Rehabilitation Sciences (BS)

Bachelor of Science Degree

A Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Sciences (BS in RS) provides students with expanded knowledge of contemporary rehabilitation practice. Highlighting the use of assistive technology interventions, this innovative inter-professional program allows students from various backgrounds, such as the health sciences, engineering, and education, to support individuals with disabilities to regain functional independence. Individuals of all ages affected by a disability are interested in achieving their life goals and re-engaging in meaningful activities in their lives. Students will be able to effect change in the lives of individuals through the analysis of physical, cognitive, and perceptual skills and provide interventions using clinical reasoning and advanced analytical processes. Students will engage in hands-on learning to maximize an individual’s engagement in activities within their home, work, school and community environments.

The National Center for Education Statistics, Institute for Education Sciences, describes rehabilitation sciences as "a program that focuses on human function, disability, and rehabilitation from the perspectives of the health sciences, social sciences, psychology, engineering, and related fields." Students with an earned associate degree in engineering, architectural or interior design, video game development, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant and other healthcare and related fields may apply in order to broaden job opportunities within the health and wellness community and disability population across the lifespan.

Students will enjoy the advantage of working with inter-professional team members as they advance their knowledge in disability and assistive technology use and design. A degree in Rehabilitation Sciences prepares students for career advancement in healthcare related fields, disability rights, patient advocacy, or graduate studies in occupational therapy, or engineering-related fields. Individuals who have obtained certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant may be eligible for advanced standing in the MSOT program offered at NEIT upon partial completion of the BS in RS program.

One unique feature of this degree program is a partnership with TechACCESS, a leader in Assistive Technology located nearby in Warwick, Rhode Island. Labs are offered on-site at TechACCESS. Another feature is the hybrid format, allowing students to attend courses on campus, early evenings, a few days per week. The remainder of the program is offered online. Working professionals will enjoy the hybrid format allowing students to engage in their education with a schedule that meets their needs.

Plan of Study Grid
Term VII		Quarter Credit Hours
Choose one of the following options:		16
Option 1 (For graduates of Health Sciences AS programs)
RS 370	Introduction to Rehabilitation Sciences
RS 375	Introduction to Assistive Technology
EN 331	Research Writing in the Social Sciences (COM Core) ¹
BIO 374	Pathophysiology: A Clinical Approach ¹
Option 2 (For graduates of all other AS programs)
RS 370	Introduction to Rehabilitation Sciences
RS 375	Introduction to Assistive Technology
EN 331	Research Writing in the Social Sciences (COM Core) ¹
BIO 310	Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology ¹
	Quarter Credit Hours	16
Term VIII
RS 395	Clinical Reasoning in Rehabilitation	4
RS 413	Assistive Technology in the Classroom	4
EN 422	Advanced Writing in the Health Sciences (COM Core) ¹	4
SS 470	Applied Research Statistics	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	16
Term IX
RS 390	Functional Biomechanics	4
RS 415	Environmental Accessibility	4
Elective	300-400 Level Social Sciences Core ¹	4
BIO 440	Functional Neuroscience ¹	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	16
Term X
RS 405	Seating and Mobility	4
RS 410	Exercise Physiology II and Lab	4
MGM 310	Product and Service Marketing	4
Elective	300-400 Level Humanities or Social Sciences Core or 200 Level Foreign Language Core ¹	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	16
Term XI
RS 380	Assessment Practices in Assistive Technology	4
RS 385	Health and Wellness	4
MGM 420	Business Planning and Financial Management	4
MGM 487	Non-Profit Management	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	16
Term XII
RS 450	Capstone in Assistive Technology	4
MGM 313	Human Resource Management	4
Elective	300-400 Level Humanities Core ¹	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	12
	Total Quarter Credit Hours	92

¹: Liberal Arts Core.

Legend

C = Number of lecture hours per week
L = Number of laboratory hours per week
T = Total Quarter Credit Hours where each lecture hour per week is one credit, every 2-4 laboratory hours are one credit depending on the expected amount of pre- or post-lab work.

All bachelor’s degree students are required to take 28 credits of liberal arts and math/science courses as selected from the liberal arts core. See the course descriptions section of this catalog for a list of the core area courses.

Subject to change.

Program Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Sciences is to provide an advanced degree for students with an associate degree in healthcare or related fields, including but not limited to engineering, video game development, architectural or interior design. Through a combination of didactic and laboratory experiences, the program emphasizes hands-on application of knowledge of rehabilitation, technological interventions, environmental modifications and leadership to promote functional independence of individuals with disabilities.

