Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Catalog NOT CURRENT 
    
2018-2019 Catalog NOT CURRENT [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physical Therapy, tDPT


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Mission Statement

The mission of the tDPT is to develop leaders in physical therapy patient examination, evaluation, intervention, and case management. Special focus is placed on the foundational sciences of anatomy and biomechanics, while enhancing the clinical reasoning and treatment skills of the student. Because this program is designed for physical therapists that work in clinical practice, it is expected that students will bring about positive improvements to the workplace as they progress through the program. This program will help to promote the profession by developing experiences that address the critical issues found in the delivery of healthcare today.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the transitional tDPT program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to

  • display personal and professional development and lifelong learning activities in the physical therapy profession,
  • initiate collaborative relationships and communication with patients/clients and other healthcare providers,
  • adopt evidence-based practice and informed decision making within physical therapy practice,
  • exhibit effective communication skills in physical therapy practice to advance professional goals,
  • display professional and ethical behavior in daily interactions within physical therapy practice,
  • exhibit leadership skills to promote the advancement of the profession of physical therapy, and
  • utilize critical thinking and reasoning skills when making decisions within physical therapy practice.

This program is designed for practitioners who will also assume leadership roles in the profession of physical therapy. The program reinforces clinical excellence. A variety of course assignments, such as multiple-choice tests, short essays, and problem-solving exercises, are used to test mastery of the learning objectives. A summary or capstone project, consisting of a case report or literature review, integrates content knowledge across program coursework. A mentored clinical residency may also be completed.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is open to all physical therapists who entered the profession with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in physical therapy from an accredited institution. It is expected that all applicants are licensed or eligible for licensure in the United States; however, those international students who are not planning to pursue licensure in the United States are exempt from this requirement. If the student plans to complete a clinical residency, he or she must be a licensed physical therapist in the state where the residency is located. For more details on admission, see the Admission to the University  section of this catalog.

Official transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning must be submitted directly to the University in accordance with the Application for Admission instructions.

International Students Applying for Admission

Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/or degree programs can be considered for admission. The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences does not offer English language services, including instruction. All instruction at the University is conducted in English. To be considered for admission to the tDPT program, the following criteria will apply:

  • The candidate must be a graduate of a program in a country that is a member of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy.
  • The candidate must submit transcripts (original and a translated version, if applicable) and a credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that provides evidence of training at a level equivalent to that of a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in the United States. Physical therapists who graduated from a physiotherapy program that is accredited by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) do not need to submit a credentialing evaluation as part of the application process.
  • Submit an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report if his or her education was completed in a language other than English. A minimum score of 210 (computer-based testing), or 83 (IBT—Internet based testing) is required.

Notification of Status

The applicant will be notified via e-mail from the Admissions Office of his or her admission status after review of all required application materials by the Admissions Committee.

Academic Requirements

To remain in the tDPT program, the student must

  • maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and
  • register for a minimum of one course within 12 weeks of the date of the acceptance letter.

Program Overview

The physical therapist holding a master’s degree (first professional or post-professional) will need to complete Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice, Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies, and Capstone Project for nine required academic credits, and 15 elective academic credits. The tDPT program is 24 credits for the master’s level students.

The physical therapist holding a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy will need to complete Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice, Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies, Pharmacology, Imaging, Differential Diagnosis, and Capstone Project for 18 required academic credits, and will need to complete four elective academic credits and 38 clinical integration credits (Clinical Integration I, II, III, IV, and V). The tDPT program is 60 credits for the bachelor’s-level students.

At the end of the educational experience, the graduate will be awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

The student has the choice of completing the capstone project or a mentored clinical residency with the primary goal of providing an educational experience that assists the student in focusing his or her ideas and thoughts. The capstone project may take the form of one case report or an article (literature review, perspective paper, or descriptive technical report) prepared in publishable format. The mentored clinical residency is a supervised clinical experience in the specialty area selected by the student. To earn five credits for a clinical residency, the student is required to complete a minimum of 9 to 12 months of patient care plus a minimum of 200 educational activity hours.

