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PHYSICAL THERAPY

 

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Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

This program utilizes a modified problem-based curriculum unique to the region. The mission of the Physical Therapy program is to prepare doctors of physical therapy, grounded in evidence-based practice, who are health care practitioners of choice for individuals with conditions affecting movement and function. The program’s goals are to

• graduate scholarly practitioners who are well prepared for general practice;
• prepare entry-level practitioners who utilize an evidence-based approach in clinical decision making;
• nurture self-responsibility, active learning, intellectual curiosity, and self-efficacy in lifelong learning;
• prepare autonomous physical therapists for various professional roles including clinician, manager, educator, advocate, researcher, and consultant; and
• produce well-informed ethical decision makers who embrace cultural diversity and aspire toward service to others and contributions to broader social welfare.

The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Admission Requirements and Eligibility: Since the Physical Therapy (PT) program is a three-year, full-time program, applicants have a separate admissions process and a notification of admission status shortly after the required interview. Entry into the program is in the fall semester only. Class size is limited to 35 students. Marymount University participates in the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), offered through the American Physical Therapy Association. With this system, one central application is completed. Materials are then forwarded to all programs to which the individual applied through PTCAS. The PTCAS Web site (www.ptcas.org) provides further information and instructions about the application process. The deadline to submit a completed application is December 1. Applications submitted after December 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.

In order to be considered for admission, applicants need the following:

• a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to entry into the Physical Therapy program;
• a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA for all college and university coursework;
• a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA for all prerequisite science coursework; and
• completion of 40 hours of observation or volunteer service work in a physical therapy clinical setting, verified by a physical therapist from the clinical setting. These hours may be completed at more than one clinical facility.

Application materials are available on the PTCAS Web site. A complete application includes

• the PTCAS application form;
• an autobiographical essay, as described in the application packet;
• official transcripts for all college and university coursework;
• verification of completing 40 hours of clinical observation or work in a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist;
• two letters of recommendation (using the form provided by PTCAS) from faculty, academic advisors, physical therapists, or employers addressing the applicant’s ability, motivation, and interest in pursuing graduate studies in Physical Therapy; and
• scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), sent directly to Marymount University.

The Physical Therapy program’s Admissions Committee reviews all applications. Initial evaluation of applicants includes assessment of overall GPA, prerequisite science GPA, GRE scores, applicant’s written statement, community activities, and recommendations.

Special consideration is given to current Marymount students who have completed at least two full-time semesters at Marymount prior to applying, Marymount University graduates, and persons from minority groups that are underrepresented in the profession.

Applicants are selected based upon their qualifications and potential to contribute to the profession and their community, and who represent a broad diversity of backgrounds.

After the initial review of an applicant’s preliminary materials, he or she may be invited to participate in an interview, typically a Saturday in late January or early February. Interview Day consists of a personal interview, group activity, and facility tour. Please check the University Web site or call the Office of Graduate Admissions to determine the dates of Interview Day for the upcoming year. Admission decisions are announced to applicants within 30 days following their scheduled interview. All accepted students must confirm acceptance within three weeks of notification.

Prerequisite Coursework: The following courses, or their equivalent, must be completed with a grade of C or better (C– is not acceptable) prior to beginning the Physical Therapy program; however, please note that a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in all PT prerequisite coursework is required for admission. No more than 12 credits from this group of courses may remain incomplete at the time of application to the program. For those students admitted to the program, final transcripts for these courses (if applicable) must be submitted to the PT office by mid-August.

• CHM 151-152 Principles of Chemistry I & II (8 credits)
• BIO 151-152 General Biology I & II (8 credits)
• BIO 161-162 Anatomy and Physiology I & II (8 credits)
• PHYS 171-172 General Physics I & II (8 credits)
• MA 132 Statistical Analysis (3 credits)
• PSY 101 General Psychology (3 credits)
• Psychology or Sociology elective (3 credits)

International students for whom English is a second language, please see Test of English as a Foreign Language score requirements.

