5 - Application and Admission Process

Prior to the submission of an application, a prospective student must identify a faculty member who has expertise in the applicant's area of interest, has authority to chair a PhD committee, and agrees to serve as the student’s major advisor if admitted.  

To choose a major advisor, you should complete the following process prior to application:
 

1. Contact the Department of Nutritional Sciences (Allen Knehans) or Rehabilitation Sciences (Carol Dionne) to determine compatibility of educational goals with the program;
2. Visit the Nutritional Sciences website or Rehabilitation Sciences website for a list of faculty and their interests and research activities;
3. To determine whether a potential advisor has the authority to chair a doctoral committee (level 4), click on the name on this list.
4. Contact potential major advisors and obtain a letter or memo of support from the faculty who has agreed to mentor.

After identifying a potential major advisor, an applicant to the AHS PhD program is evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in graded graduate coursework. The College of Allied Health does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs;
2. A baccalaureate or entry-level first professional degree relevant to Allied Health Sciences is required. Decisions about appropriateness of an application are made on an individual basis. If the applicant has earned a master's degree, it need not be in Allied Health Sciences. Each student's Advisory Committee reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of any graduate work previously completed by a student and may limit transfer credit. A maximum of 30-34 (depending on emphasis area) hours of master's degree work may be applied to the 90 hours required for the Ph.D. degree;
3. Submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended and non-refundable application fees;
4. Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - the General Test includes a Writing Assessment. A combined verbal and quantitative score of 287 (153 verbal + 144 Quantitative) or above and a minimum writing score of 4.0 are preferred.  The OUHSC institution code for the GRE is 6902.
5. A one-page career goal statement, which includes a description of how the applicant expects the program to assist in meeting career goals, and the shared interests of the mentor and applicant is required. The Admissions Committee will consider the quality of the statement and the compatibility of the applicant’s career goals with those of the program.
6. Provide contact information for three (3) individuals who will submit letters of recommendation on your behalf.  Instructions are provided in the online application.
7. If English is a second language, take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum requirements are a score of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (internet-based) within two years prior to application. The OUHSC institution code for the TOEFL is 6902.  TOEFL requirements are automatically waived for students with one of the following degrees: 1) diploma from a U.S. high school, 2) 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution, or 3) Master’s degree from a U.S. institution.
8. All international/Non US Citizen applicants are required to have all transcripts/mark sheets processed through World Education Services (WES); and
9. Submit a completed on-line application. Application deadlines are June 1 for fall, December 1 for spring, and May 1 for summer.

Decisions on admission are made by either the Nutritional Sciences or Rehabilitation Sciences Admissions Committees.  The members of the Admissions Committees are determined by the respective Departments of Nutritional Sciences or Rehabilitation Sciences.

Review and follow the instructions on the College of Allied Health General Instructions for Application.