Post-Professional Programs Policies and Procedures

Contact Information

A student should contact the University when he or she requires guidance or assistance with the online education degree programs, but only after consulting this Handbook.

Each individual online degree program will email timely notices and information. Official letters will be sent to students after any review of academic progress or other actions critical to the progression in the academic program. Students will be able to access course grades and final grades online. The University Registrar will issue a user name and password to access grade information on the myUSA portal Students tab. Post-professional students are encouraged to review the Post-Professional tab on myUSA. 

Correspondence

All correspondence should be emailed to the Academic Program Assistant or Program Director listed below.

Telephone—Please have the Student Handbook available when you make calls:
Main Number: 904-826-0084 or 800-241-1027

• Ask for the Academic Program Assistant.
• If the assistant is unable to answer your question, you may be directed to contact the Program Director.

Master of Health Science

Doctor of Health Science and Doctor of Education

Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Master of Science in Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice

Master of Health Administration

All Programs

Being Prepared

A student’s success in this program is based on his or her ability to use technology. If at any time a student finds him- or herself lost or with questions, he or she can try one of the following options:

• Check the myUSA portal Blackboard tab for problem-solving advice.
• Contact the program Academic Program Assistant.

Computer Equipment

Online students will be required to have access to or have their own computers. Check the myUSA portal Online Education tab for the most updated software requirements.

Course Availability (for Distance Learning and Electives)

It is the student’s responsibility to work with an advisor to verify the availability of a course and to make scheduling adjustments if he or she finds he or she must take the course during a particular trimester so his or her progress through the degree program will not be delayed.

Course Schedules

If a student moves through his or her coursework with a cohort group, he or she will have weekly assignments due along with his or her fellow classmates. It is the student’s responsibility to check the syllabus for due dates.

If an online course is self-paced, a student may complete assignments as he or she is ready. However, the student will be provided with a time frame or due date for completion of the course. It is the student’s responsibility to check the syllabus for complete information on schedules, assignments, and due dates.

Degree Completion

Acceptance into the University and payment of tuition is not a contract assuring that the student will graduate with the applied for degree. Graduation will depend on a satisfactory grade point average, professional conduct, and the satisfactory completion of all degree requirements. The following requirements must be met for a learner to be eligible for graduation:

• Each learner must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements and be in academic good standing.
• All fiscal obligations to the University or its subsidiaries must be paid in full.
• Should a student be unable to successfully complete part of the final coursework but has successfully met all other degree requirements, the learner may be allowed to walk at commencement. The candidate will sign an acknowledgment regarding participation in the ceremony. The candidate will be “hooded” during the ceremony, but will not receive a diploma. If the coursework is completed within the first 7 days of the subsequent term, the diploma and transcript notation will reflect the expected conferral date. Should the coursework be completed after the first 7 days of the subsequent term, the diploma will be issued and transcript notation will be dated to reflect the subsequent conferral date upon degree completion. The graduate will have the option of participating in the commencement ceremony subsequent to degree completion to receive the diploma.

Once all coursework and assignments have been completed, the Academic Program Assistant will provide the student with a link to the graduation application. The application must be completed 60 days prior to the expected commencement. Refer to the Academic Calendar in this Handbook to identify the due date for applications for the upcoming graduation.

The Program Director, in conjunction with the Registrar, will perform a degree audit to verify completion of the minimum number of credits and the overall GPA as follows:

• MHA - 3.0
• MHS – 3.0
• MSN – 3.0
• tDPT – 2.25 or 2.50 for students accepted into the program after January 1, 2012
• DHSc – 3.0
• EdD – 3.0
• OTD – 3.0
• DNP – 3.0

The Bursar’s Office will assure that all fiscal obligations to the University or its subsidiaries have been met in full.

Commencement ceremonies are held three times per year—April, August, and December. See the Academic Calendar in this Handbook or the myUSA Students tab for dates.

Good Academic Standing, Academic Progression, Retention, Warning, and Probation

The role of the Advanced Studies Progression Committee (ASPC), in conjunction with the Registrar’s Office, is to monitor each student’s academic progress throughout the curriculum. At the end of each trimester, grades are submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar will notify students who are placed on probation or are dismissed from the respective academic program of their status.

To remain enrolled in the MHA, MHS, tOTD, tDPT, DHSc, EdD, or MSN programs, the student must maintain

• active status or approved leave of absence status, and
• good academic standing.

