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Bouvé College of Health Sciences - Curriculum Guide

Physical Therapy
(School of Health Professions)

Meredith H. Harris, EdD, PT, Associate Professor and Chair
Associate Professors
Ann Noonan, EdD, PT
Robert Sikes, PhD
Chad A. Starkey, PhD,
Athletic Training

Assistant Professors
Cindy I. Buchanan, PhD, PT
Lorna Hayward, EdD, PT
Timothy Hilliard, PhD
Karen J. Hutchinson, PhD, PT
Christine R. Wilson, PhD, PT

Assistant Clinical Specialists
Joseph Cigna, PhD, PT
Marie B. Corkery, MS, PT,
  FAAOM
Ann Golub-Victor, MPH, PT,
  PCS
Mary J. Hickey, BS, PT, OCS
Sonya L. Larrieux, MA, PT
Susan Lowe, BS, MS, PT

Jamie L. Musler, MSEd
Mary O¹Brien, MPH, PT
Jaime Paz, MS, PT
Nancy H. Sharby, MS, PT
Susan H. Ventura, MEd, PT
Maryann Wilmarth, MS, PT, OCS
Kimberly Ashton Wise, MS, ATC

The physical therapy program prepares its graduates to provide quality patient care in a time of changing concepts, trends, and challenges. Students learn to help clients gain functional independence and to recognize and manage the emotional and socioeconomic problems that affect recovery. The first five years of this curriculum result in a Bachelor of Science degree in rehabilitation science. The program in physical therapy culminates at the end of six years in an entry-level Master of Science degree in physical therapy.

Physical therapists provide services to patients and clients who have impairments, functional limitation, disabilities, or changes in physical function resulting from injury, disease, or other causes. In addition, physical therapists are involved in wellness initiatives, including screenings, health promotions, and educational activities that provide preventive care to prevent functional decline and/or to eliminate the need for costlier forms of care. They perform administrative duties and direct and supervise support personnel. Physical therapists interact and practice in collaboration with a variety of health-care professionals, including, but not limited to, physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and audiologists.

Physical therapists function in a variety of settings, including community and university hospitals; rehabilitation centers; private practices; educational settings; extended care facilities; freestanding outpatient clinics; home health agencies; and community, state, and federal agencies.

Through a commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service, the Department of Physical Therapy develops individuals who are clinically competent, independent thinking, health-care professionals. The program incorporates the University's Academic Common Experience objectives and encourages the development of communication skills, critical and creative thinking, information literacy, and interpersonal skills. It also emphasizes the importance of developing historical, ethical, aesthetic, diverse, and personal perspectives, and of understanding the contexts provided by natural, social, and cultural worlds. In the classroom, students develop problem-solving skills, manual dexterity, and proficiency in technique and with equipment.

Beginning in the second year of study, physical therapy students alternate quarters of academic study with quarters of cooperative education work experience. Students may be employed as physical therapy co-op students with increasing responsibilities commensurate with their academic studies, or they may perform other health-related preprofessional duties. These experiences provide an opportunity for the application and reinforcement of the lessons of the classroom and laboratory. Prior to graduation, students have 18 months of related work experience.

In addition to cooperative education, the program includes three eight-week affiliations that are mandated by the American Physical Therapy Association. Clinical affiliations allow the student to practice clinical skills under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Clinical sites across the United States, offering a wide range of specialties, participate in our clinical education program. Every effort is made to match students to sites that suit academic need and geographic convenience; however, students should be prepared to travel out of state for a minimum of one affiliation. Availability of a car is also required, as most sites are not accessible by public transportation. All expenses associated with clinical affiliations, including travel and housing, are the responsibility of the student. A very small number of sites offer student incentives including stipends, meals, and housing at low or no cost to the student, but this is becoming increasingly rare.

