Physical Therapy


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Ohio University Front Door Graduate Catalog - Undergraduate Catalog -


Graduate Physical Therapy Courses

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 begins in June and extends over a three-calendar-year period. The problem-solving curriculum is designed to prepare com-petent health care professionals who will be able to employ critical decision-making skills for optimal patient care and utilize 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, skilled nursing facilities, developmental disabilities centers, and private practices). Students are supervised by faculty and staff from Ohio University Therapy Associates, the school's faculty practice, and local clinicians. Full-time clinical practica are arranged in clinical facilities located outside of the Athens area. The School of Physical Therapy has agreements with medical centers, general acute hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and specialty clinics in Ohio as well as Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, 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; (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 waiver form). Because you may be exposed to infectious diseases during your affilia-tions, some sites may require proof of immunization for other diseases. In addition, you must purchase name tags and 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

The School of Physical Therapy accepts students in two categories: those who already possess a baccalaureate degree and those who are eligible to receive a baccalaureate degree by the completion of the first year of professional study.

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

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

Minimum Prerequisite Course Requirements*

General

Mathematics

Life and Physical Sciences**

Total 93-99 quarter hours

*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 Prephysical Therapy Program or Psychology Prephysical 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.

**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 anatomy, physiology, and exercise physiology lecture and lab courses.


Application

Materials are available each September for application to the following year's class (which begins in June). The application deadline is the third Wednesday in November. To apply, you must:

  1. Obtain a Physical Therapy Graduate Program admission packet from the School of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Convocation Center 172, Athens OH 45701. All application materials are included in the packet; do not use application or recommendation forms found in this catalog.

  2. Submit your completed application packet to School of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Convocation Center 172, Athens OH 45701-2979, by the third Wednesday in November. The following materials must be included:

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

    1. If you have a baccalaureate degree at the time of application, submit transcripts with verification of the degree(s) awarded

    2. 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. Verification of the completion of degree requirements must be provided before you begin the professional program. An official transcript indicating the awarding of the degree must be received by Graduate Student Services by the start of the fall quarter.

    3. If you will not have a baccalaureate degree before you begin the professional program in June and you are pursuing a degree in absentia, submit a plan for completing the degree signed by the dean of your college or your advisor. (If are admitted to the program and 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.)

  4. Two official transcripts, with course descriptions, from each postsecondary institution attended. (You do not need to submit transcripts for coursework completed at Ohio University.)

  5. Nonrefundable application fee.


Selection

The School of Physical Therapy admis-sions committee considers the following in ranking and selecting eligible applicants:

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

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


Eligibility Requirements to Begin Physical Therapy Coursework

If admitted, you must meet the following requirements before you begin physical therapy coursework in June:

  1. Completion of all prerequisite coursework.
  2. Completion of a 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 the following June.


Program of Study

The following is a listing of the courses required in the three-calendar-year graduate professional education program in physical therapy. First-year courses are dual listed at the undergraduate (400) and graduate (500) level. Depending upon your admittance status, you enroll in either the undergraduate or graduate level of the course during your first year.

First-Year Coursework

Second-Year Coursework

Third-Year Coursework

*The clinical practica are full 40-hour-week experiences. Clinical Practicum I is six weeks in length during the second summer. Clinical Practicum II is four weeks in length during winter break of Year 2. Clinical Practicum III is six weeks during the third summer. Clinical practicum IV is 12 weeks during spring of the third year.


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Ohio University Front Door Graduate Catalog - Undergraduate Catalog -


University Publications and Computer Services revised this file (https://www.ohio.edu/~gcat/97-99/areas/phth.htm) June 2, 1998.

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