Program Goals

The program goals of the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences are:

To provide experiential learning opportunities that match current practice standards to meet the diverse learning needs of adult learners.
To acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function in a leadership or advocacy role in the healthcare field.
To enhance career opportunities for students with a degree in healthcare or related fields, engineering, video game development, architectural or interior design.
To prepare students for application to graduate studies in various fields.

Program Outcomes

The graduate will:

Be prepared to function in a leadership role in a health care delivery system, education or service delivery team.
Enhance the care of individuals with disabilities, across the lifespan.
Communicate all written and oral expression of learned concepts with proficiency and function as an active member of a team.
Expand skills in problem-solving, and thinking logically, flexibly, and critically.
Advocate for individuals with disabilities, demonstrate professional ethics and standards, and respect the value of all people.
Display a commitment to professional development and life-long learning by integrating informational resources and relevant literature.

Questions & Answers

1. When do my classes meet?
Day Classes: Technical classes normally meet for at least three hours a day for up to five days a week. Classes normally begin in the early morning (7:45 a.m.), late morning (usually 11:25 a.m.), or mid-afternoon. A technical time slot may vary from term to term.

Evening Classes: Technical classes meet on the average of three nights a week, although there may be times when they will meet four nights a week. Classes normally begin at 5:45 p.m.

In addition, to achieve your bachelor’s degree, you will take a total of approximately seven liberal arts courses, which will be scheduled around your program schedule over the course of your entire program. Each liberal arts course meets approximately four hours per week. Liberal arts courses are offered days, evenings, and Saturdays.

At the beginning of each term you will receive a detailed schedule giving the exact time and location of all your classes. The university requires that all students be prepared to take classes and receive services at any of NEIT’s locations where the appropriate classes and services are offered.

When a regularly scheduled class falls on a day which is an NEIT observed holiday (Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Memorial Day), an alternate class will be scheduled as a make up for that class. The make up class may fall on a Friday. It is the student’s responsibility to take note of when and where classes are offered.

2. How large will my classes be?
The average size for a class is 15-18 students to meet the university requirements for a hybrid program.

3. How much time will I spend in lab?
About one third of your bachelor's courses consists of laboratory work. In order for you to get the most out of your laboratory experiences, you will first receive a thorough explanation of the theory behind your lab work.

4. Where do my classes meet?
Students should be prepared to attend classes at any of NEIT’s classroom facilities: either at the Post Road, Access Road, or East Greenwich campuses and off campus at TechACCESS, our program affiliate.

5. How long should it take me to complete my program?
To complete your degree requirements in the shortest possible time, you should take the courses outlined in the prescribed curriculum. For a typical six-term curriculum, a student may complete the requirements in as little as 18 months.

6. Is NEIT accredited?
NEIT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles NEIT to participate in federal financial aid programs. Some academic departments have specialized professional accreditations in addition to accreditation by NECHE. For more information on accreditation, see NEIT’s catalog.

7. Does the BS in RS Program have specialized accreditation?
No. Graduates of this program would be eligible to pursue national recognition through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society (RESNE) of North America following completion of all coursework and additional hours in the field of assistive technology.

8. Do I need a certain grade point average to enter the program?
Yes. You will need a 2.5 cumulative grade point average from your associate degree to enter the program.

9. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at NEIT to another college?
The transferability of a course is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Office of Teaching and Learning for further information.

10. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to NEIT?
Transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at regionally accredited institutions will be considered for courses in which the student has earned a "B" or above for all required courses. An official transcript from the other institution must be received before the end of the first week of the term for transfer credit to be granted for courses to be taken during that term.

Students must complete the last 60 quarter credit hours at NEIT as a residency requirement.

11. How many credits do I need to acquire my Financial Aid?
Students entering the BS in RS program will be eligible for various forms of financial aid, including loans. Most students must maintain a specific number of credits to remain full time. See your financial aid officer for additional details.

12. What does my program cost?
The cost of your program will be as outlined in your enrollment agreement and the Tuition and Fee Schedule, along with your cost for books and other course materials.

13. What kind of employment assistance does NEIT offer?
The Career Services Office assists NEIT students and graduates in in all aspects of the job search, including resume writing, interviewing skills, and developing a job search strategy. Upon completion of their program, graduates may submit a resume to the Career Services Office to be circulated to employers for employment opportunities in their fields. Employers regularly contact us about our graduates. In addition, our Career Services Office contacts employers to develop job leads.

A strong relationship with employers exists as a result of our training students to meet the needs of industry for over fifty years. No school can, and NEIT does not, guarantee to its graduates employment or a specific starting salary.

