Allied Health Sciences - College of Allied Health - University of ...

Allied Health SciencesDoctor of Philosophy Degree ProgramMaster of Science (Medical Dosimetry)Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/GerontologyStudent HandbookDepartment of Allied Health SciencesCollege of Allied HealthUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterCollege of Health Building, Room 133Phone: 405.271.1444/Fax: 405.271.35802005

Table of ContentsProgram Descriptions...........................................................................................................................3Resources for Policies and Procedures ................................................................................................3Annual Student Review Procedure ......................................................................................................3Degree Credit Hours RequirementsDoctor of Philosophy .................................................................................................................4Master of Science, Medical Dosimetry......................................................................................4Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate, Geriatrics/Gerontology ................................................4Program Specific InformationDoctor of Philosophy .................................................................................................................5Master of Science, Medical Dosimetry......................................................................................7Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate, Geriatrics/Gerontology ................................................8Appendix..............................................................................................................................................9ChecklistsDoctor of Philosophy ...............................................................................................................10Master of Science, Medical Dosimetry....................................................................................11Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/Gerontology ...........................................12Student Advisement FormDoctor of Philosophy ...............................................................................................................13Master of Science, Medical Dosimetry....................................................................................15Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/Gerontology ...........................................16Guidelines ..........................................................................................................................................17Appendix to General Examination Guidelines ........................................................................21Information and Resources ................................................................................................................23Every effort is made to provide information that is accurate at the time the handbook is prepared. However,information is subject to change at any time during the period for which the handbook is in effect. The University ofOklahoma College of Allied Health Department of Allied Health Sciences reserves the right at all times todiscontinue, modify or otherwise change its policies when it determines it is in the best interest of the departmentand program to do so.Equal Opportunity Institution: This institution, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws andregulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status asa veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment,financial aid, and educational services.Allied Health Sciences2Student Handbook

Student HandbookAllied Health SciencesThe Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Allied Health Sciences is interdisciplinary and designedto promote expansion of knowledge across disciplines and informed collaboration among disciplines.Graduates of this program will be prepared to assume leadership roles in research, education, publicpolicy, and administration of health care services.The Master of Science degree program has a specialization in Medical Dosimetry. The program isdesigned to provide registered radiation therapists with a B.A. or B.S. degree an opportunity foradvanced education, training and research and to become eligible to make application to the MedicalDosimetry Certification Board (MDCB).In response to trends in the demographics of a growing aging population and the anticipatededucational needs for professionals to prepare for service to this population, the University ofOklahoma has created the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/GerontologyProgram. The program is intended for current students and professionals in various disciplines whoare seeking to acquire basic knowledge and specialized skills needed for working with older adults. Aninterdisciplinary team model is the focus of this program.Resources for Policies and ProceduresIn addition to material contained in this handbook, each student should comply with policiesand procedures in the following:Graduate College Bulletinhttp://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/bulletin/index.htmCollege of Allied Health Student Handbookhttp://www.ah.ouhsc.edu/main/studenthandbook%5Cfall03-04Handbook%5CBinder1.pdfOUHSC Student Handbook http://www.admissions.ouhsc.edu/books/STUHAND/default.htmOUHSC Faculty Handbook Section 4 Student Policies and Serviceshttp://ouhsc.edu/Provost/faculty_handbook/PDF/FacHandbookSec4.pdfGuidelines for the Preparation of the Masters Thesis and Doctoral Dissertationhttp://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/typinginst991.docAnnual Student Review ProcedureBy June of each year the student's adviser will conduct an annual review and evaluation of theirstudents' progress in meeting degree requirements and will notify the Chair of the Departmentof Allied Health Sciences of the results. The review may include, but is not limited to,considerations such as• Progress toward meeting conditions of admission;• Completion within the prescribed period of time of those courses in which the student hasreceived the grade of I;Allied Health Sciences3Student Handbook

