Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 
    
2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physical Therapy DPT


This three-year program begins after a student completes 92 semester credits of specific college prerequisites. Students taking the appropriate prerequisites will earn a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) after the first year in the professional program and the DPT degree upon successful completion of the program. A previous bachelor’s degree is not required, however applicants holding a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply as well. All core prerequisites must be completed within ten years prior to application.

Program Accreditation

The DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)*. After receiving the DPT degree graduates may apply to take the physical therapy licensure exam in the state of their choice. * 1111 North Fairfax, Alexandria, VA 22314

Information/Application Process

Please call 1-800-827-2878, e-mail pt-info@andrews.edu or visit http://www.andrews.edu/shp/pt for application instructions and admission requirements. Information is available by June of each year.

All applicants applying for admission to the DPT professional entry program must apply via the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service. Please submit your application by October 15. Successful completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee acceptance into the DPT program.

Admission Requirements

GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.20 is required in all core PT prerequisite courses. A grade of “C” or better is required for all other courses.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Submit scores from the General Test, taken less than 5 years prior to enrollment in the program. Required minimum scores are: Verbal and Quantitative scores of 142 each, and a Written score of 3.0. 

Clinical Observation: Students must complete a minimum of 80 observation hours supervised by a licensed physical therapist in at least 3 different settings; at least 20 hours must be in an inpatient acute care or hospital setting. Please note that sub-acute, rehab, skilled nursing home or extended care facilities do not qualify as a hospital or acute care setting. See PTCAS for a copy of an Observation Hours Verification form.  

Personal Interview: Applicants who meet eligibility requirements are invited for a personal interview. Phone interviews may be acceptable, though not preferred.

English Proficiency: Applicants who have been given any part of their education outside the U.S. or Canada or whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by providing evidence through one of the following methods. Exceptions may be granted by the Department of Physical Therapy on an individual basis. Test must be taken within one year prior to application. TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) is preferred. Official TOEFL scores must be sent directly to PTCAS from Educational Testing Service (ETS). The PTCAS ETS code is 531.

Minimum Requirements
TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT)(preferred) 111 (minimum of 15 in Reading, 15 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 17 in Writing)
TOEFL Paper-based test 640 (minimum of 56 in each section)
IELTS Academic Version 8.0
MELAB 92 (minimum of 80 in each section)
PTE Academic Version 72

 

Prerequisite courses including general education requirements for students WITHOUT an earned bachelor’s degree


Requires a minimum of 92 semester credits, with at least 15 credits being upper-division. Applicants are considered when a minimum of 4 or more prerequisite science courses and a minimum of 60 semester credits have been completed.

General Education Requirements


See professional program requirements  and note the following specific requirements:

Religion:


one religion course per academic year of attendance at Andrews University. Required course:

Language/Communication:


professional degree requirements

History:


professional degree requirements

Fine Arts/Humanities:


professional degree requirements

Life/Physical Sciences:


Life Science:

  • A full sequence of Anatomy and Physiology with labs, and
  • One course of the General Biology sequence required for pre-med students (not botany) with lab, and
  • One 3-semester credit upper division human biology or exercise physiology course.
Physical Science:

  • A full sequence of General Physics with labs, as required for pre-med students
  • A full sequence of General Chemistry with labs, as required for pre-med students

Mathematics:


A basic statistics or research methods course

Service:


fulfilled through professional components of the program

Social Sciences:


Psychology

An introductory psychology course.

Fitness Education:


recommend Andrews freshmen take HLED 120  and one additional course from personal fitness, outdoor skills or team activity. Non-Andrews students take two from the three categories above.

Human Development:


A course which covers human development throughout the lifespan.

Medical Terminology:


A course in basic medical terminology. May be taken by distance learning.

Electives:


To fulfill the 92 total semester credits with at least 15 in upper division courses required, some course suggestions include business courses, ethics, cultural and diversity courses, arts and humanities, nutrition and physical activities.

Prerequisite courses for students WITH an earned bachelor’s degree:


Life/Physical Sciences


Life Science:


  • A full sequence of Anatomy and Physiology with labs, and
  • One course of the General Biology sequence required for pre-med students (not botany) with lab, and
  • One 3-semester credit upper division human biology or exercise physiology course

Physical Science:


  • A full sequence of General Physics with labs, as required for pre-med students
  • A full sequence of General Chemistry with labs, as required for pre-med students

 

Mathematics:


A basic statistics or research methods course.

Social Sciences


Psychology


An introductory psychology course.

Human Development


A course which covers human development throughout the lifespan.

Medical Terminology:


A course in basic medical terminology. May be taken by distance learning.

BHS: Bachelor of Health Science (Interim Degree)


Students successfully completing the appropriate prerequisites and the first two semesters (36 credits) of the professional program qualify for the Bachelor of Health Science Degree. Successful completion of the BHS is defined as:

  1. An earned minimum grade of “C+” (2.33) or “S” (in a “S/U” course) in each DPT program course. The BHS program courses include PTH 400 , PTH 410 , PTH 415 , PTH 416 , PTH 418 , PTH 420 , PTH 425 , PTH 426 , PTH 428 , PTH 430 , PTH 440 , PTH 445 , PTH 450 , PTH 455 , PTH 457 , and PTH 460 .
  2. No more than a cumulative total of five points earned on the grade-point scale throughout the physical therapy program (see DPT Student Handbook).
  3. Students must be able to perform skills listed in the Technical Standards of Performance and demonstrate professional behaviors as outlined in the DPT Student Handbook.
  4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or greater in all credits used to meet the BHS degree requirements.

DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy


Upon successful completion of the professional phase of the program (116 credits) students earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. All coursework scheduled for each semester must be successfully completed prior to advancing to the next semester.Successful completion of the DPT program is defined as:

  1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree (BHS or other).
  2. An earned minimum grade of “C+” (2.33) or “S” in each DPT program course. DPT program courses include:  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , PTH 616 PTH 617   ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,    ,  ,  ,  PTH 743 ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
  3. Maintain a cumulative DPT program GPA of 3.00.
  4. No more than a cumulative total of five points earned on thegrade-point scale throughout the physical therapy program (see DPT Student Handbook).
  5. Students must be able to perform skills listed in the Technical Standards of Performance and demonstrate professional behaviors as outlined in the DPT Student Handbook.
  6. Satisfactory completion of the practical and written comprehensive exams:  ,  .
  7. Satisfactory completion of a capstone project and presentation.
  8. Satisfactory completion of five clinical internships and the associated “Clinical Performance Instrument.”
  9. Satisfactory completion of the exit interview.

Continued Enrollment Requirements

  1. Progressive enrollment in the physical therapist education program requires successful completion of all Physical Therapy program course work including clinical education listed for the previous academic term.
  2. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 in any given academic term is placed on academic probation. Students who do not increase their cumulative GPA to 3.00 during the academic term of probation are normally asked to withdraw.
  3. Students who receive less than a “C+” (2.33) or a “U” on a “S/U” course or clinical will be given “grade points” equal to the semester credit for the course. A student who accumulates six or more points will academically disqualify him/herself from continuing in the program.