Active Status

A student is in active status if the student

• re gisters and begins a course within 12 weeks after official acceptance into the program; and
• completes a course within 6 months of acceptance into the program; and
• registers for a minimum of nine credits each ensuing full calendar year—or fewer credits with the written permission of the Program Director—and completes those courses within the prescribed period; and
• maintains ti mely and effective communication with the program representatives.

Leave of Absence

See Leave of Absence under Campus Policies and Procedures.

Inactive Status

A student will be placed on inactive status when failing to complete nine credits within a 12-month period based on the date of admission to the program. The student will receive a letter from the Registrar notifying him or her of this status change.

When the student completes nine credits within 1 calendar year, he or she will be placed back on active status. (Note: seminars alone do not count toward academic credit and meeting this requirement.)

If the student does not complete at least nine credits within 1 year of being placed on inactive status, he or she will be referred to the Progression Committee for possible dismissal from the program. A student may be placed on inactive status only once during enrollment in DE programs. The student will be dismissed from the program if he or she fails to meet the yearly requirements for coursework progression a second time.

Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing a student must

•  ma  intain 3.0 GPA (see Probation information below):
• not earn a  grade below a C (see Dismissal section); and 
• be in compliance with the University Academic Integrity Policy, which stipulates that all academic work represents the individual work of the stated author. Input and assistance from others must always be appropriate and fully acknowledged.

Probation

A student who makes a grade of D in any course will be placed on academic probation and must undergo remediation and repeat the course for credit. A remediation plan must be developed by the student and will be monitored by the Program Director.

• When retaking the course, the student must receive a grade of C or above in order to progress academically.
• If the student receives a grade below a C on retake, the student will be dismissed.
• When the grade of C or above is achieved on retake, the student will be taken off academic probation if his or her GPA is above his or her program level.

If the GPA of a student falls below the acceptable program level, the student will be placed on academic probation by the Program Director.

Following being placed on probation, the student will be required to submit an academic study plan to the Program Director to explain how he or she plans to elevate the GPA to the program’s acceptable level. The Advanced Studies Progression Committee will review all study plans. The student will be expected to elevate his or her GPA to the acceptable program level or above within 1 calendar year. If a student fails to elevate his or her GPA, the student’s record will be referred to the Advanced Studies Progression Committee for review and possible dismissal from the program.

A student will not be permitted to progress to the final stage of the program while on probation. Remedial coursework may be necessary to increase the GPA prior to starting the final project.

Withdrawal of Acceptance into the Program

If a student does not register for one course within 12 weeks after official acceptance into the program, the Program Director will notify the Registrar to send the student a notice of withdrawal of program acceptance.

Dismissal

Based on recommendations of the Advanced Studies Progression Committee, the student may be dismissed from an Advanced Studies Program when a student

• fails to maintain active status;
• does not return to active status after an approved leave of absence period;
• receives a grade of F in any course;
• receives a grade below a C when retaking any course;
• while on probation, a student does not improve academic performance to program-level GPA within the prescribed calendar year;
• does not complete at least nine credit hours within 1 year after being placed on inactive status;
• has more than one W in any course or three withdrawals total during the program;
• fails to comply with the University Academic Integrity Policy; or
• fails to complete the program requirements within the prescribed timeframe. Failure to complete the program within the prescribed enrollment period may result in dismissal by the Progression Committee. An extension of the program enrollment timeline for extenuating circumstances may be requested in writing to the Program Director who will present the request to the Advanced Studies Progression Committee for review. If the Progression Committee approves the extension, the student will pay the prescribed trimester extension fee by the due date upon being billed by the accounting department. If the extension fee is delinquent by 2 weeks, the student may be dismissed.

Upon dismissal, the student will receive a letter (sent certified mail) from the University’s Registrar.

Right of Appeal

Any student who has been dismissed from the program may formally appeal this decision in writing to the director within 10 business days from receipt of the notification. If the student does not meet the stated deadline, the appeal may not be considered. In extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension from the Program Director; however, this request must be made within the above stated deadline.

The appeal letter should address the following:

• The rationale behind the appeal and why the student believes the appeal is warranted.
• Future circumstances that will permit the student to rectify previous poor academic performance or deficient course activity.

The Program Director will notify the Academic Appeals Committee of the appeal within 2 working days. The Academic Appeals Committee will convene at the earliest convenient time.

The AAC will provide a recommendation to the Program Director within 2 business days following their meeting.