• Completion of core course requirements;• Completion of research course requirements if applicable;• Progress toward completing research requirements if applicable;• Timely filing of the prospectus; the general quality of research; and• Completion of the thesis or dissertation if applicable.• Grade point averageThe review also may encompass the student's broader scholarly capabilities and professionaldevelopment.The department will notify each student in writing of the student's progress and performancetoward satisfying degree requirements. If there are deficient areas, the department must specifyclearly what each student must do to receive a satisfactory evaluation and specify a time for asecond review. A copy of this letter will be sent to the Graduate Dean. The Graduate Dean willreview the student's total record and, if appropriate, the student will be placed on probation.Doctor of Philosophy, Allied Health SciencesDegree Credit Hour Requirements• All students are required to take core interdisciplinary (9 credit hours) and seminar courses(4 credit hours).• Students must participate in the seminar course each term.• There is a 12 credit hour requirement for research methods and statistic courses.• There are 12 required individualized credit hours in an area of specialization. Anindividualized program for each student will be identified to meet each student’s goals.Graduate courses from any of the departments within the College of Allied Health, theHealth Sciences Center Campus or Norman Campus may be selected. Existing areas ofspecialization are Academic Leadership, Rehabilitation Sciences and Nutritional Sciences.• At least 20 credit hours are required in original research for the dissertation under thesupervision of faculty from the College of Allied Health.• Up to 44 credit hours may be transferred from the Masters degree based on the decision ofthe advisory committee.Master of Science, Medical Dosimetry• There is a 40 hour requirement for specialization• All students are required to take 2 credit hours of seminar• All students are required to take core allied health courses (16 credit hours).• Students must participate in 17 hours in individualized program• There is a 7 credit hour requirement for research and statistic courses.Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate, Geriatrics/Gerontology• Students must complete 18 credit hours of graduate coursework which include:3 credit hours in Biology of Aging3 credit hours in Sociology of Aging3 credit hours of Psychology of Aging3 credit hours of Interdisciplinary CareAllied Health Sciences4Student Handbook

3 credit hours of Policy and Ethics, and3 credit hours of Geriatric Internship or an approved elective in an area of specialization.• A maximum of 25 percent of the minimum number of credit hours required for theCertificate may be transferred from other institutions. The coursework transferred mustrepresent valid graduate credit earned in graduate level courses from an accredited collegeor university. The credit must carry a grade of A, B, or S. The credit must be applicable tothe Certificate program. The transfer credit must not be more than six years old at the timeof admission to the Certificate program.• Up to 18 credit hours of coursework completed for the Certificate may be applied towardthe Masters of Science in Geriatrics/Gerontology.Doctor of Philosophy Degree ProgramStudent AdvisorProgram Specific InformationThe student advisor is selected in the admission process with the responsibility to:o advise, encourage, and act as an advocate for the student from the first day a student isin the program;o design an appropriate curriculum for each student and work with the student to completeand submit the Report of the Doctoral Advisory Conference to the AHS AcademicAdvisory Committee for approval;o perform an annual evaluation of the student's progress toward the degree for submissionto the AHS Academic Advisory Committee;o chair the Examination Committee; ando help the student select an appropriate dissertation advisor.Student advisers shall meet regularly with their students to(a) assist students to develop and conduct their dissertation research,(b) advise students regarding the Seminar participation requirement and(c) counsel students about expectations for advancing inquiry about research topics from onepresentation to the next.Seminar RequirementSeminar will be offered each Fall and Spring term, and all currently admitted students shallenroll in Seminar each term prior to candidacy. Four of the hours prior to candidacy will counttoward the 90 credit hours required in the program. During candidacy students shall participatein Seminar each term as a requirement for AHS 6980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation to helppromote satisfactory progress toward completion.All students should receive a seminar syllabus for each term.Seminar participation throughout a student’s plan of study is a core value of the department. Itprovides a forum for doctoral students and faculty to discuss together approaches to researchand scholarship and to advance student research interests.Allied Health Sciences5Student Handbook

Statistics and Research RequirementEach student will take at least 12 credit hours of statistics and research beyond the mastersdegree. Both quantitative and qualitative courses should be included. Additional hours may beneeded to provide a solid foundation for dissertation research and to attain knowledge for futureresearch. Students who completed a non-thesis masters degree will require additional statisticsand research coursework beyond the minimum 12 hours.Publication Requirement(Check with the department office or your advisor; requirement is in place for Fall 2005entering students.)Plan of StudyIn the first year of your program, you should complete the Report of the Doctoral AdvisoryConference http://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/docadvisory.htm with the approval of your adviserand submit the form to the Allied Health Sciences Department office (CHB 133).Student Examination CommitteeThe Student Examination Committee is established after the Report of the Doctoral AdvisoryConference is submitted and prior to the General Examination. The purpose of the committeeis too develop the General Examination and evaluation criteria; ando administer and evaluate the General Examination.The Chair of the Department of Allied Health Sciences selects the Examination Committeeafter meeting with the student and the student’s advisor to discuss their recommendations forthe Committee and forwards names to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval. Thecommittee consists of at least three members, the student’s advisor and two additional facultywho are members of the OUHSC graduate faculty. The chair of the Examination committeemust be a full member of the OUHSC graduate faculty.General ExaminationThe purpose of the general examination is to test students’ skills at being a consumer andproducer of knowledge in the field of study. Specifically the examination will evaluate thestudent's ability to synthesize, integrate, generalize, and expand upon all knowledge gainedprior to the examination including knowledge from the three general program areas: requiredcourses, specialization courses, and statistics and research methods. According to the GraduateCollege Bulletin, “students should expect that material included in this examination will gobeyond the subject matter covered in any individual course.”The General Examination consists of written and oral components. Each student’s ExaminationCommittee is responsible for developing the General Examination. The departmental GeneralExamination Guidelines are included in the appendix of this handbook. The student and thestudent’s Examination Committee Chair should consult the Graduate College Bulletin to ensureAllied Health Sciences6Student Handbook

