Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

health care worker in gym with man in a wheelchair
Next Application Deadline:
October 1, 2025
Credit hours: 30
Next Term Start Date:
January 12, 2026

Application deadline is in 8 days.

Apply by October 1, 2025 to be considered for the upcoming term, starting January 12, 2026.

Apply

Designed to empower you with the skills and expertise needed to excel in your chosen path.

Offered in Ohio State’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, this online Master of Science program prepares certified health professionals and those looking to enter the health care field for expanded roles in research, teaching, administration, and professional practice.

Choose between two specialization tracks, the Research Track or the Advanced Practice Track, to customize the MS degree program to match your goals of pursuing roles in research or leadership and education. The rich curriculum for either track of this online health and rehabilitation science degree focuses on evidence-based practice, management and leadership, research methods, and design.

While attaining your master’s degree, you will also participate in collaborative experiences and comprehensive projects under mentorship and apply elective credit hours towards one of the HRS online graduate certificates including: Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology Certificate, Health Care Revenue Cycle and Data Analytics Certificate, Medical Laboratory Science Certificate, and Usability and User Experience in Health Care Certificate.

For professionals aiming to take the next step and earn their PhD., the Research Track provides a great foundation.

Specialized areas of interest include: (note- this is not an exhaustive list but examples of what is possible within the MS in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program)

  • Aging
  • Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology
  • Food/Nutrition Science
  • Health Care Education
  • Health Care Informatics
  • Health Care Leadership
  • Health Care Management
  • Injury Biomechanics
  • Medical Coding and Health Care Data Analytics in Practice
  • Medical Laboratory Science
  • Research (within various applied health professional fields)
  • Sports Biomechanics
  • Usability and User Experience in Health Care

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers we hope you find helpful. Please know that our team of Academic Enrollment Advisors are always ready to connect and answer any questions that are specific to your unique needs.

Academic Calendar

For the convenience of online students, multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for the online Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitative Sciences program.

Academic Calendar

For the convenience of online students, multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for the online Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitative Sciences program.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to apply to the MS in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program:

  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
  • A bachelor’s degree in a health profession from an accredited institution (or international equivalent)

*Applicants with a non-health background may be considered if clear academic and professional goals have been established prior to applying to the program.

How to Apply

All the following materials must be submitted prior to the application deadline:

NC-SARA Participating Institution logo

The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.

California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.

The Application Process

Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.

Career Outlook

Earning a graduate degree from Ohio State means you and your peers will be working alongside some of the world’s leading researchers and scholars, a network of colleagues you will value throughout your career.

Graduates of the program are:

  • leaders within their professional practice settings
  • managers of rehabilitation facilities
  • department managers in health care facilities
  • academic advisors
  • instructors
  • staff educators in health care facilities
  • working at the local or national level in aging
  • pursuing doctoral studies

Whether you aspire to advance your career in research, education, leadership or professional practice, the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program at Ohio State is designed to empower you with the skills and expertise needed to excel in your chosen path. Join our vibrant community and embark on a transformative journey toward a rewarding and impactful career in health and rehabilitation sciences.

Top Occupations by Median Income

National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitative Sciences includes a total of 30 to 36 credit hours depending on which track you decide to take.

Track #1 – Advanced Practice Track – This track offers individuals the opportunity to customize their education for management, leadership or teaching. students that choose this track can tailor their additional core courses and personalize their electives based on their specific areas of interest. The program track concludes with a comprehensive project under mentorship.
Track #2 – Research Track – This track features a curriculum focused on research methods and design courses, accompanied by a mentored research experience culminating in a thesis guided by an HRS faculty mentor. The students within this track will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as successful researchers in their field, well-prepared for careers in industry, pre-clinical and clinical research.

Most courses are offered asynchronously, meaning that you can attend those classes on your own time. Below are samples of courses for this program and is not an exhaustive course list.

Understanding Online Course Types

As you research the right online program for you, you likely will come across the terms “asynchronous” and “synchronous.” Learn what these terms mean and how they’re important to consider when understanding how a program will fit into your life.

Learn More

Diagram explaining the differences between synchronous and asynchronous online courses.

Kristen Roberts, PhD

Associate Professor
Roberts, Kristen - School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student

Kristen Welker, PhD

Assistant Professor
Welker, Kristen PhD student - School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Tiago Jesus, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
Jesus Tiago, Research Assistant Professor

Anand Mhatre, PhD

Assistant Professor of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Anand Mhatre, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Carmen DiGiovine, PhD, ATP/SMS, RET

Professor – Clinical
Carmen P. DiGiovine, PhD, ATP/SMS, RET

Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it – hear from some of our School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences students and alumni on why they chose a degree at The Ohio State University!

Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it – hear from some of our School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences students and alumni on why they chose a degree at The Ohio State University!

DiCostanzo, Dominic - School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences student

"I started searching for academic programs that would allow me to link my interests of clinical care of patients, information management, and machine learning. After meeting with faculty in HRS, I realized that my interests were aligned with that of the HRS program….

Dominic DiCostanzo School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student

…My current educational path is a direct result of where I want to end up, pursuing a career in academia. HRS provides a significant amount of training in areas that are new to me, such as grant writing and others that are important to my field, such as interdisciplinary projects."

Dominic DiCostanzo School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student
Pisegna, Janell - PhD Student

"I believe Ohio State instills rigorous clinical and academic standards in its students, and I wanted to strive to be a high-quality contributor and leader in my field."

Janell Pisegna School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student

"The MS [in HRS] program was flexible and provided a great variety of coursework to choose from. I was able to customize my educational experiences to best suit my career."

Allison Stokes Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate

Tuition Fee Overview

Investing in your future with a higher education degree is one of the best investments you can make for your future success. At Ohio State, we know understanding your program’s cost is an important part of your decision-making process. Below are the tuition fees you can expect with your program. Actual costs may vary. Estimates are based on the expenses typical of an Ohio State Online student, who would take 6 credit hours each semester as a part-time undergraduate student (or 8 credit hours for graduate programs), or 12 credit hours (for undergraduate programs) each semester as a full-time student. Please note that the summer semester instructional and general fees are 75% of the cost of autumn and spring fees, and this will decrease your total cost for the program.

The Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program requires 30 credit hours with the option of adding more electives if a students so chooses. For calculation purposes, the tuition calculator reflects 30 credit hours so individual’s totals may be more depending on their total credits taken. If you have transfer credits that are reviewed and approved, your total cost may also vary.

Tuition and Fees Part-Time – (per credit hour) Full-Time – (per semester, based on approx. 8 credit hours/semester)
Instructional Fee $829.75 $6,638.00
General Fee $32.63 $261.00
Distance Learning Fee $100.00 (per semester) $100.00 (per semester)
Non-Resident Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00 (per semester)
International Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00 (per semester)

Tuition fees are subject to change. This program is 30 credit hours with the option to add more electives and speciality courses if a student so chooses. The tuition calculator is based off of 30 credit hours. The estimate from the tuition calculator does not include textbook or coursework materials. The table above serves as a guide and not an official bursar’s bill. Full-Time costs are total tuition costs per semester. 

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Connect with a knowledgeable Enrollment Advisor who can help answer your questions and explain different aspects of the more than 80 online degrees and certificates offered at Ohio State. They are here to help you on your education journey.

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