Exercise and Rehabilitation Science

• Medical College of Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Zablocki VA Medical Center
• Children’s Wisconsin 
• Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin

The master of science program in exercise and rehabilitation science:

• Is a two-year, intensive program.
• Focuses on enhancing the knowledge base in rehabilitation science with thesis and non-thesis options.
• Includes core curriculum in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, rehabilitation science, statistics and advanced electives.
• Prepares students for careers in this rapidly developing and exciting field.

Who is this program for?

Designed for individuals with an interest in clinical research or future plans to pursue a post-baccalaureate clinical degree.

A master’s degree may strengthen a pre-professional student’s application for entry into physical therapy, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy or medical school. Students may choose from a variety of areas of emphasis for their degree including:

• Community wellness
• Exercise physiology
• Neuro control of movement
• Movement disorders
• Sports medicine, including biomechanics or performance enhancement

Program highlights

• Open to those with a related science major interested in strengthening their core undergraduate major with advanced course work in research and rehabilitation science.
• Students gain clinical and translational research experience in the Exercise, Rehabilitation and Movement Disorders Research Complex and also engage in community-based projects.
• Students interested in the non-thesis project option benefit from departmental interests in pediatric obesity, community wellness in underserved populations, strength and conditioning in geriatric and other special populations (such as cancer and multiple sclerosis patients) and elite athlete populations, among other topics.

Thesis options

Both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Students interested in an MS in clinical research must successfully defend a thesis consisting of a translational research project by the end of their second year. Those students pursuing a non-thesis track must present a scholarly paper in their second year.

Students graduating from the MS program will be able to:

• Deliver an effective oral presentation of the thesis or project.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of pertinent literature of the chosen topic.
• Gather, organize, analyze and report data as appropriate for the project and as defined by mentor.
• Adhere to requirements for protection of human subjects.
• Interpret results in a way that relates to the research findings and adds to understanding in the field.
• We anticipate that students who graduate from the EXRS-MS program at Marquette will be able to make a contribution to scholarship or clinical practice in the field of rehabilitation medicine.

See application details tab below for application requirements and details. Students are admitted to the program after completion of a bachelor’s degree in a science or athletic training major with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Current Marquette undergraduate students studying in a related field with a 3.0 GPA or better may apply for the accelerated degree program (ADP) during their junior year for admission into the master’s program for their senior year.

Students in the Exercise and Rehabilitation Science program typically begin their studies in the fall of each academic year. Admission is on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply early. 

Immerse yourself in an exercise and rehabilitation science research curriculum that consists of:

• 24 credits of basic science course work accepted from your post-baccalaureate clinical degree
• 70 total credits that can be completed in four years (full-time students)
• Core course work in rehabilitation systems physiology, applied neurophysiology, statistics, molecular genetics and research methodology
• Individually selected advanced electives

Who is this program for?

The doctoral program is suited for practicing physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants and nurses with post-baccalaureate degrees interested in a translational research and clinical research training.

• The doctor of philosophy builds upon the core competencies of clinical degrees (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical ethics and patient care) with course work in rehabilitation systems physiology, applied neurophysiology, statistics, molecular genetics and research methodology.
• Students have access to state of the art research techniques in the exercise, rehabilitation and movement disorders research core laboratories housed within the exercise science program and the Department of Physical Therapy.

Research includes the use of EMG, motion analysis, biomechanics, isokinetic dynamometry, fMRI, body composition, bone mineral density, diagnostic ultrasound, and acute/chronic exercise training to explore mechanisms of dysfunction and develop theories for restoring function in people with movement disorders. 

Movement disorders cross age, gender and all ethnic boundaries and include:

• Populations with multiple sclerosis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Traumatic brain injury
•  Stroke
• Cancer survivors
• Pediatric obesity
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic pain syndromes 

Students graduating from the PhD program will be able to:

• Deliver an effective oral presentation of the dissertation proposal.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of pertinent literature.
• Identify research questions or problems that are pertinent and significant.
• Gather, organize, analyze and report data using an appropriate conceptual framework.
• Adhere to requirements for protection of human subjects.
• Interpret results in a way that relates to the research findings and adds to understanding in the field.
• We anticipate that students who graduate from the EXRS-doctoral program at Marquette will demonstrate commitment to advancing the values of scholarship in their own careers and in the mentorship of others. 

See application details tab below for application requirements and details. 

Students applying to the doctoral program must have successfully completed either a master’s degree in a related discipline or a post-baccalaureate clinical degree (DPT, MPT, MP, MSN, MD, etc.) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale).

Students enrolled in the program typically begin their studies in the fall of each academic year. Admission is on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The combined PT/PhD degree track is for students currently enrolled in the Marquette Physical Therapy program. For MUPT students, they are eligible to apply for the combined PT/PhD program in the Fall of their second year of study. For details about the combined PT/PhD program, please click here.