculum requirements.

Students are eligible for admission to the Rehabilitation Science Program after successful completion of approximately 60 college credits including the following prerequisite courses, other admission criteria and an application. Applications will be viewed when approximately 45 credits have been completed and 15 credit are in process.

Prerequisite Courses

Requirements for students who entered the University of Pittsburgh as first-year students prior to Fall 2021 applying for Fall 2022 admission:

• General Biology (BIOSC 0150  or BIOSC 0715 ) and Lab (BIOSC 0050  or BIOSC 0057  or BIOSC 0058 ) - 4 Credits
• General Chemistry and Lab (CHEM 0110  or CHEM 0710 ) - 4 Credits
• Physics 1 (PHYS 0110  or PHYS 0174  or PHYS 0475 ) -  3-4 Credits
• Mathematics (MATH 0031  or higher) - 2-3 Credits
  Students exempt from algebra requirement with a 620 or above Math SAT or a 27 and above Math ACT
• Statistics (STAT 0200 , STAT 1000 , or higher) - 3-4 Credits
• Introduction to Psychology (PSY 0010 ) - 3 Credits
• Human Development - 3 Credits 
  REHSCI 1245 - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT  preferred; PSY 0310 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  accepted
• English Composition (Minimum ENGCMP 0200  or equivalent) - 3 Credits 
• Intensive Writing (W) (ENGCMP 0440  Critical Writing recommended) - 3 Credits 
• Social Science/Humanities (ANTH 0780  Cultural Anthropology recommended) - 6 Credits 

Total Prerequisite Credits: 34-37

Requirements for students entering the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2021 as first-year students, and students currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and external transfer students entering the upper-level programs offered at SHRS in Fall 2023:

• General Biology (BIOSC 0150 or BIOSC 0715) and Lab (BIOSC 0050 or BIOSC 0057 or BIOSC 0058 ) - 4 Credits
• General Chemistry and Lab (CHEM 0110 or CHEM 0710) - 4 Credits
• Physics 1 (PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0174 or PHYS 0475) -  3-4 Credits
• Mathematics (MATH 0031 or higher) - 2-3 Credits. Students exempt from algebra requirement with a 620 or above Math SAT or a 27 or above Math ACT
• Statistics (STAT 0200, STAT 1000, or higher) - 3-4 Credits
• Introduction to Psychology (PSY 0010) - 3 Credits
• Human Development - 3 Credits. REHSCI 1245 - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT preferred; PSY 0310 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY accepted
• English Composition (Minimum ENGCMP 0200 or equivalent) - 3 Credits
• Intensive Writing (W) - 3 Credits. Choose one course with Course Attribute “High Impact Practices” and Course Attribute Value “Writing Intensive Course.” ENGCMP 0440 Critical Writing recommended)
• Oral Communication -3 Credits. COMMRC 0520 Public Speaking preferred; COMMRC 0500, 0510, 0530 accepted
• Diversity course - 3 Credits. Choose one course with Course Attribute “DSAS General Education Requirement” and Course Attribute Value “Diversity.”
• Humanities course - 3 Credits. Choose one course with Course Attribute “DSAS General Education Requirement” and Course Attribute Value “Literature” or “Creative Work” or “Philosophical Thinking or Ethics” or “The Arts.” Consider a course in bioethics or one with a disability or health/medicine focus.
• Social Science course - 3 Credits. Choose one course with Course Attribute “DSAS General Education Requirement” and Course Attribute Value “Social Science.” Consider a course with a disability or health/medicine focus.
• Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding - 3 Credits. Choose one course with Course Attribute “DSAS General Education Requirement” and Course Attribute Value “Cross-Cultural Awareness” or “Geographic Region” or “Global Issues.” ANTH 0780 Cultural Anthropology recommended.

Total Prerequisite Credits: 43-46

Students planning to apply to graduate programs in health sciences are encouraged to complete most of the prerequisite courses for those programs (e.g., Physics 2, Biology 2, Chemistry 2, etc.) prior to admission to the Undergraduate Rehabilitation Science Program. Anatomy and Physiology (prerequisites for many professional health science programs) are included in the Rehabilitation Science curriculum.

Application Procedures

SHRS is moving to a new application platform. Please visit the SHRS website to access information about applying to enter our programs.

Required for admission: an application with all transcripts from colleges attended, a personal statement, one letter of recommendation, and a resume. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a minimum math and science prerequisite GPA of 2.5 is required (3.0 or higher GPAs are typical for admission). Please note that admission to the Rehabilitation Science program is competitive. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission.

Transfer Student Information:

Transfer students must apply to the University of Pittsburgh by completing the Office of Admission and Financial Aid’s Transfer Application and selecting Rehabilitation Science as their intended field of study. International transfer students click here. Application deadline: February 15