The Program Director will inform the student, the AAC, the Progression Committee, and the Registrar in writing of his or her decision regarding the appeal at the earliest convenient time for all parties involved.

Should a student not agree to the decision of the AAC, the student has the right of an appeal to the President or his or her appointed designee. The appeal must be submitted, in writing, within 5 business days to the President. Upon request, the President or his or her designee will review pertinent records, at his or her discretion, including a review of the process to ensure that it was correctly followed, and may meet with the AAC and the student. The President or his or her designee will follow the process as established in this Handbook and ensure that the process was followed.

Dismissal policies will be implemented as fairly and equitably as possible considering all extenuating circumstances.

The Right of Petition

A student may petition the University for an exception, exemption, waiver, or special consideration of any policy. All petitions must be submitted in writing, preferably limited to one page, and accompanied by supporting documentation. Petitions should be addressed to the Program Director who, in consultation with appropriate administration and faculty, will decide the outcome. Petitions are accepted for purposes such as

• reconsideration of a rejected applicant for admission to the University,
• extending the course of study to complete the program,
• transfer of credit when the initial transfer request was denied,
• permission to continue in the program after being counseled out, or
• appealing a grade or dismissal from the program.

The Program Director’s decision may be appealed to an arbitration committee, whose decision is final. Each petition is a case unto itself and does not create a precedent for any cases to follow.

Orientation

Prior to beginning online courses, each student will receive a username, password, and directions for logging into the course platform. Students should sign into the myUSA portal Post Professional tab  tab and view a short tutorial on navigating the Blackboard learning portal. This will provide the student with some general information about online learning and assist in navigating the platform software used to complete online courses.

Registering for Coursework Online 

To register, a student must sign into his or her myUSA portal account, click on the Students Tab, and select the Registration for DE Programs located on the left menu column.

If a student is registering for a seminar or certification please call the Continuing Education Office at 1-800-241-1027, ext. 1266.

Registering for Seminars

When registering for Continuing Education seminars students may pay by check, money order, or credit card.

A Few Important Facts About Seminar Registration

Students should register as early as possible. It would be helpful to register a minimum of 30 days prior to the start date of the seminar. A deposit of $100.00 is required at time of registration to secure a spot and the balance will be due 4 weeks prior to the seminar. It is particularly important to register early for the Preparation/Certification-week 4 to 6 months prior to taking certification. There are limited slots each year for this exam. A 50% nonrefundable, nontransferable deposit is required for certification.

Occasionally seminars are cancelled; this decision is usually made 3 weeks prior to the start of the seminar. Students will be notified immediately if this has occurred.

If the student is an MPT or DPT graduate of the University of St. Augustine, because he or she successfully completed S1 and E1 as part of his or her program, he or she does not have to repeat the seminars.

Manual Therapy Certification is offered on the St. Augustine, Austin, and San Marcos campuses. Sport Physical Therapy and Primary Care are tested at the first certification week of the year only, and Craniofacial is offered during one of the scheduled weeks on the St. Augustine or Austin campus. Sports Physical Therapy students need to contact North American Sports Medicine Institute (NASMI) to register and attend the necessary certification segments provided by NASMI. The corresponding coursework for the sports courses is no longer available, but students may complete a directed study or directed readings course to correspond with each seminar.

Students need to attend the seminar before completing the credit assignment. Students do not have to wait until completing the credit assignment before taking the next seminar.

If a student would like to register for a seminar or certification, and/or request additional information on the subject, please call the Continuing Education Office at 1-800-241-1027, ext. 1400.

Reinstatement

Students that voluntarily withdraw from the program in good standing may be reinstated into the program for a fee of $50.00. These students will be permitted to bypass the normal application process and submit a one-page re-admittance application if it has been no more than 2 years since withdrawal from the program. Any student seeking reacceptance after the 2-year period must follow the normal application process.

Time Limit

MHA

It is required that MHA students complete all program requirements within 6 trimesters or 2 years. An extension of up to 1 year may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

MHS

It is required that MHS students complete all program requirements within 6 trimesters or 2 years An extension of up to 1 year may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

MSN

It is required that MSN students complete all program requirements within 2 years. An extension of up to 1 year may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

DNP

It is required that DNP students complete all program requirements within 3 years, 8 months. An extension of up to 2 years may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

OTD (POST PROFESSIONAL)

It is required that OTD (Post Professional) students complete all program requirements within 5 years. An extension of up to 2 ½ years may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

tDPT

Students are expected to complete the transitional DPT program in 4 years. An extension of up to 2 years may be requested. If the Program Director approves the extension, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester. The maximum time to complete the degree is 6 years.