Process for Obtaining the Transitional DPT Degree

  • Students begin by completing coursework in either a clinical specialty track, leading toward a certification, or a non-specialty clinical track of elective coursework. Students may begin registering for the necessary seminars and coursework as soon as they are accepted into the program. Many credit assignments consist of an online course with required short essay assignments and unit quizzes.
  • For the specialty clinical track, following completion of all certification seminars, the student may attend the Preparation and Certification Examination Week. Completion of the certification examination is not required for degree completion.
  • Once a student with a master’s degree has obtained 19 credits toward the degree program,  he or she will proceed to Capstone Project I and II. An assigned Faculty Advisor approves an outline of the project, and then the student will complete either one publishable case report or one publishable article. The advisor will review and assist with revisions as needed.
  • If a clinical residency is chosen in lieu of the capstone project, the proposed residency site and mentor must meet the approval of the Program Director and residency criteria. It is recommended that students complete at least two specialty-track seminars prior to starting the residency. The approval process must begin early in the program. Contact the department for explanation of the approval process.
  • Students with a BSPT will proceed by completing the 51 required credits including Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice, Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies, Pharmacology, Differential Diagnosis for the Therapist, Imaging, and Clinical Integration courses I–V, and four elective credits. Upon completion of 55 credits, they may begin work on Capstone Project I and II. An assigned Faculty Advisor approves an outline of the project, and then the student completes either one publishable case report or one publishable article. The advisor will review and assist with revisions as needed.

Delivery of Coursework

Courses in the tDPT program are offered in a variety of formats. In some cases as noted in the course description, a prerequisite for a course may be completion of a continuing education seminar. This learning experience is then enhanced through completion of assignments. These assignments are submitted to the University for grading in a specified time frame according to the course syllabus.

Other courses are offered strictly through a distance education online course format. No seminar attendance is required and all learning activities are completed at a distance. Each course has a variety of learning activities that must be completed and graded to receive credit for the course.

Course Time Limits

There will be a due date for all course assignments. In most courses, this will be 8 to15 weeks. The academic calendar for the University is divided into 3 trimesters: spring, summer, and fall. Trimester periods are denoted on the Academic Calendar.

Incomplete Coursework

The grade of “I” (Incomplete) is used, for reasons acceptable to the instructor(s), a student has not completed required work within a course by the end of a term. The length of time granted for the completion of the requirement of the course is one additional trimester (15 weeks) after which the “I” grade will be changed to an “F” if the coursework has not been completed. Upon successful completion of the requirement, the student will be assigned a letter grade by the instructor. If the “I” is assigned a grade of “D” or “F” the appropriate action will be taken per present written policy on academic standing.

Time Limit

It is required that students complete all requirements within 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.

Optional Specializations

Students enrolled in the tDPT program are eligible to earn the Specialization of Executive Leadership and/or the Specialization of Teaching and Learning. The Specializations are earned by completing certain elective courses within the program and maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA in those courses. Students should speak with their advisor or Program Director about the specializations and include them in their Plan of Study (POS). Courses for the Specialization of Executive Leadership include Foundations of Healthcare Administration, Human Resource Management and Organizational Development and Leadership for HC Admin, Strategic Planning in Healthcare Administration, Organizational Finance, Organizational Leadership and Policy in Healthcare, and Operations and Quality Management in Healthcare. Courses for the Specialization of Teaching and Learning include Foundational Theory in Education, Program and Curricular Design for Health Science Education, Teaching Methods for Higher Education, Current Issues in Health Sciences, or Assessment and Evaluation in Health Professions Education and Practical Application in Online Teaching.

Tuition and Fees

See Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.

Curriculum


Required Courses


(Applicant with a Masters Degree)

Total Hours 24


Total Hours 60


Certifications Tracks


Students may choose elective credits as needed from a track.

Elective Courses (Non-Specialty Track)


*Courses designated as a DPT level course in the post-professional course listing in this Catalog may be taken as an elective.

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