compliance with all Graduate College requirements, including processes for the GeneralExamination.Student Doctoral CommitteeThe Doctoral Committee serves after the student successfully passes the general examinationand must be appointed by the time the student passes the general examination. Its purpose is too advise the student regarding selection of dissertation topic and research design andmethodology for the dissertation;o approve the student's research plan or prospectus;o advise and assist the student with specialty information necessary to design andcomplete the dissertation research project;o read and correct drafts of the dissertation to ensure that appropriate standards are met;ando administer the dissertation defense.Five faculty, at least three from the College of Allied Health and at least one from outside theCollege, serve on the Doctoral Committee. Three of the five committee members must holdgraduate faculty appointments with the ability to chair a dissertation committee. The student,jointly with his or her advisor, is responsible for the selection of the committee members.Names must be submitted for approval to Dean of the Graduate College through the Chair ofthe Department of Allied Health Sciences.Dissertation ResearchStudents will conduct original research under the guidance and supervision of program faculty.The doctoral dissertation is required. The 20 credits for the doctoral dissertation are based onthe full-time effort for one year including one summer.Dissertation Copy for Department OfficeEach graduate shall provide the Department of Allied Health Sciences a bound copy of thedissertation.Master of Science (Medical Dosimetry)Student AdvisorThe student advisor is selected in the admission process with the responsibility to:o advise, encourage, and act as an advocate for the student from the first day a student isin the program;o design an appropriate curriculum for each student and work with the student to completeand submit the Outline of Graduate Work to the Graduate College;o perform an annual evaluation of the student's progress toward the degree for submissionto the Graduate College;o chair the Comprehensive Examination Committee.Allied Health Sciences7Student Handbook

Student advisers shall meet regularly with their students to advise students on programrequirements and student progression.Seminar RequirementSeminar will be offered as AHS 6990, Special Studies, fall and spring semesters, and allcurrently admitted students shall enroll in a total number of 2 hours.All students should receive a seminar syllabus for each term.Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/GerontologyStudent AdvisorPlan of StudyThe student advisor is selected in the admission process with the responsibility to:o advise, encourage, and act as an advocate for the student from the first day a student isin the program;o design an appropriate plan of study for each student;o perform an annual evaluation of the student's progress toward the Certificate;Student advisers shall meet regularly with their students to(a) advise students regarding requirements and(b) counsel students about expectations for Certificate completion.An academic advisor from the student’s primary discipline may be selected to assist the StudentAdvisor and the student to advise and encourage the student and design an appropriate plan ofstudy related to the student’s primary discipline.In the first year of their program, the student should meet with their adviser to design anappropriate plan of study related to the student’s primary discipline and academic goals. Alldecisions regarding electives or internships must receive written approval from the advisor andProgram Director. All forms and written documentation that is completed regarding thestudent’s Plan of Study must be submitted to the Allied Health Sciences Department office(CHB 133).Enrollment in CoursesThe Staff Assistant of the Allied Health Sciences Department office (CHB 133) will assiststudents to enroll in coursework for the Certificate Program. Students should contact the StaffAssistant in advance of each semester to enroll in courses and should also contact her towithdraw from courses.Admission for GraduationStudents should meet with their advisor in the first month of the final semester of theirCertificate coursework to initiate the process for graduation. The advisor and student mustAllied Health Sciences8Student Handbook

Appendixnotify the Program Director and the Allied Health Sciences Department office (CHB 133) ofthe student’s intent to complete the Certificate program.Checklists:Doctoral DegreeMaster of Science (Medical Dosimetry)Certificate, Geriatric/Gerontology (working on Checklist with Graduate College)Student Advisement Form:Doctoral DegreeMaster of Science (Medical Dosimetry)Certificate, Geriatric/GerontologyGuidelines for General ExaminationDepartment of Allied Health Sciences Faculty and StaffInformation and ResourcesAllied Health Sciences9Student Handbook

