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  3. rsbs Fall 2022 Applicants

Fall 2022 Applicants

We welcome applicants of all abilities/disabilities, religions, marital statuses, familial statuses, sexes, ages, sexual orientations, veteran statuses, national origins, all ethnic and racial backgrounds, genetic information, and gender identities and expressions.

Admission Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and prerequisite science and math GPA of 2.5 (based on 4.0) is required for admission. The following courses are included in the science and math GPA calculation: Biology 1, Biology 1 lab, Chemistry 1, Chemistry 1 lab (if taken separately), Physics 1, College Algebra (exemption okay), and Statistics. If an applicant has taken the following courses they will also be included in the calculation: Biology 2, Biology 2 lab, Chemistry 2, Chemistry 2 lab (if taken separately), Physics 2, and Physics lab. Repeated classes are averaged.
  • 60 credits are required to begin the program.
  • Prerequisites must be completed for a letter grade, minimum grade of C- (C for transfer) unless otherwise noted; with the exception of AP/IB credits and/or exemptions awarded by the University of Pittsburgh. Courses listed below are offered at the Pittsburgh Campus, courses taken at the regional Pitt campuses or external institutions must be evaluated as equivalent to satisfy these requirements. Applications may be submitted while prerequisite coursework is in progress.
    • General Biology I and Lab, 4 credits
    • General Chemistry I and Lab, 4 credits
    • General Physics I, 3-4 credits
    • College Algebra1, 2-3 credits
    • Statistics (Applied Statistics or higher), 3-4 credits
    • Introduction to Psychology, 3 credits
    • Human Development2, 3 credits
    • English Comp/Intensive Writing (W)3,  6 credits
    • Humanities/Social Science4, 6 credits

1College Trigonometry or higher is highly recommended.
2Students are encouraged to take REHSCI 1245 Human Development. Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology are also accepted.
3ENGCMP 0200 Seminar in Composition or equivalent minimum; ENGCMP 0440 Critical Writing or ENGCMP 0540 Intro to Disability Studies recommended
4ANTH 0780 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology recommended

Application Requirements

  • Complete the application for admission
  • Upload a personal statement to your application that includes a short story describing a meaningful experience that inspired your interest in health care. Your statement should reveal your personality, values, character, and creativity, and should show us how your experiences (health care and non-health care related) make you a unique candidate for the Rehabilitation Science Program. Essays should be approximately 500-750 words in length and single or 1.5 spaced.
  • Resumes are required and must be uploaded to your application.
  • One letter of recommendation is required. A recommendation from a supervisor from a health care/disability related experience or a college faculty member is preferred. You will provide your recommender's name and email in the application portal and they will receive a system email with a link to a recommendation portal. 
  • Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended are required prior to review.
    • The SHRS admission team will pull transcripts for Pitt students. 
    • Transfer students should have provided all their transcripts to the Pitt Admissions Office when they submitted their transfer application.

Application Deadline

March 15, 2022.  Applications received after the deadline will be considered, if space is available, until May 1, 2022.

Admission Timeline

Admission decisions are available between January and April. Application review begins in January.

Additional Information

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

Please note that admission to the program is competitive. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission.