Rehabilitation at the U of A

The University of Alberta is home to North America’s only free-standing Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. We are a world class post-secondary institution and provide academic leadership and training in rehabilitation science, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology, balancing our activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice).

A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, chronic pain management, seniors health, and the application of information and communication technologies to support community care; we are the destination of choice for rehabilitation professionals, researchers, students and scientists.

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine offers the following programs:

Professional-entry Programs

MSc Physical Therapy

Physical therapists (or physiotherapists) keep people of all ages moving and active in their daily lives. When a person has an illness, injury or just had surgery, a PT can help to relieve pain, build strength, restore mobility and teach preventative strategies.

MSc Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists (OTs) assist people throughout the lifespan to engage in the roles and activities that they want to perform and that they need to perform. They enable people to participate in activities of daily living and to live life to its fullest potential. OTs evaluate living spaces, make adaptive equipment recommendations, provide guidance to family and caregivers, and offer customized assessment, treatment and intervention programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities.

MSc Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) enable people to communicate effectively and eat and swallow safely. They assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders.

Thesis-based Programs

MSc and PhD Rehabilitation Science

Rehabilitation Science prepares students for a career in rehabilitation medicine research and academia. They formulate research questions and discover, collect, analyze, and present knowledge on subjects as diverse as communication, musculoskeletal, neurological and psychosocial disorders in people of all ages.