Students are accepted into the program as freshmen and do not need to reapply to the MS phase of the program, provided they adhere to (or meet) the academic standards. To progress in the program, students must maintain acceptable standards of scholarship and academic performance as outlined in the student handbook. Students must develop appropriate motor skills, professional behavior, and emotional maturity.

The program in physical therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Graduates of the Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) program are eligible to sit for the Physical Therapy Licensure Examination. See course descriptions for more information.

Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science Curriculum

Quarter 1	BHS 1101, Transitions, Decisions, the University and You; BIO 1162, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 1; BIO 1652, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab; CHM 1105, Chemistry for Health Sciences 1; MTH 1106, Functions and Algebra or MTH 1107, Functions and Basic Calculus.
Quarter 2 or 3	PTH 1001, Basic Physical Therapy Procedures.
Quarter 2	BIO 1163, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 2; BIO 1653, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab; CHM 1106, Chemistry for Health Sciences 2; and ENG 1110, College Writing 1.
Quarter 3	BIO 1164, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 3; BIO 1654, Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology 3 Lab; ENG 1111, College Writing 2; and PSY 1111, Foundations of Psychology 1.
Quarter 1, 2, or 3	COM 1105, Computer Science and Its Applications; and designated elective.*
Quarter 4	CPS 1615, Exercise Physiology 1 with lab; PTH 1252, Clinical Gross Anatomy 1; PHY 1201, Physics for the Life Sciences 1; PHY 1501, Physics for the Life Sciences 1 Lab; and PSY 1112, Foundations of Psychology 2.
Quarter 5	PTH 1253, Clinical Gross Anatomy 2; PHY 1202, Physics for the Life Sciences 2; PTH 1203, Therapeutic Modalities in Physical Therapy Practice; PTH 1320, Soft Tissue Mobilization; and one multicultural elective.
Quarter 6	PTH 1316, Neuromuscular Physiology; PTH 1325, Clinical Medicine 1; PTH 1330, Clinical Kinesiology; and PTH 1352, Psychosocial Aspects of Illness.
Quarter 7	PHP 1300, Pharmacotherapeutics for Physical Therapy Practice; PTH 1340, Pathokinesiology; PTH 1345, Orthopedic Clinical Medicine 2; PTH 1366, Neuroanatomy; and one elective.
Quarter 8	ENG 1125, ENG 1350 or ENG 1380, writing requirement; PTH 1118, Developmental Basis of Human Performance; PTH 1393, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy; and PTH 1440, Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment 1.
Quarter 9	MTH 1290, Introductory Statistics and Statistics Software; PTH 1363, Neurological Evaluation and Treatment 1; PTH 1441, Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment 2; PTH 1371, Clinical Seminar; and designated elective.
Quarter 10	PTH 1364, Neurological Evaluation and Treatment 2; PTH 1405, Research for Physical Therapy; PTH 1426, Functional Aspects of Aging; PTH 1430, Physical Therapy for the Pediatric Client; and PTH 1356, Prosthetics or PTH 1380, Supervised Clinical Education 1.
Quarter 11	CPS 1632, Health Science Education; PTH 1406, Research for Physical Therapy 2; and PTH 1432, Physical Therapy Project 1. BS in Rehabilitation Sciences Awarded. Graduate Year Eligibility for graduate year depends upon adherence to academic standards published in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences Undergraduate Student Information Manual, available in the college's Office of Student Services, 203 Robinson.
Quarter 12	PTH 3472, Clinical Integration 2; PTH 3520, Physical Therapy in Health Care System; two electives and one directed study.
Quarter 13	PTH 3473, Clinical Integration 3; PTH 3345, Communications; one elective and directed study or Clinical Affiliation 2; and PHL 3265, Issues in Medical Ethics.
Quarter 14	Clinical Affiliation 3 (all divisions).

Additional Professional and Required Courses

Graduate courses: Clinical Integration 2 and 3, and Research for Physical Therapy 2.

Note: This curriculum is subject to revision.

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