Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy

College of Health Sciences
Department Chair Kristen Karnish, EdD

Students are admitted at the first year and post-baccalaureate level to the doctor of physical therapy program. A student accepted at the first year level completes 6-1/2 years of study, resulting in a bachelor’s degree and a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree. During the first 3-1/2 years, the student completes the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in an area of the student’s choice. Students accepted into the pre-DPT program at the first year level are guaranteed progression into the graduate DPT program, as long as academic criteria are met. A student accepted at the post-baccalaureate level completes 3 years of study, resulting in a DPT degree. The graduate DPT program is eight semesters in length.

The physical therapy program at Misericordia University received full accreditation status in 2010. Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as physical therapists in the individual United States and territories. For additional information, contact the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria VA 22314-3245; (703) 706-3245; [email protected].

• Mission
• Philosophy
• Goals (Program Learning Outcomes)
• Freshman Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
• Graduate Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
• Advancement to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
• Essential Functions for the Physical Therapy Student
• Background Check and Drug Screening Notice
• Sequence of Courses

Mission

The physical therapy program is committed to providing students with quality education, based on the standards and values of the physical therapy profession, in order to develop competent and ethical physical therapy practitioners able to think critically, value diversity, and apply best available evidence to practice.  The program prepares graduates for productive careers in physical therapy and as advocates for and participants in life-long learning, in accordance with the values of the Sisters of Mercy and the charisms of Misericordia University: justice, mercy, service and hospitality.

Philosophy

The physical therapy education program is based on the belief that graduates of entry-level physical therapy programs should possess the clinical decision making and problem solving skills which enable them to function as reflective practitioners in the contemporary, dynamic health care system. Physical therapists need to be sensitive to the needs of a culturally diverse society as evident in their interactions with clients, families, health care colleagues and the community in which they practice.

An educational program for physical therapists should reflect the concepts of androgogy (adult education) to include problem solving, critical thinking and analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and integration of theory and evidence in practice, clinical decision making, mentoring and self-directed learning.

Physical therapists should integrate the core values of the profession in all professional activities. While capable of autonomous practice, they should have the ability and desire to remain open to input from and collaboration with other health care professionals.

A physical therapy entry-level education program prepares physical therapy generalists but provides graduates with the tools which enable them to develop specialty expertise through the application of critical thinking and problem solving skills and a holistic approach to health care.

The academic and clinical faculty and the academic and clinical education environments must reflect and foster professional values and behaviors. The academic and clinical faculty and curriculum components must be inextricably linked for the provision of a professional education program that prepares competent health care practitioners.

A diverse faculty whose members have responsibilities and activities consistent with their areas of teaching and scholarly expertise strengthens and enhances a professional education program.

Goals (Program Learning Outcomes)

The goals of the entry-level DPT program are to prepare graduates to:

1. Be prepared to practice as physical therapist generalists capable of contemporary, reflective, competent, legal, autonomous and ethical practice.
2. Competently utilize and contribute to evidence for the validation and advancement of the art and science of physical therapy.
3. Apply appropriate and effective teaching methods to educate others.
4. Effectively communicate and interact with colleagues for the benefit of optimal service to clients.
5. Respect and respond to individual differences in interactions with clients, families, colleagues and the community.

Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

There are two forms of admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program: freshman admission and graduate admission.

Freshman Admission

Minimum criteria for admission to the pre-DPT program are:

• Class rank in the top 1/3 of the graduating class; and
• Completion of at least three years of mathematics, one year of biology, and one year of chemistry in high school.
• Additionally, high school preparation in physics is highly recommended. Exposure to and exploration of physical therapy as demonstrated by paid or volunteer experience is strongly encouraged.

DPT entry is guaranteed to 50 rising undergraduate students. Program attrition for pre-DPT students typically allows for all students meeting program progression requirements to access graduate level slots in the DPT program. However, in the unlikely occurrence that more than 50 students meet the progression criteria, the top 50 as ranked by cumulative Misericordia University undergraduate grade point average (GPA) will be selected.

Graduate Admission

Admission at the graduate level is on a very limited space available basis.

A limited number of students is typically accepted on a space-available basis into the graduate portion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. To apply, contact the Admissions Office directly: www.misericordia.edu/apply

The deadline for submitting an application for graduate admission into the DPT program is April 15th of the year before the student wishes to begin the graduate program.