14. Where will job opportunities exist?
An exciting aspect of NEIT’s programs is that graduates can seek local, national and international employment in a variety of settings. This degree will offer graduates a wide range of job opportunities due to the concentration of both assistive technology and health care management.

Students interested in pursuing the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy offered at NEIT could be admitted to the MSOT program with advanced standing of up to 28 credits, shortening the number of terms required to complete the MSOT program.

15. Who employs an individual with this degree?
A variety of jobs exist with a bachelor of science degree in Rehabilitation Sciences. Most management positions in health care require at minimum a bachelor’s degree. This degree will include coursework focusing on health care management. The other exciting aspect of this degree program is the interprofessional networking with students of all backgrounds including rehabilitation, engineering, business, building, interior design and video game development to mention a few. Graduates of this program are sought after by industry concerned with addressing the varied needs of individuals with disabilities who are trying to live independently, work effectively, participate in education and care for themselves and others throughout their entire lifespan.

Work opportunities exist in private practice, employment agencies working with individuals with disabilities, school systems, assistive technology programs, specialists in orthopedic injuries, musculoskeletal problems, and neurological, cognitive or sensory impairments.

16. Will I actually have the opportunity to practice these skills in a real professional environment while still in school?
Yes. This program is offering lab experiences in all the disciplines involved in assistive technology and rehabilitation sciences. Students will have access to current technologies used to evaluate, provide appropriate intervention, and to make recommendations which lead to greater independence for individuals in their work, home, school, or social lives.

A special arrangement is in place to work with experts in assistive technology by a partnership between NEIT and TechACCESS, a leader in assistive technology. Students will have access to the labs and equipment used by many of the disciplines offered at NEIT including but not limited to occupational and physical therapy, building and construction, interior design, engineering, and video game development.

17. Do I need to maintain a certain grade point average?
Yes. You are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.33 throughout the program. For all terms, a grade of C+ or better must be attained in the technical, required courses (identified by course codes RS, HCM or MGM), and a minimum grade of C for all other courses, in order to advance to the next term and to graduate. Students are allowed to repeat a maximum of 3 required courses, only once, prior to withdrawal from the program. Failure to maintain this level of achievement will result in dismissal from the program.

18. What happens if I do not earn a C+ in a technical course?
Students who earn less than a C+ in any technical course (identified by course codes RS, HCM, or MGM) will be required to re-take the course the next time it is offered, which may require a wait of up to six months. If the student does not earn a C+ in the course after the second attempt, he or she will be recommended for dismissal from the program. Additional tuition and fees may be assessed and program completion may be delayed for students who must retake a course.

19. Are there any behavior standards for this program?
RS students are expected to exhibit ethical and professional behavior. This will be assessed on a continual basis and will encompass not only grades but also adherence to classroom protocol, laboratory and clinic safety, attendance, participation and preparedness for class, appearance and ability to work as a team member. Development of professional values and attitudes is inherent in the curriculum, and students will be expected to exhibit such behavior in and out of the classroom.

20. Are there any prerequisites for the RS program?
Yes. Students must have an earned associate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

21. What are the hardware and software requirements for the online portion of the Rehab Sciences program?

Minimum Computer Requirements
Type	Recommended Minimum
Operating System	Windows 10 or Macintosh OS X (10.14)
Processor	2+ GHz
Memory	4GB
Plug-ins	Adobe PDF Reader, Flash Adobe PDF Reader, Flash and others as required by specific courses
Players	QuickTime, Java Player, Java
Browser	Chrome, IE, Safari, Edge, Firefox (all latest versions)
Display	1024x768
Software	Office 365 (2016)
Internet Connection	FiOS/DSL/CABLE DSL/CABLE
Email Account	New England Tech student email account
Sound Card	Required
Other (some programs)	• A webcam (the one built into your laptop or iPad should be fine) • A microphone (built into the computer or headset is handy). • A digital camera (the one on a smart phone is fine).

Online students must be capable of installing and maintaining their own computer’s hardware and software. New England Tech does not assist students with the setup of their computers.

Information about obtaining the software (if any) will be made available to you at the start of each course.

Note: Tablets and smartphones can be convenient for reading course materials and email but will not be sufficient for doing all of your course work.

Technical Standards

In addition to the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge in the sciences and humanities, the faculty of the New England Institute of Technology Rehabilitation Sciences Program have determined that the essential requirements for the successful completion of a Bachelor of science Degree in Rehabilitation Sciences require that the student possess and be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.