College of Allied HealthDepartment of Allied Health SciencesDoctor of Philosophy Degree ProgramChecklist for Doctoral Degree(The student should check the Graduate College Bulletin to confirm that this is the most currentchecklist. The student is responsible for complying with all Graduate College and Department ofAllied Health Sciences requirements and timelines.)No later than the end of the first year of graduate study, submit a Doctoral AdvisoryConference Report to the Graduate College through the Department of Allied HealthSciences. Form is available at http://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/docadvisory.htm.When nearing completion of course work and research tools, file an Application for theGeneral Examination in the Graduate College. Provide copy to the Department of AlliedHealth Sciences. The student must apply for the General Examination at least 2 weeks beforethe exam is held. The application form is available athttp://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/genexam.htm.Within one week after the General Examination is completed, a report signed by the entirecommittee must be submitted to the Graduate Dean. Provide copy to the Department ofAllied Health Sciences. The report indicates satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance. Thesignature form is provided to the committee by the Graduate College.Establish the Doctoral Committee no later than the time the General Examination issuccessfully completed.Enroll in a minimum of two credit hours of 6980 each semester following your initialenrollment. (consult the Continuous Enrollment Requirement Section of the GraduateBulletin for detailed information). Guidelines for preparation of the dissertation areavailable at http://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/typinginst991.doc.Prepare and distribute a reading copy of your dissertation to each committee member and theGraduate College. The reading copy deadlines are printed in the academic calendarhttp://www.ouhsc.edu/admissions/.Arrange with the members of the Doctoral Committee the date, hour, and place of the FinalOral Examination. Submit to the Graduate College and the Department of Allied HealthSciences an announcement and an abstract.Within 72 hours after the defense, submit the report form with the results signed by allcommittee members to the Graduate College. Provide copy to the Department of AlliedHealth Sciences. The signature form is provided to the committee by the Graduate College.Within 60 days after passing the dissertation defense, submit your dissertation to theGraduate College. Deadlines to graduate in a specific semester are listed in the GraduationDeadline section of the Bulletin. Provide copy of the dissertation to the Department ofAllied Health Sciences.Allied Health Sciences10Student Handbook

College of Allied HealthDepartment of Allied Health SciencesMaster of Science (Medical Dosimetry)Checklist for Masters Degree(The student should check the Graduate College Bulletin to confirm that this is the most currentchecklist. The student is responsible for complying with all Graduate College and Department ofAllied Health Sciences requirements and timelines.)Non-thesisNo later than the end of the first year of graduate study, submit an Outline of Graduate Workto the Graduate College through the Department of Allied Health Sciences.Select the members of your comprehensive examination committee or in conjunction withyour graduate liaison. All committee members must have a graduate faculty appointment.At the beginning of the semester in which you expect to graduate, file an Admission toCandidacy form for the master's degree in the Graduate College (consult the class schedule forspecific deadlines). Form may be found athttp://w3.ouhsc.edu/graduate/Forms/AdmCand_&_Grad_Work.pdf. Provide a copy to theDepartment of Allied Health Sciences.In consultation with the chair of your committee, a memorandum must be submitted to theGraduate College identifying a list of all committee members, the date of the examination anda request for the Authority Form. Provide a copy to the Department of Allied HealthSciences.Within 72 hours after the comprehensive exam, submit the report form with the results signedby all committee members to the Graduate College. Provide a copy to the Department ofAllied Health Sciences.Allied Health Sciences11Student Handbook

College of Allied HealthDepartment of Allied Health SciencesInterdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Geriatrics/GerontologyChecklist for Certificate in Geriatrics/Gerontology(The student should check the College of Allied Health Bulletin to confirm that this is the most currentchecklist. The student is responsible for complying with all Department of Allied Health Sciencesrequirements and timelines.)In the first semester of coursework meet with your student advisor to agree uponan appropriate plan of study;Every spring semester meet with your student advisor to perform an annual evaluationof your progress toward the Certificate;At the beginning of the semester in which you expect to graduate, meet with youradvisor to initiate the process for graduation. Provide a copy of all relateddocumentation to the Department of Allied Health Sciences.Allied Health Sciences12Student Handbook

Student_____________________________Adviser________________________Student Advisement FormDepartment of Allied Health SciencesPh.D. ProgramGraduate hours required for admission 34Post-baccalaureate hours for graduation 90RequirementSatisfiedCourses Term offered Number of hoursrequiredMaximumnumber of hoursAHS 6113 Ethics Choices and Fall, even years 3 3ChallengesAHS 6133 Application of Spring, odd3 3Evidence Based Practice yearsAHS 6153 Teaching, Learning an Fall, even years3Technology (pending approval) (or demand)AHS 6173 Introduction to3Qualitative ResearchAHS 6193 Behavioral Approach t3LearningAHS 6233 Leadership in Allied Fall, odd years 3 3Health EducationAHS 6253 The Professorate Spring, evenyears (or demand)3AHS 6272 Accreditation 2AHS 6333 Grant Writing in Spring, even3Health Professionsyears (or demand)AHS 6950 Practicum in Allied6Health SciencesAHS 6960 Directed Readings 6AHS 6970 Seminar in Allied Each term 4 6Health Sciences*AHS 6980 Research for Doctoral20 30DissertationAHS 6990 Special Studies 6Credit hours from individualized p12(at least 6 credit hours in theCollege of Allied Health)Credit hours of research andstatistics (Both quantitative andqualitative courses should beincluded.). More may be12required depending on student’s mlevel work.*Four credit hours of enrollment are required, and students must enroll in seminar each term prior to candidacy. Participation in seminar during candidacystatus is required for satisfactory progress.Allied Health Sciences13Student Handbook