DHSc

It is required that students complete all degree requirements within 5 years. An extension of up to 2 ½ years may be requested. If approved by the Program Director, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

EdD

It is required that students complete all degree requirements within 5 years. An extension of up to 2 ½ years may be requested. If approved by the Program Director, there is an extension fee of $333.00 per trimester.

MHS Comprehensive Project

A student will have one term to complete the comprehensive project. If he or she should need an extension due to illness, tragedy, or unforeseen circumstances, he or she should contact his or her faculty advisor. The student is permitted to complete the project early. All work should be completed by the end of term due date, otherwise the student will receive a grade of “Incomplete.” The student may request one 15 week extension to complete the project which must be approved by the program director. If the work remains incomplete at the end of the 15 week extension, the grade will be changed to “F” and will be on the transcript. There will be no further extensions.

Each portion (project, manuscript and oral presentation) will be graded with different criteria as follows:

• Project Option A: Community Service Project or Product Demonstrating Excellence
  • Community Service Project (50%) OR
  • Product Demonstrating Excellence (defined as something that does not necessarily benefit a community of people but may be helpful in a healthcare setting) (50%*)
  • Manuscript (25%)
  • Oral Presentation (25%)

*Project (Community Service or PDE) will be based on established learning objectives created as part of the original proposal (which may be amended if necessary). The advisor and student will work together to determine how they will be graded for 50% of the final grade.

• Project Option B: Publishable Manuscript (White Paper)
  • Publishable Written Manuscript (75%)
  • Oral Presentation (25%)
• Project Option C: Publishable Manuscript (Research Study)
  • Publishable Written Manuscript (75%)
  • Oral Presentation (25%)

Please note the following important requirement for successful completion of this final comprehensive project:

1. The student and the comprehensive project advisor will use a variety of teaching methods and communication resources to complete this project. The student must maintain an open line of communication with the advisor to successfully meet the expectations to complete the Comprehensive Project course. The student and advisor may choose to correspond via email, phone, or video chats (i.e. Zoom). All email communication must be sent to the student’s USA email address per FERPA guidelines.
2. If the project involves research, surveys, or treatment interventions, the student will first need to go through the IRB process. The project advisor and (Program Director) will assist in this process. This information is available on the myUSA portal under the Students tab.
3. The student should present the final draft of the comprehensive project to the advisor at least two weeks prior to the final presentation to allow time for appropriate edits. The timeline should be developed accordingly and shared with the advisor.
4. A presentation of the final comprehensive project is required. The student will arrange with the advisor via Zoom or similar format to occur by the end of the 14th week of the term. The Program director will attend the presentation as well as the advisor, course peers and any invited guests. The faculty advisor will be responsible for coordinating with the Program Director and inviting course peers and other guests.
5. The written portion of the project is due by the end of the 13th week of the term. If the project will be submitted for professional publishing, it should be indicated to the Program Director and due to the length of process, can occur outside the Comprehensive Project course. If publishing, authorship should be established early in the project

MSN Practica and Capstone

Students in the MSN program must complete practicum courses during the last two terms of the program. These practicum courses require completion of hours in the practicum site under the direct or indirect guidance of a preceptor.

NUR 7400 requires completion of 135 clock hours while NUR 7450, the final practicum, requires completion of 90 clock hours. NUR 7450 also requires completion of a professional portfolio as a capstone project. This portfolio includes a collection of artifacts and self-reflective essays related to accomplishment of the program learning outcomes.

Each student will submit his or her choice for a practicum site and preceptor one term prior to the commencement of the practicum. The Program Director or his or her designee will approve the practicum site for the ability to provide meaningful learning experiences in the student’s specialty and the preceptor for qualifications to guide the student onsite in learning experiences. USAHS Clinical Education department will establish a contractual relationship with the practicum site.

Financial Arrangements with the Site

The financial arrangement between the student, the practicum site, and the mentor is a matter of agreement between those three entities. USAHS will not be a party to the negotiation nor will it have any financial arrangement with the site or mentor.

