Convocation Center

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The School of Physical Therapy offers an entry-level master's program in physical therapy leading to a Master of Physical Therapy (M.P.T.) degree. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The 3+3 curriculum means that you can complete three years of undergraduate study and three years of professional or graduate study. The professional program begins in June and extends over a three-calendar-year period.

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The problem-solving curriculum is designed to prepare competent health care professionals who will be able to employ critical decision-making skills for optimal patient care and to use critical inquiry for self-assessment, health care and professional issues, evaluation, research, and practice analysis.

Clinical experience is integrated with the didactic and laboratory components throughout the program of study. Part-time clinical practica are arranged in local clinics (community hospitals, home health agencies, extended care facilities, developmental disabilities centers, and private practices) supervised by faculty and staff from Ohio University Therapy Associates, the school's faculty practice. Full-time clinical practica are arranged in clinical facilities located outside the Athens area. The School of Physical Therapy has agreements with a large variety of medical centers, general acute hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and specialty clinics in Ohio as well as Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

If accepted into the program, you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from clinical sites and for housing and other living expenses during all of your affiliations. You also will be required to: (1) obtain CPR certification prior to participation in full-time practica; (2) have a physical examination, including evidence of results of a recent TB skin test; and (3) provide documentation of current immunization for hepatitis B (or a waiver form). Some sites may require proof of immunization for other selected diseases. In addition, you must purchase malpractice insurance to be eligible for participation in the clinical practica. Membership in the American Physical Therapy Association and attendance at state conferences are encouraged.

Eligibility to Apply

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply for June admission to the School of Physical Therapy's graduate program:

1. Earned a minimum overall grade-point average (g.p.a.) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Completed at least 8 of the 13 Life and Physical Sciences prerequisite courses by the end of the fall quarter in which you apply. You must complete the remainder of the math, behavioral, and life/physical science prerequisites during the winter and spring quarters following submission of your application and before beginning study in the program.
3. Completed or be able to complete a baccalaureate degree by the end of the first year of the program.

Minimum Prerequisite Course Requirements*

General

Math

Behavioral Science

Life and Physical Sciences**

                      TOTAL 94-98 qtr hrs

*Recommended routes at Ohio University for completing prerequisite coursework, a baccalaureate degree, or a degree in absentia are through the College of Arts and Sciences Biological Sciences Pre-Physical Therapy Program or Psychology Pre-Physical Therapy Program; or the College of Health and Human Services, School of Recreation and Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences-Exercise Physiology program, which offers a slightly less direct route. Contact your advisor for additional information or questions about the in absentia degree. If you are in the Sport Sciences-Exercise Physiology option and have questions about the in absentia degree, contact the school director, Grover Center 5.

**All life and physical science courses except for Biomechanics/Animal Locomotion must include a laboratory component. You must have a total of 20 quarter hours (14 semester hours) at or above the junior (300) level in the anatomy, physiology, and exercise physiology lecture and lab courses.

Application Procedures

1. Obtain a Physical Therapy Graduate Program Admission Packet from the School of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, 172 Convocation Center, Athens OH 45701. (Note: all application materials will be included in the packet. Do not use application or recommendation forms found in the Graduate Catalog.)
2. Submit completed application packets to the School of Physical Therapy at the address shown in item 1 above. There is a nonrefundable fee for application to a graduate program at Ohio University. The following must be included with the packet:

   a. Evidence of either an earned baccalaureate degree or plan for degree completion:

   If you have a baccalaureate degree at the time of application, submit transcripts with verification of the degree(s) awarded If you do not have a baccalaureate degree at the time of application but will have a baccalaureate degree awarded before beginning the professional program in June, submit a plan for completing the degree signed by your advisor. You must provide verification of the completion of degree requirements before you begin the professional program, and an official transcript indicating the awarding of the degree must be received by Graduate Student Services by the start of the fall quarter.

   If you will not have a baccalaureate degree before you begin the professional program in June and you are pursuing an in absentia degree, you must submit a plan for completing the in absentia degree that has been signed by the dean of your college or your advisor.

   b. Two official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended except Ohio University. If you completed prerequisite coursework at institutions other than Ohio University, you must submit course descriptions.

Selection Procedures

1. Overall g.p.a.
2. Prerequisite life and physical sciences g.p.a.
3. Interview
4. Essay
5. References

Typically 36 students will be admitted yearly. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by mid-April.

Program of Study

First Year Coursework

Eligibility Requirements to Begin Physical Therapy Coursework

1. Completion of all prerequisite coursework.
2. An earned baccalaureate degree or an approved plan for baccalaureate degree completion by the end of the first year of the physical therapy program. If you do not complete a degree by the end of the first year, you will not be allowed to progress into the second year (which begins the next June).

    

University Publications and Computer Services revised this file (https://www.ohio.edu/~ucat/97-98/colleges/pt.htm) August 24, 1998.

Please e-mail comments or suggestions to "ucat@www.ohiou.edu."