Transfer Credit for Doctoral Programs (from Graduate Bulletin 4.7.1)The acceptance of transfer credit from another institution for a doctoral degree at OUHSC is determined in accordancewith the following criteria:1. A maximum of 44 semester hours from individual courses and/or a completed degree may be applied toward adoctoral degree. Exceptions can be made for additional non-OU coursework taken by electronic media, followingenrollment in a OUHSC doctoral program.2. The coursework transferred must represent valid graduate credit earned in graduate level courses from an accreditedcollege or university.3. The credit must carry a grade of A, B, or S.4. The credit must be applicable to the degree program.5. Individual courses applied must not be more than six years old at the time of admission to the degree program. Inspecial cases, credit more than six years old may be transferred if recommended and validated by the department andapproved by the Graduate Dean. The departmental procedures to validate the student's current knowledge andcompetency must have the approval of the Graduate Dean.6. A completed master's degree, all of which is to be used, may be applied toward a doctoral degree regardless of age, ifapproved by the department/program and the Graduate Dean. The total number of credit hours transferred toward thePh.D. degree can not exceed 44 semester hours.7. Credit from a professional degree program such as the M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degree may be applied toward agraduate degree as transfer credit, provided that such courses carry a grade of A, B, or S and have been approved forgraduate credit by the academic institution of origin.8. Graduate coursework completed in doctoral granting departments at the University of Oklahoma Norman Campuswill be considered as residence credit, and upon approval of the department and the Graduate Dean, may be usedwithout limitation as credit toward a doctoral degree.9. Credit hours previously counted for one doctoral degree may not be applied toward a second doctoral degree. Nomore than six hours of transfer thesis research credit from a completed master's degree may be applied toward adoctoral degree.10. Credit by correspondence or by advanced standing examination will not apply toward a graduate degree.11. Graduate coursework taken in Tulsa from the University of Oklahoma is not considered transfer credit. OSU Tulsaconsists of five cooperating universities that provide undergraduate and graduate level courses as well as some degreeprograms. Credit taken from the other cooperating universities through OSU Tulsa is considered transfer work andmust comply with the transfer policies.12. All transfer coursework must be approved by the department and by the Graduate Dean. Departments with transferrules more stringent than those listed in this section have specified them in the departmental section of the bulletin.These more stringent rules take precedence over the general rules described in this section.Time Limits For Completing Doctoral Degree (Graduate Bulletin 4.7.3)A doctoral student who enters the OUHSC Graduate College with a bachelor's degree is expected to pass the departmentalgeneral examination within five calendar years of the student's first graduate enrollment in the department and a studentwho enters with a master's degree is expected to pass the departmental general examination within four calendar years ofthe student's first graduate enrollment in the department.A doctoral candidate is normally expected to complete all the degree requirements within five years after admission tocandidacy. Departments with shorter time limits have so indicated in the section of this Bulletin that refers specifically totheir program. Extensions greater than one year need the approval of the Graduate Dean and will require that thedepartment or program unit involved certify that the student's knowledge will be current and appropriate to the degree atthe time the degree is awarded. The procedure to be used for this determination must be approved by the Graduate Dean.Individual graduate courses, not applied toward a previous graduate degree, taken at the University of Oklahoma or atanother accredited university that is to be applied toward a doctoral degree must not be more than six years old at the timeof admission or readmission to the Graduate College. No more than 23 credit hours (transfer credit and resident credit)applied toward a doctoral degree can be more than nine years old at the time of graduation for students entering with amaster's degree or ten years old for students entering with a bachelor's degree.Allied Health Sciences14Student Handbook

Student_____________________________Adviser________________________Student Advisement FormDepartment of Allied Health SciencesM.S., Medical DosimetryRegistered Radiation Therapists holding a B.A. or B.S. required for AdmissionPost-baccalaureate hours for graduation 40RequirementSatisfiedCourses Term offered Number ofhoursrequiredMaximum numberof hoursSeminar 2 2BSE 5001, Statistical ComputerMethods Fall, Spring 1 1AHS 5113, Allied HealthStandards and Practice Fall 3 3BSE 5113, Principles ofEpidemiologyFall, Spring,Summer 3 3AHS 5122, Radiobiology andChemistry Fall 2 2AHS 5153, Foundations ofEvidence Based Practice Fall 3 3BSE 5163, Biostatistics Methods IFall, SpringSummer 3 3AHS 5232, Principles ofMedical Imaging & Pathophysiology Spring 2 2AHS 5263, Radiation Dosimetry ISpring 3 3AHS 5283, Radiation TherapyTreatment Planning Spring 3 3AHS 5483, Radiation Dosimetry IIFall 3 3AHS 5950, Practicum in AlliedHealth SciencesAHS 6264, Radiological PhysicsEach term 8Fall 4 4Allied Health Sciences15Student Handbook

Student_____________________________Adviser________________________Baccalaureate hours required for admission 120Post-baccalaureate hours for graduation 18RequirementSatisfiedCoursesStudent Advisement FormDepartment of Allied Health SciencesInterdisciplinary Geriatric/Gerontology Certificate ProgramTerm offered Number ofhoursrequiredMaximumnumber ofhoursSWK 5010 Social Gerontology Each Fall 3 3HSS 5863 Physiology of Aging or HPS 5383 Health andIllness in Old Age3 3HPS 5473 Psychology of AgingSummer,odd years 3 3AHS/NURS/OCA/PHSC 5973 InterdisciplinaryGeriatric care 3 3NURS 5053 Policy and Ethics in Nursing orEachSemesterAHS 6113 Ethics Choices and Challenges orAHS 5950 Geriatric InternshipFall, evenyears3 3Geriatric/GerontologyElective(s) – List below 3 3*Three credit hours of enrollment are required.Student SignatureDateAdvisor SignatureDateProgram Director SignatureDateAllied Health Sciences16Student Handbook

Doctor of Philosophy Degree ProgramGeneral ExaminationUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Allied Health SciencesGuidelinesIn the Department of Allied Health Sciences, the purpose of the general examination is to teststudents’ skills at being a consumer and producer of knowledge in the field of study. Specifically theexamination will evaluate the student's ability to synthesize, integrate, generalize, and expand upon allknowledge gained prior to the examination including knowledge from the three general programareas: required courses, specialization courses, and statistics and research methods. According to theGraduate College Bulletin, “students should expect that material included in this examination will gobeyond the subject matter covered in any individual course.”The General Examination consists of written and oral components. Each student’s ExaminationCommittee (see composition of Examination Committee) is responsible for developing the GeneralExamination, within the guidelines described below. The student and the student’s ExaminationCommittee Chair should consult the Graduate College Bulletin to ensure compliance with allGraduate College requirements, including processes for the General Examination.Composition of the Examination Committee:The Chair of the Department of Allied Health Sciences selects the Committee after meeting with thestudent and the student’s advisor to discuss their recommendations for the Committee and forwardsnames to the Dean of the Graduate College for approval. The committee consists of at least threemembers, the student’s advisor and two additional faculty who are members of the OUHSC graduatefaculty. The chair of the Examination committee must be a full member of the OUHSC graduatefaculty.General Guidelines1. Students apply for the General Examination when the coursework and any tools of researchare nearly complete. Only students in good academic standing are permitted to take theexamination. Students must be enrolled during the semester of the General Examination.2. The General Examination must consist of written and oral components. The oral componentis administered following successful completion of the written portion of the examination.3. Each student’s Examination Committee will administer and evaluate the General Examination.4. The Examination Committee will design an examination that measures the student's ability tosynthesize, interpret, and analyze knowledge gained throughout the course of study and willassess the student's ability to think critically, use evidence to support a position, andcommunicate complex ideas. The written examination will have three componentsa. A grant proposal to address a research question, developed by the ExaminationCommittee. (The format of the proposal should be the Presbyterian HealthAllied Health Sciences17Student Handbook

Foundation Seed Grant Guidelines and Application Forms unless the committeeidentifies a more appropriate agency grant request.)b. A paper, on a topic to be approved by the Examination Committee, of publishablequality (ready for submission) for a peer reviewed journal.c. A 6-hour examination comprised of a question designed to integrate program of studyinformation. (See Template in Appendix.)5. The student’s Examination Committee Chair will document the format/questions for theGeneral Examination and the criteria for determining if the student passes or fails the writtenand oral portions. A copy of the examination and evaluation criteria should be submitted tothe Chair of the Department of Allied Health Sciences.6. Together, the student and the Examination Committee will determine the timeline forcompletion of the written component of the examination.7. Two weeks before the written exam begins, the student will file an Application for the GeneralExamination in the Graduate College with a copy to the Department of Allied HealthSciences.8. The Examination Committee will complete its evaluation of the written examination withintwo weeks. The decision that a student passes or fails the written examination is based on theopinion of the majority of the Examination Committee members.9. If a student fails the examination, she/he may petition to the Examination Committee to takethe examination the second time. A third attempt is not permitted. The student may take theoral examination only after passing the entire written exam.10. The oral examination should be scheduled within three weeks of the time the student passesthe written component.11. The student is responsible for scheduling the date, time, and location of the oral portion of theGeneral Examination with the Examination Committee and for informing the Department ofAllied Health Sciences two weeks before the oral component is held.12. Within one week after the oral examination is completed, a memorandum indicatingsatisfactory or unsatisfactory performance on the General Examination (written and oral) andsigned by the entire Examination Committee is submitted to the Graduate Dean through theChair of the Department of Allied Health Sciences.13. If the performance on the oral examination is determined to be unsatisfactory, the student’sExamination Committee will recommend either dismissal from the PhD program or onereexamination at a time that allows for appropriate preparation of the student in the areas ofindicated weakness.14. The student’s Examination Committee Chair will give the student copies of the results of theevaluation of the General Examination and the memorandum to the Graduate Dean.Allied Health Sciences18Student Handbook

Oral Examination Guidelines1. The student’s Examination Committee will attend, administer, and evaluate the oralexamination.2. The oral examination will address areas that were not covered in the written portion of theexam and related areas and the student’s ability to self-assess performance on the writtenexamination. The oral exam also may require the student to provide rationale for content ofthe written work.3. The oral examination usually will last about 2 –3 hours.Grading the Written ExaminationAll members of the Examination Committee will read and grade each part of the written examination.The decision that a student passes or fails the written examination is based on the opinion of themajority of the Examination Committee members.Committee members will use the specific criteria established for each portion of the exam to assign agrade. The criteria for grading will be shared with the student. In general, students must receivegrades of excellent or good (A or B) to pass each part of the exam, and must pass each part to pass theoverall written examination. Students who fail one or more parts of the exam may petition to take theexamination a second time.The Examination Committee may use the following grading guidelines, adapted from the School ofManagement and Labor Relations at Rutgers University(http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~smlr/PhD/Qualify.htm).Allied Health Sciences19Student Handbook

ExcellentGoodFailThe work is thorough, insightful, and scholarly; shows an excellentknowledge of the key issues, is well-written and appropriatelyreferenced, is definitely a “pass.”The work shows that the student is well-informed on the topic,but may lack some breadth or depth, or writing may need editing,nevertheless has shown a level of competence sufficient to “pass.”The work does not show an adequate understanding of the issuesand relevant literature, the work is poorly written; the quality ofthe grant is inadequate for funding; the quality of the specializationpaper is inadequate for publication. The student requires morestudy and/or time to substantially revise the work.Examination Committee members will grade each part of the written exam within two weeks ofsubmission for grading, and will notify the Committee Chair. The Chair will compile the grades foreach part of the exam and consult with Committee members before assigning a grade of pass or failfor each part and for the overall examination. All Committee members shall participate in the gradingprocess and final result of the examination.Grading the Oral ExaminationAll members of the student’s Examination Committee will grade the oral examination according tospecific criteria developed by the Committee or may elect to use the following criteria. The studentmust receive grades of excellent or good (A or B) to pass the oral examination.ExcellentGoodFailThe student can provide good rationale for content of the writtenexamination and clearly is able to synthesize, integrate,generalize, and expand upon all knowledge gained prior to theexamination including knowledge from the three generalprogram areas: core courses, specialization, and statistics andresearch methods.The student is student is well-informed on the topics covered,but may lack some breadth or depth, and/or the student is able tosynthesize, integrate, generalize, and expand upon all knowledgegained prior to the examination, but not well in all programareas.The student provides inadequate or incorrect rationale forcontent of the written work and/or shows poor ability tosynthesize, integrate, generalize, and expand upon all knowledgegained prior to the examination work.Following completion of the oral examination, Examination Committee members will discuss thestudent’s performance. The decision that a student passes or fails the written examination is based onthe opinion of the majority of the Examination Committee members.Allied Health Sciences20Student Handbook