OTD (Post Professional) Capstone Project

It is an expectation of the University for doctoral students to contribute publishable works considered valuable to the field of occupational therapy. The Capstone Project is a summation of the body of knowledge learned during the degree program. It is designed to assist the student in critically reviewing professional literature and expressing ideas using a scientific style of writing; therefore, a degree audit is necessary at the completion of all coursework to determine if the student meets the requirement to progress into the final phase of the program. This final phase, the Capstone sequence, allows students to focus on the development of a project, report, or research study and application of this valuable information to make a positive contribution to the profession.

In summary, Capstone 1 is the project proposal phase, including requesting approval from the University’s IRB, if the project requires approval. Capstone Projects involving human subjects or data collection must be approved by the IRB. The IRB meets several times each trimester to review project proposals. The Faculty Advisor will inform the student about strictly enforced IRB submission deadlines and information regarding the IRB process should it become a component of the Capstone Project. Capstone II is the project or research development and implementation phase. These manuscripts will require a good deal of time commitment and assistance from an assigned Faculty Advisor. It is anticipated that, after completion of this written project, a student will be ready to submit the manuscript to an appropriate journal for review and possible publication or be able to submit the material for an oral or poster presentation at a professional meeting. The final Capstone Project may take the form of one of the following options:

• Community service project or product demonstrating excellence (PDE)
• Case report
• Publishable article; perspective paper
• Publishable article; clinical research

Finally, all Capstone Projects are required to be presented at the University prior to graduation. The results of the project are shared through a poster presentation required for completion of the one-credit Residency course, which requires a 1-day, on-campus attendance scheduled the day of the student’s graduation ceremony.

Course Prerequisite

• For USAHS alumni with a master’s: Completion of coursework (a minimum of 24 academic credits)
• For student with a master’s: Completion of coursework (a minimum of 29 academic).
• For student with a bachelor’s: Completion of coursework (a minimum of 54 academic credits)

Course Instructions

The Capstone Project sequence is a total of six credits, divided into two courses.

• OCT 7496 Capstone I (3 credits)
• OCT 7499 Capstone II (3 credits)

1. The Capstone I Faculty Advisor will assist all students to develop a topic of interest.  This process of developing a topic will begin approximately 6 months prior to beginning Capstone I.  The Faculty Advisor will communicate the final topic idea to the Program Director or Designee for final approval.  Once final approval is received, the student may register for Capstone I. 
2. The student completes the written assignments including the Capstone proposal. The Capstone I Faculty Advisor evaluates the Capstone proposal and works with the student to make revisions as needed.
3. The Capstone I advisor will make an initial determination if an IRB application will need to be completed. If so, a first submission will occur in Capstone I.
4. Once Capstone I requirements are satisfactorily completed, a grade is submitted and the student is awarded three credits.
5. The student has a one trimester timeframe for full completion of the Capstone I course.
6. The student then receives communication regarding a Capstone Project Advisor to work with on an individual basis to complete Capstone II.
7. The student is expected to develop the Capstone Project, defend the outcomes of the Project, and to disseminate the results in a manner approved by the Program Director or Designee. 
8. The student has one trimester timeframe for full completion of the Capstone II course. 

tDPT Capstone

Before a student can register for Capstone I, a degree audit will be completed by the Program Director to approve the progression into the final phase of the degree program. Capstone I is a reflection of a student’s curriculum and project proposal phase. Capstone I must be completed prior to registration for Capstone II.

The University is searching for ways for a doctoral student to make a contribution to the profession and has elected to promote the value of publishable case reports and/or articles reflecting information important to the profession. The Capstone Project is a summation of the body of knowledge learned during the degree program. It is designed to assist the student in critically reviewing professional literature and being able to express ideas using a scientific style of writing. These manuscripts will require a good deal of time commitment and assistance from an assigned Faculty Advisor. It is anticipated that, after completion of this written project, a student will be ready to submit the manuscript to an appropriate journal for review and possible publication or be able to submit the material for an oral or poster presentation at a professional meeting.

Completion of this course requires submission and grading of a written manuscript. If the student is in a certification track, the topic must be in the student’s certification area and related to physical therapy practice in that specialty area.

Option A: One Case Report

A case report for publication is a detailed presentation, analyzing a particular real-life patient case. It should be well reasoned and referenced showing a depth of comprehension and understanding, as well as exhibiting learning and reasoning sufficient for a publishable product in a peer-reviewed journal.

Recommended Text: Writing Case Reports, 2nd. ed., by Irene McEwen (APTA Publication, 2001)

Option B: One Article

An article may take one of the following forms:

• Literature review: Critical analysis of literature on a specific topic of interest to PTs
• Perspective: Scholarly paper addressing professional issues
• Descriptive technical Report: Describes, evaluates, and documents the specification or mechanical aspects of a device used by PTs in intervention or measurement

Course Prerequisite

• For the student with a master’s: Completion of coursework (a minimum of 19 academic credits)
• For the student with a bachelor’s: Completion of coursework including required courses (55 academic credits)
• All students: 2.25 overall GPA or 2.50 for students accepted into the program after January 1, 2012

Course Instructions

The Capstone Project is a total of five credits divided into two courses:

• PHT6496 Capstone Project I is one credit
• PHT6497 Capstone Project II is four credits

1. The student registers for Capstone Project I—for one credit.
2. Capstone I is an online course.
3. The student completes the online course and the written assignments including the Capstone proposal.
4. The course instructor assigns a Faculty Advisor.
5. The Faculty Advisor evaluates the capstone proposal and works with the student to make revisions as needed. When the Faculty Advisor considers the proposal completed, he or she submits a grade and the student is awarded one credit for Capstone Project I. The student has a 1 trimester time frame for full completion of Capstone I course.
6. The student registers for Capstone Project II—for four credits.
7. The student completes the written assignment and submits it to the Faculty Advisor. Revisions are made as necessary. Multiple revisions may be necessary until the University is satisfied that the criteria have been met and the case report or article is deemed publishable. When the Faculty Advisor decides that the manuscript has met University standards, he or she submits a grade and the student is awarded four credits. The final version of the Capstone Project is to be completed within 2 trimesters after approval of the proposal.

Grading

Capstone Project I is Pass/Fail and Capstone Project II is awarded a letter grade. The assigned Faculty Advisor will determine when the submissions have met the University’s criteria.

The University has developed a proposal format and criteria sheets for grading your manuscript. Contact the University prior to commencing your manuscript in order to follow the required format.

tDPT Clinical Residency

A student may choose to complete a clinical residency under the supervision of a mentor rather than completing the Capstone experience. The residency option needs to be decided early in the program to allow time for the approval process and to complete residency requirements. The following information details the residency and mentor standards.

The Residency Site

A clinical residency site is an approved site where there is quality physical therapy care being delivered in the area in which the student wishes to specialize. The Transitional DPT Program Director will work with the student to set up a residency and will monitor the student’s progress throughout the residency. It is the responsibility of the student to seek out and make arrangements with the clinical site and mentor. The University may be of some assistance in providing potential sites/mentors through its network of graduates and clinical education sites. Established Residency Credentialed Programs offered through other universities or clinics may also be utilized as long as they meet our requirements. Any site which has been approved as an APTA Clinical Residency/Fellowship Credentialed Program would receive favorable consideration by the University.

If a student is interested in a clinical residency in orthopaedics or a fellowship in manual therapy through the University of St. Augustine, he or she will work with the University’s Residency/Fellowship Director to establish the specific requirements for the program. The Clinical Orthopaedic Residency and the Fellowship in Manual Therapy through the University of St. Augustine each have specific applications, separate from the Transitional DPT program.

The duration of employment at the residency site is to be not less than 9 months or 1,500 hours. The 1,500 hours may be taken over the 9 months or over a more extended period of time in the case of part-time employment. Once the 1,500 patient hours and 200 hours of educational activities have been completed, the student will receive five credits toward the Transitional DPT degree. The Clinical Orthopaedic Residency and the Fellowship in Manual Therapy here at the University of St. Augustine will have additional requirements.

The clinical residency site must be able to provide to the student a sufficient patient load in the area of specialization being sought. Sufficient is defined as being 80% of the patient load in the area of specialization.

Characteristics of a quality clinical residency site include the following:

• An invigorating environment
• Learning objectives targeted to specific needs of the student
• Ethical practices in the clinic
• Congruent patient care philosophy between the site and University
• Administrative support of clinical practice
• Effective staff communications
• Commitment to professional development
• Sufficient support services
• Adequate space and staff for patient load

Residency Standards

The University has adopted the following standards to be met by all residency sites:

• Minimum of 1,500 hours of direct patient care hours (approximately 9 months of full time clinical work in the area of specialization)
• No more than six residents to one approved mentor; the mentor may supervise residents at more than one site and may bring the residents together for group activities
• Minimum of 200 hours of didactic and clinical activities as follows:
  • 130+ clinical hours of 1:1 (one-on-one) with the mentor, with not less than 75% (i.e., 97.5 hours) with the mentor observing the resident with the balance being the resident observing the mentor
  • 10+ hours of case presentations to the mentor and staff
  • 10 articles reviewed (journal club) with mentor

One credit is awarded for each 40 hours of one-on-one mentor time, case studies, and other designated learning activities. If 5 hours per week were given to such activities, then a total of five credits would be earned in a 40-week period. All educational hours must be documented in the Residency Journal and appropriately signed by the mentor. If the minimum of five credits is not achieved within the 1,500 patient-care hours, then the residency must be continued until the educational requirements are met.

