Curriculum

In small groups guided by a faculty tutor, students explore clinical cases and discuss examination and intervention strategies for a wide variety of patients. Students learn to ask questions related to patient/client history and seek information from a systems review to improve their initial abilities to problem solve, think critically and make clinical decisions. They develop skills in sharing and receiving information, working collaboratively in a team to identify and solve problems, perform self-assessment of behavior in the group, and present feedback to each member of the group. The discussions foster the integration of knowledge acquired in the other threads.

In this course, students focus on the development of skills related to physical therapy care. This course series focuses on examining and therapeutic interventions related to the cases introduced in Physical Therapy Reasoning and facilitates the application and integration of knowledge gained across courses into clinical practice.

This course series emphasizes and integrates the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, kinesiology, motor control, motor learning, motor development, neuroscience, pathology, and pharmacology) and clinical sciences (cardiovascular and pulmonary, cognitive, endocrine and metabolic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular) underlying normal movement and the factors creating movement dysfunctions across the lifespan.

This course series focuses on all aspects of professional practice, emphasizing the responsibilities and obligations to meet societal needs as both a professional and a member of a professional community. It emphasizes and integrates the behavioral sciences (communication, psychological and social factors, ethics and values, finance, management, sociology, teaching and learning, and law), professional practice expectations (accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, professional duty, communication, cultural competence, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and education) and practice management expectations (prevention, health promotion, fitness and wellness, management of care delivery, physical therapy practice management, consultation, social responsibility, and advocacy).

This course series focuses on the growth and development of the student as a health care professional. Students use critical self-reflection and discussions with faculty to develop their professional identity and philosophy that will contribute to life-long learning, social responsibility and advocacy, and the importance of beliefs that contribute to professionalism. Students also perform community service and complete a community engagement project.

Students are required to participate in three full-time professional practice education experiences (PPE) for a total of 34 weeks. Students participate in at least one inpatient and one outpatient experience. Each student is placed into a series of settings that enable them to learn about patients with various musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary pathologies in various age groups. International professional practice opportunities are also available to students. In the past, students have participated in immersion experiences in Germany, Italy, and Guatemala.

Semester 1 (Fall)

*Orientation- August

• DPT 5511- Physical Therapy Reasoning 1 
• DPT 5312- Patient/Client Management 1
• DPT 5313- Foundational Sciences 1
• DPT 5514- Professional Topics 1 

Semester 2 (Spring)

• DPT 5521- Physical Therapy Reasoning 2
• DPT 5322- Patient/ Client Management 2
• DPT 5323- Foundational Sciences 2 
• DPT 5524- Professional Topics 2
• DPT 6119- Capstone 1

DPT 5115- Professional Clinical Self-Reflection 1 (Fall and Spring)

Semester 3 (Summer) 

• DPT 6511- Physical Therapy Reasoning 3
• DPT 6312- Patient/Client Management 3
• DPT 6313- Foundational Sciences 3
• DPT 6514- Professional Topics 3 

Semester 4 (Fall)

• DPT 6521- Physical Therapy Reasoning 4
• DPT 6322- Patient/ Client Management 4
• DPT 6323- Foundational Sciences 4
• DPT 6524- Professional Topics 4
• DPT 7119- Capstone 2

DPT 6115- Professional Critical Self-Reflection 2 (Summer and Fall)

Semester 5 (Spring)- PT2

• DPT 7511- Physical Therapy Reasoning 5
• DPT 7312- Patient/ Client Management 5
• DPT 7313- Foundational Sciences 5
• DPT 7514- Professional Topics 5

Semester 6 (Summer)- PT3

• DPT 7518- Professional Practice Education 1 (Clinical Education)
• DPT 7628- Professional Practice Education 2 (Clinical Education)
• DPT 8119- Capstone 3

DPT 7115- Professional Critical Self-Reflection 3 (Spring and Summer)

Semester 7 (Fall)

• DPT 8618- Professional Practice Education 3 (Clinical Education)

*December- Graduation