Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy

College of Health Sciences
Department Chair Susan P. Barker, PhD

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

The physical therapy program is committed to providing students with quality education using traditional face-to-face and distance/digital methods, in order to develop competent physical therapy practitioners able to think critically 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: 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

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:

1. Class rank in the top 1/3 of the graduating class;
2. Minimum combined SAT score of 1130 for Critical Reading and Math (or minimum composite score of 23 for the ACT); and
3. 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.

Students admitted as pre-DPT freshmen are guaranteed progression into the graduate DPT program, as described in “Advancement to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program.” There is no need to re-apply for admission into the graduate program.

Graduate Admission

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

Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)

Misericordia University participates in the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service. Applicants for graduate admission who apply through PTCAS will submit a completed web-based application comprised of biographical data, colleges and universities attended, academic course history, physical therapy observation hours, list of reference providers, work experience, extracurricular activities, honors, professional licenses, and a personal essay. It is the applicant’s responsibility to read and follow all PTCAS and program-specific instructions.

The PTCAS admissions cycle begins in July of each year. Applicants may start and submit the PTCAS application as soon as it is available. It can be accessed at http://www.ptcas.org.

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) graduate program will be evaluated by the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee, along with external transfer applicants. Admission to the Physical Therapy major is not guaranteed, and is on a space available basis.

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

1. Completion of requirements for 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.

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.

If SAT scores are older than five years, GRE or Miller’s Analogy Test scores are required.

Required Prerequisite Courses

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 (for those entering in the Spring 2019 semester)

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.
• 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.

Additional requirements specific to the prerequisite Natural Science courses (CHM 104 General Chemistry , CHM 105 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry , BIO 211 Anatomy and Physiology I , BIO 212 Anatomy and Physiology II , PHY 117 Physics Introduction I , PHY 118 Physics Introduction II , or their equivalents):

• The student may have no more than one grade of C for the prerequisite Natural Science courses.
• The student may repeat no more than one prerequisite Natural Science course.
• Any grades earned in Natural Science courses taken for transfer credit are included in the academic requirements. If the student has taken a Natural Science course for transfer credit, the student must submit an official transcript to the Physical Therapy Department in addition to the one submitted to the Registrar by the end of November of the student’s senior year.

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 as an internal transfer into the DPT program. At this point, the student’s admission into the professional curriculum is on a space-available basis.

Prerequisite courses: