The Department of Rehabilitation Science at the Medical University of South Carolina is developing a new communication sciences and disorders program and revising the physical and occupational therapy programs. Our proposal for the program addition and revisions will be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education in November. If approved, we will implement the new programs June, 1997. All three programs will be offered as masters level entry degrees. All of the programs will require three years (or 90 semester hours) of prerequisite baccalaureate course credits. After admission, students will complete a three-year ( or 136 hour) professional curriculum leading to a Master of Rehabilitation Science degree in their discipline. It is necessary to revise the occupational and physical therapy programs in order to better prepare students for the changing demands of the health care field. The curricula will meet each discipline's educational and practice requirements for accreditation, licensure and certification.

The programs' goals are to educate physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists who are strong, knowledgeable interdisciplinary team members, and competent, independent practitioners in a broad array of professional environments. Each of the three disciplines will share a core curriculum so that students will have a common knowledge base. The curriculum will allow them to be exposed to relevant concepts from each of the disciplines.

Exposure to other disciplines fosters knowledge of and appreciation for the different health professions, and better prepares practitioners to work together.