MRSc History
The Master of Rehabilitation Science Program celebrates its 5th Anniversary this year - 2010. This provides us with the opportunity - or impetus - to start documenting our history. Subscribe to our Wiki and watch our history unfold.
The Wiki is yours to read by simply scrolling down through the existing content. For information on how to add to the content, have a look at "Remember When...", or "Want to add to this Wiki?"
Development and Milestones
MRSc History Timeline (Use back browser to return to this page after viewing)
Education Needs Survey sets the stage, 1999
Rehabilitation professionals want online, graduate-level education! A survey of continuing professional education needs and interest in face-to-face and web-based courses is sent out to 1600 OTs and PTs in BC through BCSOT and PABC. Analysis supports the development of the five certificate courses and offers guidance for electives in a future master’s program.
Development Funding application, 2000
Supported by the Trek 2000 and 2005 UBC visions, a letter of intent and a subsequent proposal is submitted for a UBC program development loan to develop online certificate courses
Key figures supporting Sue Stanton in the initial application are the School of Rehabilitation Science program committee members Anne Carswell, Director of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences; Lesley Bainbridge, Head, Division of PT; and Catherine Backman, an Associate Professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy.
Development Funding success! 2001-2002
UBC Loan is granted for ‘Post-Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation’
UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies approves five Certificate courses.
Course Content Development, 2001-2003
Course development begins at UBC.
In April 2002, UBC and McMaster University agree to collaborate on the development of the remaining courses.
By July 2003, all five certificate courses are complete. Initial Course Authors:
- RHSC 501 Evaluating Sources of Evidence: Jackie Bosch, Mary Law
- RHSC 503 Reasoning and Decision-Making: Margaret McCuaig
- RHSC 505 Measurement in Practice: Paul Stratford
- RHSC 507 Developing Effective Rehabilitation Programs: Sue Stanton
- RHSC 509 Facilitating Learning in Rehabilitation Contexts: Christine Carpenter
First Online Certificate Learners, 2002
Eleven learners sign on to the first Certificate courses.
Certificate approved in Ontario, 2003
In December 2003, the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies conducts on-site visits at McMaster University and UBC and approves the UBC-McMaster Certificate (called a Graduate Diploma in Ontario)
Certificate program gets new name and first graduate, 2004
New Name: Graduate Certificate in Rehabilitation
First Certificate graduate: Sandra Robertson, April 2004
Online MRSc comes into being, 2004
UBC online Master of Rehabiliation Science degree gets a green light! In October 2004, after a public review process and 18 months of scrutiny by university personnel and government officials , the BC government approves the UBC online Master of Rehabilitation Science degree with the five Certificate courses as required courses.
First Learners start Online Masters, 2005
Learners completing Certificate courses now receive credits on UBC transcripts
The first 6 MRSc learners begin their studies in January 2005.
MRSc course development complete, 2006
Development of the remaining MRSc required and elective courses is completed. Initial Course Authors:
- RHSC 581 Writing to Enhance Practice: Mary Clark
- RHSC 583 Applying Research to Practice: Lori Roxborough, Sue Stanton
- RHSC 587 Major Project I: Sue Stanton
- RHSC 589 Major Project II: Sue Stanton
First MRSc graduating class, 2007
Dianne Cameron, Mary Solomon and Sue Stewart receive the first UBC MRSc degrees in November 2007.
This program is growing, into and beyond 2010
As of January 2010, fifty-seven learners in nine health professions are enrolled in the MRSc. There are twenty-two registered in the Graduate Certificate.
As of May 2010, there are twenty-two rehabilitation professionals with MRSc degrees, and ten with Graduate Certificates in Rehabilitation.
Remember when...
How do I post my story or anecdote?
- scroll to the top right corner of this page to find the log-in button and use your CWL to log in
- after you are logged in, return to this page by typing MRSc History in the search box (left column of the UBC Wiki page), and hitting Go
- click on the Edit button that appears beside the "Remember when..." section
- on the edit page, enter your own story beneath the entry below (Mailed journal articles!). Copy the format exactly: make a title that has three equal signs (===) before and after. On the next line, type your story.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Save page" button. Done!
Mailed journal articles!
I still have a couple of dozen manila envelopes in my recycled envelope drawer that have on the front the careful printing (invariably in green ink) of the UBC librarian who would mail me, free of charge, up to 30 photocopied articles per course. By the time I completed my degree, I was using only electronic articles. Dale Graham, MRSc '08
Does the Straw Dog truly exist?
It was a dark and stormy November in 2005, when a small group of RHSC 503 learners were rumoured to have invented The Straw Dog. Seeking further information about said dog. Any takers?
Online learners may or may not be from Mars
In a recent interview, MRSc architect and pioneer Sue Stanton had this to say about the experience of launching the Online MRSc: "You are asking people to make a major paradigm shift and they have no precedent to understand what you are saying. It’s like you’ve come in from Mars.” (Editorial comment - but what friendly and gifted Martians we've turned out to be!!)
Research
In the UBC Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) program learners complete a major project designed to synthesize the knowledge gained from their required coursework, transfer their new knowledge to rehabilitation practice, and demonstrate achievement of the MRSc program objectives. After implementing their approved research plan, learners write up and present their results for critical review, and where appropriate assess the extent to which the findings will be transferred to rehabilitation practice.
Click below to read the abstracts of our graduates' research in rehabilitation science.
MRSc Research
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