The Mentor

A physical therapist mentor will have a post-professional degree that specializes in the clinical area being sought by the student. A mentor will need to have some or all of the following qualifications:

• At least 2 to 5 years of clinical experience in the area of specialization
• APTA Board Specialization or other recognition/certification in the area of specialization, preferred
• Teaching experience (academic, continuing education presentations, and/or clinical instructor)
• Actively engaged in patient care
• Able to spend 1:1 clinic time with the resident
• Agrees with and upholds the patient care philosophy of the University

Responsibilities of the Mentor

The mentoring activity is a significant portion of the residency in terms of the student’s learning. During the 1,500-hour clinical residency, the mentor is responsible for facilitating learning for the resident by

• assisting the resident in developing residency objectives and goals;
• supervising the resident in direct patient care by instructing and refining treatment and evaluation techniques a minimum of 3 direct hours a week;
• coordinating a weekly meeting of journal club, case presentations, and article review;
• providing other mentors to assist the resident in achieving objectives;
• meeting with the resident once each month to review and revise the resident’s objectives;
• providing critique and guidance to the resident for the development and submission of case reports and poster/platform presentation;
• conducting a weekly review and signing of the Residency Journal;
• assisting or providing guidance in the development of effective communication with the physical therapy staff, other health professionals, and community at large;
• identifying the resident’s success or lack of success in maintaining responsibility of achieving objectives; and
• evaluating the resident’s skill level and reporting the results to the University at least once per trimester.

Financial Arrangements with the Site

The financial arrangement between the student, the residency site, and mentor is a matter of agreement between those three entities. The USAHS will not be a party to the negotiation nor will it have any financial arrangement with the site or mentor.

Registering for Clinical Residency

If a student is electing to complete a Clinical Residency in lieu of the Capstone Project, it is important to contact the University as soon as possible to plan and discuss the Clinical Residency. The Program Director will assist the student in completing the appropriate forms and planning the educational requirements. For further information, contact the Transitional DPT Program Director.

EdD and DHSc Dissertation Committee

The Dissertation Committee must consist of two official*, qualified, and approved members:

1.  Primary Advisor/ Dissertation Committee Chair (this person must have an academic terminal degree with a record of scholarly performance)
2. Dissertation Committee Member (First Reader)

One of the above two people must be a USAHS Faculty member or employee. The student has the right of selection for the members of the committee. Should the student need or desire a third member, a subject matter expert or statistician, the student may add this person. Should the student require assistance in finding suitable committee members, he or she should consult the Program Director.

Approved committee members will be issued a small honorarium by USA for their service to the student and the community; thus official paperwork will need to be processed and this form will serve as the initiation of that process.

*Official committee members, must be approved by the Director.

Advancing to Candidacy

In a doctoral program there are specific provisions that are required to be met—prior to the students advancing to candidacy and becoming eligible to conduct doctoral research. There are five features that are required to be complete to advance to candidacy:

1. 48 credits of coursework must be successfully completed.
2. The written comprehensive must be successfully completed.
3. A Dissertation Committee must be proposed and approved.
4. A formal dissertation concept paper must be submitted and approved.
5. An IRB form must be ready to be submitted, for all institutions to be involved in the proposed research. If research is to be conducted at an institution other than USAHS, the student must first obtain IRB approval at the institution where the research is being conducted and submit this approval with the USAHS IRB submission.

Once a student has completed these five features of the program he or she is eligible to become a doctoral candidate, and may register for the dissertation process (Committee approval and IRB approval are still required prior to collecting any data).

Progression

Beginning in January 2017, students will sign up for one dissertation course, consisting of 12 credits and led by the Dissertation Chair. Progress will be dictated by the deliverables required and outlined in the syllabus. Should completion require more than three terms, an additional fee will apply.