Provisional Admission Policy: Occasionally, an applicant who does not fully meet Physical Therapy admission requirements may be admitted as a provisional student. Candidates for provisional admission are evaluated by the Department of Physical Therapy, and documents supporting a request for provisional admission are forwarded to the dean for approval. Provisional students must complete the first semester of graduate study with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Failure to meet this condition or withdrawal from required first-semester courses will result in dismissal from the program. After successful completion of the first semester of the Physical Therapy program, a provisional student will be moved to active status.

Clinical Education: Clinical activities are integrated throughout the three-year curriculum. Integrated part-time clinical experiences take place in local physical therapy clinics and coincide directly with didactic learning activities. Clinical full-time practicums take place in clinics locally, nationally, and internationally. The majority of full-time clinical placements occur within the greater metropolitan Washington area and nearby states. Typically, students complete full-time practicums in 8-week or 12-week rotations, at three different clinic sites.

Clinical Requirements: A copy of each PT student’s medical examination record is required upon admission. Physical Therapy students must also provide

• written verification of testing for tuberculosis or screening if PPD is positive (required annually) prior to registering for classes;
• written verification or letter of declination of the following immunizations: Hepatitis B, MMR, Chicken Pox, and Tetanus/Diphtheria;
• written verification of health insurance coverage, submitted to the clinical agency coordinator;
• written verification of CPR certification (adult, child, and infant) prior to registration for the first clinical Physical Therapy course (current CPR certification must be provided to the clinical agency coordinator each semester);
• a criminal background check, which is a federal requirement for all persons working with vulnerable populations;
• drug screening, required by clinical agencies; and
• additional requirements as stated by specific health care agencies.

Students will not be permitted to register for classes until all requirements are met.

Clinical-Experience Transportation: Students provide their own transportation to and from courses and clinical experiences. The University’s free shuttle service connects the Main Campus, the Ballston Center, and the Ballston-MU Metro station.

Minimum Grade and Academic Progression Requirements: In addition to meeting the University’s academic standards for graduate students, Physical Therapy students MUST receive a minimum grade of B– in each course required for the D.P.T. degree. However, students are only allowed to receive a grade lower than a B in two courses across the entire Physical Therapy curriculum. Receiving three grades lower than a B will result in dismissal from the PT program.

In order to progress in the program, a student who receives a grade less than B– must repeat the course and achieve a grade of B or better upon retake. Contingent upon availability of space in the class the following year, the student will be given one opportunity to repeat the course in which a grade less than B– was received. Both the original grade and the grade of the repeated course will appear on the student’s transcript. Only the higher grade will be used to calculate the GPA. Receiving three grades lower than B will result in dismissal from the PT program, even if courses were repeated with a grade of B or better when retaken.

Upon receiving a grade lower than a B–, a student should immediately contact the PT department chair.

Provisional students who do not complete the full course load in the first semester of graduate study or do not receive a semester GPA of 3.0 or better will be dismissed from the program.

The Comprehensive Examination: Each student must pass a comprehensive written examination after completion of all coursework. All Physical Therapy program faculty members contribute questions to the exam.

Degree Requirements
96 credits

Year One
Fall PT 700 Clinical Neuroscience PT 701 Applied Pathophysiology PT 702 Health Care Delivery and Contemporary Society	Spring HPR 500 Exercise Physiology PT 710 Gross Anatomy PT 711 Foundations of PT Examination, Evaluation, and Diagnosis PT 712 Evidence-Based Practice I: Critical Assessment of Information
Year Two
Fall PT 720 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Peripheral Musculoskeletal Disorders PT 721 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Spinal Musculoskeletal Disorders PT 722 Physical Agents and Electrotherapeutics PT 723 Research Principles and Design	Spring PT 730 Evaluation and Management of Patients in Acute Care PT 731 Clinical Application of PT Management of Patients in Acute Care PT 732 The PT as a Manager PT 733 Evidence-Based Practice II: Applying Evidence in the Clinical Environment Summer PT 800 Clinical Practicum I
Year Three
Fall PT 740 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Neurological Disorders PT 741 Clinical Applications of PT Management of Patients with Neurological Disorders PT 744 Case Report I: Foundations PT 745 Clinical Practice Synthesis PT 801A Clinical Practicum II	Spring PT 801B Clinical Practicum II PT 754 Capstone Seminar PT 755 Topics in Specialty Practice PT 803 Case Report II Summer PT 802 Clinical Practicum III

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