Department of Rehabilitation
and Movement Sciences
The Rutgers Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences currently houses our nationally ranked, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology. These programs are located on the RBHS-Newark campus and provide inter-professional education, research and clinical practice.
Faculty in these programs are national and international leaders in their field. They are committed to offering students opportunities for scholarship, research and professional leadership. Scholarly work by faculty and students is regularly accepted for dissemination at national and international conferences, and by top journals in our faculty members’ fields of expertise.
Graduate Programs
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree is a 109-credit, entry-level accredited program that will prepare students as generalists to provide high quality occupational therapy services to serve their patients, to be responsive to changes in health care, to expand care to underserved communities, and to engage in scholarship/research in occupational science and occupational therapy.
The Doctorate of Physical Therapy is a 2.5 year, full-time degree program that prepares students for practice in physical therapy. This long-established program – accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education since 1980 – has relationships with clinical facilities throughout the United States and internationally where students can complete their clinical rotations. With a 100% employment rate among graduates (within six months post licensure), for the past five years. Rutgers physical therapists are sought after for residency programs and clinical practice in every practice venue.
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is a 65-credit, full-time degree program that prepares students for clinical practice in speech-language pathology in a pluralistic society. This unique program emphasizes diversity, healthcare, and inter- professional education and practice. The program offers a Bilingual Competency Recognition option that enables student to assess and treat in Spanish and Korean. The first class of MS-SLP students graduated in 2023 and has a 100% employment rate.
Department Chair
Nancy Kirsch, PT, DPT, Ph.D., FAPTA
kirschna@shp.rutgers.edu
Nancy Kirsch, PT, DPT, Ph.D., FAPTA2025 Stanley S. Bergen Medal of Excellence
DPT Student Selected as Student Speaker at 2025 SHP Convocation Brianna Lally, DPT, was the 2025 recipient of the School of Health Professions Stanley S. Bergen Medal of Excellence, an award celebrating her [...]
DPT Student Selected as Student Speaker at 2025 SHP Convocation
DPT Student Selected as Student Speaker at 2025 SHP Convocation MaeKenzi Dixon, 2025 Convocation Speaker MaeKenzi Dixon, DPT was awarded the honor of serving as Student Speaker at SHP Convocation on [...]
Alma Merians is 2025 Gonfalonier Honoree
Alma Merians is 2025 Gonfalonier Honoree Rutgers School of Health Professions is proud to announce that Alma Merians, professor, associate dean, and former longtime chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences, [...]
SHP Professor Recognized for Outstanding Work Ensuring Equity in Speech-Language Pathology Services
Professor Recognized for Outstanding Work Ensuring Equity in Speech-Language Pathology Services A highly regarded researcher, mentor and professor in speech-language pathology, Jose G. Centeno was awarded a Fellowship of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for [...]
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