Rehabilitation Sciences, BS

Program Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

Program Mission

The bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences program’s mission is to provide an advanced degree for those with an associate-level education in healthcare or related fields, including but not limited to video game development, architectural or interior design.

Through a combination of didactic and laboratory experiences, the program emphasizes the hands-on application of knowledge of rehabilitation, technological interventions, environmental modifications, and leadership in promoting the functional independence of individuals with disabilities.

Program Goals

The goals of the Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Sciences are:

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

Program Outcomes

The graduate will:

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

Courses Offered

We have developed a wide-ranging curriculum of health and wellness courses as part of our Rehabilitation Science undergraduate program. Students gain the experience and instruction needed to succeed in different areas, including physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and more. Courses include:

• Introduction to Rehabilitation Sciences
• Introduction to Assistive Technology
• Assessment Practices in Assistive Technology
• Health and Wellness
• Functional Biomechanics
• Clinical Reasoning in Rehabilitation
• Exercise Physiology
• Seating and Mobility
• Assistive Technology in the Classroom
• Environmental Accessibility
• Pathophysiology: A Clinical Approach (for graduates of Health Sciences programs) or Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology (all other AS programs)
• Functional Neuroscience
• Research Writing in the Social Sciences
• Writing in the Health Sciences
• Applied Research Statistics

For the latest listing of courses offered, please review our University Catalog here.

Q&A and Technical Standards

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 College 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?
    

    	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:	1024×768
    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.

Cognitive Abilities

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

C          To process, synthesize, organize and learn new material.

C          To plan a variety of activities.

C          To obtain information for processing through primary senses.

C          To problem solve independently.

F          To utilize basic math concepts for measurement and construction tasks.

C          To imitate or mimic role modeling.

C          To follow written or verbal instructions.

Communications Skills

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

F          To communicate effectively with faculty, patients, staff and other professionals.

F          To orally report data and observations.

F          To read English sufficiently to understand and comprehend college level text books, written protocols, documentation in patient’s chart, information necessary for documentation, evaluation, and package directions.

F          To write English sufficiently to record legibly, course assignments and provide documentation for patient’s chart.

F          To express thoughts clearly.

Adaptive Skills

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

C         To adjust to a variety of individuals and their distinct needs.

C         To maintain a professional attitude during all work performance.

F          To adjust to changes in scheduling and flexibility to meet department or facility needs.

C         To respect the integrity of all human beings and right for all individuals to receive appropriate treatment.

F          To identify one’s own strengths and weaknesses and to request assistance when needed.

C         To maintain emotional stability and the maturity necessary to interact with other members of the faculty, students and professionals in a responsible manner.

Physical Abilities

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

F          To lift to carry or maneuver equipment weighing up to 60 lbs.

O         To transfer or maneuver individuals weighing up to 200 lbs.

F          To transfer patients to heights of up to 19 inches by lifting.

F          To lift sufficiently to assist patients with mobility.

O         To stoop to adjust equipment, work with wheelchair adjustments, perform household training and pediatric service intervention.

O         To kneel to assist patients who may fall or to work in pediatrics.

O         To crouch to adjust equipment, wheelchairs and ADL to reach into supply cabinets.

F          To crawl to provide pediatric treatments and work on mat activities.

F          To reach to obtain items overhead.

F          To reach to use adaptive equipment for training and physical skills training for ROM and ADL function.

C          To be mobile within the work facility.

C          To move from sitting to standing, walking and weight shifting to assist in the maintenance of a patient’s posture or position for treatment intervention.

Manual Abilities

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

C          To manipulate fine motor tasks for testing and treatment; modalities.

F          To locate and palpate correct anatomical location for treatment.

F          To assess changes in muscle tone

C          To use assistive technology, computer, typing, writing for documentation.

C          Gross motor skills sufficient to guide patients in physical skills development to manage patients during transport, transfer training, bedside treatment and some ADL tasks.

F          Sufficient manual dexterity and mobility to move wheelchairs, stools, mirrors, other equipment independently for treatment and evaluative purposes.

C          Sufficient motor function and sensory abilities to participate effectively in the classroom laboratory and clinical setting.

Sensory Abilities

Frequency*                                      Ability

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

Visual

C          To observe patients during treatment.

C          To use modalities safely.

C          Acute enough to read small printed labels on medications

Auditory

C          To receive verbal directions in English.

C          Acute enough to hear and understand words spoken by staff and patients.

Tactile

F          To identify hot and cold.