Appendix A: Evaluation CriteriaAPPENDIX TO GENERAL EXAMINATION GUIDELINESFaculty may use criteria for evaluating the grant from a number of funding sources, such as NationalInstitutes of Health, United States Department of Education, etc. The following criteria from the U.S.Department of Education is one example of criteria for evaluation of a research grant application.1. Significance (20 points)a. The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the proposed project, asdemonstrated thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature,b. The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase knowledge orunderstanding of identified problems, issues, or effective strategies;c. The potential contribution of the proposed project to the development andadvancement of theory, knowledge, and practices in the field of study; andd. The extent to which the results of the proposed project are to be disseminated in waysthat will enable others to use the information or strategies.2. Quality of the project design (35 points)a. The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying the proposed researchand the quality of that framework;b. The extent to which the proposed research design a high-quality plan for researchactivities, and the use of appropriate theoretical and methodological tools; to includesolid support for all independent and dependent variables and, if appropriate, a poweranalysis to justify sample size; andc. The extent to which the methods include detailed and appropriate data analyses.3. Quality of project personnel (20 points)a. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key projectpersonnel; andb. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of project consultants orsubcontractors.4. Quality of the management plan (15 points)a. The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposedproject on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines,and milestones for accomplishing project tasks;b. The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in theoperation of the proposed project; andc. The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and principalinvestigator and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet theobjectives of the proposed project.5. Adequacy of resources (10 points)a. The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources,from the applicant’s organization;b. The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project tothe implementation and success of the project;c. The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project; andAllied Health Sciences21Student Handbook

d. The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, andpotential significance of the proposed projectAppendix B: Template/Guidelines (for writing question 4.c.)This part of the written examination is intended to assess the student’s ability to engage in and displayoriginal thinking, and to integrate ideas in a coherent and critical manner. The question/s, will bebroad enough to:1. allow synthesis of information from at least three courses in the program of study andother areas;2. challenge the student to use multiple sources of information and present a comprehensiveresponse;3. require the student to reference key authors, experts or major work in the field.4. require the student to demonstrate his/her ability to think through a problem and plan byoutlining the response to the question.In writing the question, the Examination Committee may choose to develop questions that emphasizeone or more of the following elements:o Reconciling two or more opposing views in the field.o Applying new methods to existing methods or models.o Developing new or advanced theoretical or practical models.o Developing methods or programs to address new or changing problems and projectingoutcomes.o Proposing arguments that can be used to advance a new approach or way of thinking.Allied Health Sciences22Student Handbook

Information and ResourcesDepartment of Allied Health SciencesDepartment Address:Department of Allied Health SciencesCHB-133, 801 Northeast 13 th StreetCollege of Allied HealthOUHSCP. O. Box 26901Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73190Phone No: 405.271.1444Fax No: 405.271.3580Program Directors;Jan G. Womack, Ph.D. CHB-135 ext. 43403Chair, Allied Health Sciencesjan-womack@ouhsc.eduDoctor of Philosophy Degree ProgramStacy Anderson, M.S., RT (T), CMD CHB-470 ext. 41169Program Directorstacy-anderson@ouhsc.eduMaster of Science in Medical DosimetrySandra Edge-Boyd, MSW, LCSW, LSW-Admin CHB-133A ext. 43400Program Directorsandra-edge-boyd@ouhsc.eduCertificate Program in Geriatrics/GerontologyAdministrative Staff:Vernice Browner CHB-133 ext. 43403Staff Assistantvernice-browner@ouhsc.eduStaff is available from 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Staff desks, supplies and office equipment are forbusiness activities and are not available for student use. Contact the Allied Health Sciences Department office forquestions about resources for student use.Allied Health Sciences23Student Handbook

Books, Syllabi and ReadingsA list of required, recommended and supplemental references are included in each course syllabus.Some courses may also require readings that are in reference packets available for purchase or for useat the third floor reference desk of the Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library in Oklahoma City andOUHSC-Tulsa Library in Tulsa. Instructors may place supplemental readings or handouts on thecourse WebCT bulletin board from which students may make copies. Instructors may use electronicreserves. Students may not use departmental bulletin boards or email to buy/sell required books ormaterials.Electronic Media ReservesThe electronic reserve system is called ERes. The URL is: http://reserves.ouhsc.edu. Search forcourse materials by clicking on “course index” from the blue menu bar or clicking on “ElectronicReserves and Course Materials.” Pull up the materials by department, by instructor, name, or bycourse name or number using the Quick Search. Once the course is listed on the screen, click on thecourse name, number, or instructor name. A screen shows the list of materials available for thecourse. Instructors will provide information about passwords.E-MailAt OUHSC email is a primary means of communication among faculty, staff and students. Thisresource, however, must be used with respect and care. Others can easily misinterpret the intent ofwritten words without the context of body language, facial expression and tone of voice.Check your e-mail daily.Student Mail BoxesEach student is assigned a mailbox in CHB-133 in Oklahoma City. Students are responsible forcommunication placed in their mailboxes.Check your mailbox daily.Allied Health Sciences24Student Handbook