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Nov 21, 2024
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2024-2025 Academic Bulletin
Physical Therapy DPT
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Physical therapists are in high demand in the workforce, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of physical therapists to grow by 36% through 2024, which is much faster than the average for occupations. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “the need for physical therapists is expected to remain strong into the foreseeable future as the US population ages and the demand for physical therapy services grows.” The entry-level DPT degree is designed for the student pursuing a first time degree in the field of physical therapy. Once accepted, students may enter the program as a “4+3” with a bachelor’s degree or “3+3” student. Students entering the professional phase of the program as a “3+3” student must have completed 92 semester credits of specific college prerequisites. Students taking the appropriate prerequisites will earn a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) after the first two semesters 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. The DPT program is 9 full-time consecutive semesters. Program AccreditationThe DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax, Alexandria, VA 22314. After receiving the DPT degree graduates may apply to take the physical therapy licensure exam in the state of their choice. Information/Application ProcessPlease call 1-800-827-2878, e-mail ptinfo@andrews.edu or visit http://www.andrews.edu/chhs/pt for application instructions and admission requirements. Information is available by June of each year. Successful completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee acceptance into the DPT program. All applicants applying for admission to the DPT professional entry program must apply via the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service at www.PTCAS.org. The soft due date for priority application processing is November 1, with the firm or final due date being December 17.
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Total Credits - 116
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.
Additional Requirements
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree (BHS or other).
- An earned minimum grade of “C+” (2.33) or “S” in each DPT program course.
- Maintain a cumulative DPT program GPA of 3.00.
- No more than a cumulative total of five points earned on the grade-point scale throughout the physical therapy program (see DPT Student Handbook).
- 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.
- Satisfactory completion of the practical and written comprehensive exams: PTH 670 , PTH 770 & PTH 870
- Satisfactory completion of a capstone project and presentation.
- Satisfactory completion of all clinical education experiences and the associated “Clinical Performance Instrument.”
- Satisfactory completion of the Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)
- Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Exit Survey.
Maintaining Academic Standing
- All coursework scheduled for each semester must be successfully completed prior to advancing to the next semester.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 and be required to remediate per the DPT Student Handbook. A student who accumulates six or more points will academically disqualify him/herself from continuing in the program. Student may be required to enroll in and pay tuition for PTH585 Remediation in: as part of their remediation plan determined by DPT Faculty Council.
Admission Requirements
Graduate Application: Students must submit an application and all the required components through Physical Therapy Centralized Applications System (PTCAS)
GPA: A minimum science and core PT prerequisite GPA of 3.40 is required, however a minimum of 3.5 is needed to be competitive in the applicant pool. A grade of “C” or better is required for all other courses.
Clinical Observation: Students must complete a minimum of 50 observation hours supervised by a licensed physical therapist in at least 3 different settings; at least 20 hours must be in an inpatient hospital setting. Please note that skilled nursing home or extended care facilities do not qualify as an inpatient hospital 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 School of Rehabilitation Sciences 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) |
| TEOFL Paper-based test |
640 (minimum of 56 in each section) |
| IELTS Academic Version |
8.0 |
| PTE Academic Version |
72 |
Prerequisite courses for students WITH an earned bachelor’s degree:
- A basic statistics or research methods course
- An introductory psychology course
- A course which covers human development throughout the lifespan
- A full sequence of anatomy and physiology with labs, and
- Two additional human biology courses (one must be a 3-semester credit upper division course) with labs
- 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
- A course in basic medical terminology (may be taken by distance education)
Prerequisite courses for students WITHOUT an earned bachelor’s degree:
Requires a minimum of 92 semester credits, with at least 15 credits being upper-division, including 9 in one content area or a minor. Applicants are considered when a minimum of 5 or more prerequisite science courses have been completed. Fulfill general education professional program requirements, noting the following specific requirements: - A basic statistics or research methods course
- An introductory psychology course
- A course which covers human development throughout the lifespan
- A full sequence of anatomy and physiology with labs, and
- Two additional human biology courses with labs (One must be a 3-semester credit upper division course; however, the lab is not required.)
- 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
- A course in basic medical terminology (may be taken by distance education)
- PBHL 400 - Fundamentals of Spirituality & Ethics in Healthcare (NOTE: Not required for transfer students who are entering straight into the +3 part of the program.)
Student Learning Outcomes
In accordance with the School of Rehabilitation Sciences mission and program goals, DPT graduates will: - Model behavior which reflects Christian values, including an understanding of the role of prayer and faith in the complete healing process.
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relevant to physical therapy, both in their fundamental context and in its application within professional clinical practice.
- Provide primary care to patients/clients within the scope of physical therapy practice.
- Demonstrate entry-level competency in clinical skills necessary to perform a comprehensive physical therapy examination, and evaluation, establish a differential diagnosis, determine an appropriate prognosis, and establish intervention and/or prevention activities.
- Understand and value the capabilities of other health care providers and determine the need for referral to those individuals.
- Participate in practice management including delegation and supervision of support personnel, financial management, business planning, marketing and public relations activities.
- Possess the critical inquiry skills necessary to evaluate professional knowledge and competencies in relation to evidence-informed physical therapy practice.
- Demonstrate legal and ethical behavior consistent with professional standards.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to individual and cultural differences when engaged in physical therapy practice.
- Demonstrate professional behavior.
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