Doctor of Philosophy - Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

Plan Description

This IHS Ph.D. will provide students from different disciplines an opportunity to learn how to approach complex health problems by using the expertise from their own as well as other disciplines. This goal will be achieved through completion of a common core of courses identified to provide a strong research foundation along with the ability to communicate this research to a broad audience of health scientists and professionals. These core courses will be the foundation of the Ph.D.; however, students will be able to individualize their program of study with appropriate specialized coursework as well as independent research experiences. Strengths of the faculty in IHS focus around the following: 1) Biomechanics; 2) Exercise Physiology; 3) Nutrition Sciences; 4) Health Physics; 5) Medical Physics; 6) Motor Control/Learning; and 7) Rehabilitation Sciences. 

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements

1. Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee. 
2. Bachelor’s Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
   1. Post-Master’s tracks and Advanced Certificates require a regionally accredited Master’s degree.
3. Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits). 
4. All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
   1. Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

(b) Department Admission Requirements

Students will be admitted into the program by the IHS Executive Governing Committee. Review of applicants for admission by this committee will occur after screening by the student’s mentor. Note the mentor is to be identified prior to program admission.

The minimum requirements of the Ph.D. in IHS are:

1. GPA requirements: - Undergraduates: An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher - Graduates: An overall graduate GPA of 3.25 or higher
2. Three letters of recommendation. One letter must be solicited by the applicant from their proposed mentor.
3. Online interview with the Kira platform, applicants will be emailed instructions for submission after they submit their application.
4. A curriculum vitae. The CV should include a list of the applicant’s published manuscripts, grant applications, conference presentations (posters and talks), honors and awards (academic, professional, and research-related), professional development (seminars, memberships, conference attendance), and professional experience (clinician, practitioner in discipline and university teaching).
5. A personal statement. The statement should include a description of the applicant’s research skills (devices, methods, statistics and writing), career aspiration, and specific justification for studying in the UNLV IHS program.

Applicants must have graduated from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent in a related field (e.g., biology, engineering, kinesiology/exercise science, nutrition, physics, health physics, medical physics, physical therapy, psychology, occupational therapy) at the Master’s or first-professional clinical doctoral level.

Applicants with Bachelor’s degrees may be admitted to the program but are required to take an additional 30 credits of elective, degree-appropriate coursework.

Students seeking entry to the Medical Physics Subplan must hold a Bachelor’s degree in physics, applied physics, physical science, or engineering (with an equivalent of a minor in physics) from an accredited college or university. Applicants must have taken a calculus-based general physics course (not algebra-based). In addition to this requirement, applicants must have taken at least four upper level physics courses. Examples of acceptable upper-level courses (but not limited to) include: modern physics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, atomic physics, statistical mechanics, nuclear physics and classical mechanics.

Applicants with a master’s degree from a regionally accredited medical physics program who meet the entrance requirements may be considered for admission to the program. In addition, these applicants must have taken the American Board of Radiology (ABR) part 1 exam as a condition for admission to the program. These students will be required to take an additional 27 credits of electives (determined by PhD faculty).

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s Health Sciences

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Master’s Health Sciences

Subplan 3 Requirements: Post-Bachelor’s Medical Physics

Subplan 4 Requirements: Post-Master’s Medical Physics

Subplan 3: Post-Bachelor’s Medical Physics

Total Credits Required: 90

Subplan 4: Post-Master’s Medical Physics

Total Credits Required: 60

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete the number of credits identified above.

2. Students must complete the degree with a cumulative GPA ≥3.0 and graduation must occur preferably within 6 years for students enrolling with master’s degrees and 8 years for students enrolling with bachelor’s degrees.

3. Students must obtain a B (not B-) or better in all core coursework and maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 across all coursework with no single course grade dropping below a C. A grade below B in a core class is unacceptable and, as such, the student must retake the class. If a core class is not satisfactorily passed on two attempts, the student will be dismissed from the program. If the grade is in an elective class, then the class can be retaken or replaced with another elective class.

4. Students will complete a comprehensive examination which will consist of a written and an oral examination as outlined in the program handbook. If a student fails the comprehensive examination, at least four weeks (but no more than eight weeks) must pass before scheduling a retake of the exam. If the student fails a second time, they will be separated from the program.

5. Students will also be required to complete a prospectus prior to dissertation in a focused research area. The dissertation committee will have an interdisciplinary element in that the Chair and two of the committee members will be faculty with Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Graduate Faculty status. The fourth committee member must be from outside the IHS Graduate Faculty and serves as the Graduate College Representative. Additional committee members may be added as appropriate.

6. Students will complete at least one national/international presentation as a platform or a poster from research generated during their Ph.D. program or present research generated during PhD program in HSC 710 (Interdisciplinary Seminar) or other approved venue to faculty and students.

Plan Graduation Requirements

The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public. The student must submit their approved, properly formatted dissertation to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.