Internal Students

Students who currently attend Misericordia University and who wish to transfer into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program can apply for internal transfer with guarantee of progression into the graduate DPT program. The awarding of a guarantee of progression is determined on a space-available basis.

To apply for internal transfer into a guarantee of progression for the graduate DPT program, a student must:

• Have completed a minimum of 60 credits, with a C or better in all DPT prerequisite courses
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.2
• Have completed four semesters of Pre-DPT Natural Science prerequisites, with no more than one C in Pre-DPT Natural Science courses
• Be following a plan of study that would allow them to complete
• All Pre-DPT prerequisites plus the requirements for a Pre-DPT undergraduate major prior to their planned entry into the graduate DPT program
• Write a letter to the Physical Therapy Department (addressed to the current Chairperson) requesting internal transfer into a Pre-DPT major indicating the spring semester in which the student plans to enter into the graduate DPT program. The letter must also describe how the student plans to complete all outstanding requirements for progression prior to entry into the graduate DPT program. Sign and date the letter.
• Deliver the letter and this completed application to the Director of the Student Success Center

External Students

The criteria for admission into the DPT graduate program (spring semester) are:

1. Completion of baccalaureate degree.
2. Completion of required prerequisite courses with a grade of at least C for each course.
3. Cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.
4. Pre-requisite GPA of at least 3.0.
5. Exposure to and exploration of physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of 50 or more hours in at least two different facilities or a minimum of one year’s full-time professional experience within the health care system.
6. Successful completion of one credit medical terminology course or its equivalent.

Required Prerequisite Courses for DPT

Required DPT prerequisite courses include the following (or their equivalent):

Policies related to transfer of credit to the University and the academic calendar can be found in the “Academics” section of the University catalog.

Advancement to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program

In order to progress into the graduate DPT Program in the spring semester of the student’s senior year, a student must meet all of the following criteria:

• Completion of all requirements for baccalaureate degree by the end of the fall semester of the student’s senior year.
• Completion of required pre-requisite courses with a grade of at least C for each course. (C minus is not acceptable.)
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. Note: cumulative GPA can be below 3.2 during undergraduate study, as long as it is at least 3.2 upon finishing the undergraduate program.
• DPT Prerequisite Natural Science GPA of at least 3.0.  Note: DPT prerequisite Natural Science GPA can be below 3.0 during undergraduate study, as long as it is at least 3.0 upon finishing the undergraduate program.
• Exposure to and exploration of physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of 50 or more hours in at least two different facilities or a minimum of one year’s full-time professional experience within the health care system.
• Medical terminology competency.

DPT entry is guaranteed to 50 rising undergraduate students. Program attrition for pre-DPT students typically allows for all students meeting program progression requirements to access graduate level slots in the DPT program. However, in the unlikely occurrence that more than 50 students meet the progression criteria, the top 50 as ranked by cumulative Misericordia University undergraduate grade point average (GPA) will be selected.

A pre-DPT student with a record of university disciplinary or academic integrity sanction may be denied advancement to the DPT program. A student with a record of sanction may petition the Physical Therapy faculty for consideration of advancement, but the petition does not guarantee admission. Students with a record of sanction who choose not to petition will automatically be denied advancement to the DPT program.

If a pre-DPT student fails to meet the criteria to advance into the DPT program by the scheduled beginning of spring semester of his or her senior year, his or her space in the DPT program will not be guaranteed. He or she will be required to submit a request to the Physical Therapy Department Admissions Committee for admission into the DPT program at the graduate level. At this point, the student’s admission into the professional curriculum is on a space-available basis.

Prerequisite courses:

Essential Functions for the Physical Therapy Student

Essential Functions Handbook.  These essential functions are the activities that a student physical therapist must be able to perform, with or without accommodations, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for successful completion of the professional curriculum. They are applicable in the classroom, laboratories, simulated clinical settings, and while on clinical education assignments. The University uses independent clinical education sites that may or may not be willing or able to offer the same reasonable accommodations that are made available by the University

Background Check and Drug Screening Notice

A positive criminal record check, positive child abuse history and/or a positive drug screening may result in any of the following:

• inability to find or delay in finding a clinical placement
• dismissal from a clinical placement
• inability to obtain professional licensure
• legal ramifications
• inability to matriculate or continue in physical therapy program
• inability to meet requirements for graduation from the program

As a result, a student with a positive criminal record check, positive child abuse history, and/or a positive drug screen may not be able to complete the requirements of the physical therapy program, may not be eligible for licensure required for practice, and may be dismissed from the program.