Physical Therapy

Dr. Nancy Fell, Department Head
(423) 425-4747 or email at Nancy-Fell@utc.edu

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UTC is designed to prepare graduates to meet professional entry-level physical therapist practice competencies. The curriculum addresses contemporary practice approaches to the management of movement system disorders across the lifespan while simultaneously preparing the graduate to assume an active role in prevention, wellness and health promotion. Classroom and clinic-based instruction provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to practice competently in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. By integrating current theories and research into all foundational science and applied clinical management courses, the DPT program of study prepares students to develop and implement evidence-based intervention plans, leading to outcomes that optimize the movement competencies of patients/clients with disorders of the various body’s systems.

Vision:

We aspire to optimize the health and wellbeing of individuals and society by transforming the physical therapy profession through education, advocacy, research, and service.

Mission:

Through education, advocacy, research, and service, the Department of Physical Therapy facilitates the development of professional leaders who provide high-quality, holistic, evidence-informed physical therapy to individuals and society.

Students who are accepted into the professional program must be enrolled on a full-time basis for each of the eight semesters of the DPT curriculum. The curriculum combines classroom and laboratory training with independent study and clinical experiences in multiple health care settings. A variety of instructional methods are employed to enable students to develop essential manual and clinical skills. The coursework is arranged according to a prescribed sequence and schedule that all students must follow. The DPT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Admission to the Professional Physical Therapy Program

All students admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must have completed a bachelor’s degree before entering the program. Students interested in pursuing physical therapy should refer to the website for information and resources.

Application and admission to the University does not assure acceptance into the physical therapy program. Enrollment is limited, and the number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of students who can be admitted.

Selection by the admissions committee is based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, overall GPA (calculated for all academic courses attempted up to the point of application to the program), GPA for science prerequisite courses alone, GRE, application essays, and references.

Applicants with the best combination of these factors will be selected for the class. Students may apply who have a minimum cumulative GPA and science prerequisite GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 grading scale and meet the minimum prerequisite requirements. Entrance into the program is contingent upon the completion of all prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C.”

Applicants are required to apply for admission through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Application forms and information are available on-line at www.ptcas.org and on the Physical Therapy Department’s website.

Applicants are responsible for assuring their application is completed and submitted by the deadline. The decision of the admissions committee is emailed to each applicant. Accepted students are asked to verify their acceptance to the program via email and a deposit is required. The deposit is applied to the student’s first semester’s tuition. Classes begin in August.

Students accepted to the DPT program are required to undergo a criminal background check. A written report verifying the student applicant has been granted a Level 2 Criminal Background Check clearance must be received in the physical therapy office prior to registration in DPT coursework. Information about how to obtain an approved Level 2 Criminal Background Check clearance report may be found on the Physical Therapy Department’s website. An admissions offer can be rescinded based on the results of the criminal background check and/or identification of unprofessional behavior independent of the criminal background check. The faculty reserve the right to make the final determination.

If a student is admitted to the DPT program but declines to accept a position in the class to which they have been admitted, the student must reapply to be considered for admission to the program at a later date.

Note: Consult www.utc.edu/physical-therapy/ for specific deadline dates.

Eligibility Requirements - Applicants must have the following to apply:

Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2/4.0;
Minimum science prerequisite grade point average of 3.2/4.0. The nine courses used to calculate the science prerequisite GPA are:

Biology I & II

Chemistry I & II

Physics I & II

Human Anatomy, Human Physiology

Exercise Physiology

Completed six of the nine science prerequisites listed above.
Competitive GRE General Test Scores no more than five years old. College Code UTC PTCAS code 0464.
A minimum 3.0 analytical writing score is required.
Two references, including one from a license physical therapist.
PT observation hours. See Prerequisites and Admission Requirements on the department’s website for details. www.utc.edu/Academic/PhysicalTherapy/admissions.php

Expenses and Transportation

All DPT students are required to pay differential tuition per credit hour, plus Graduate tuition, and fees. Physical therapy clinical experiences scheduled throughout the academic year require students to provide their own transportation to the local clinical sites. Full-time clinical experiences (clinical education courses) are scheduled during the summer semesters of both the first and second years and spring semester of the third year. Students must be financially prepared to meet costs incurred for travel and living expenses in other cities throughout the United States during clinical education courses.

Grades of S/NC

Students in the entry level DPT program are allowed to earn up to 24 hours of credit: PHYT 7133 (4 hours); PHYT 7231 (4 hours); PHYT 7232 (5 hours); PHYT 7316 (1 hour); PHYT 7332 (9 hours); and PHYT 7333 (1 hour) that will be graded on a Satisfactory/No Credit basis. This is a Graduate Council approved exception to the 13 credit hour policy for doctoral program students.

Continuation and Graduation Standards

Practice standards of the physical therapy profession require that graduates be prepared to practice safely and competently within the physical therapy scope of practice. To ensure safe and competent performance by students enrolled in the program, the following continuation standards must be met for students to remain enrolled in the program:

To progress in physical therapy, students are required to:
a.  maintain a 3.0 program GPA for all courses taken in the professional program period;
b.  maintain an active liability insurance policy;
c. maintain current CPR certification; and
d.  maintain full clearance of Level 2 Criminal Background Check
If in the judgment of the faculty there is reason to question the emotional or physical condition of a student or the safety or quality of physical therapy care provided, the faculty has the right and obligation to exclude the student from the clinical arena.
Students who fail courses may be denied progression in the program. Related policies and procedures are published in the DPT Student Handbook. Students may repeat failed courses only at the discretion of the retention and progression committee or the Department Head of the Physical Therapy Department.
Statement of Ethical and Professional Standards. In certain programs such as physical therapy, professional success depends upon factors other than those measured by typical evaluations in course work. The faculty has the right to separate a student from the program who is not likely to succeed professionally, despite earning acceptable grades. Failure to maintain the high ethical and professional standards of the physical therapy profession may subject a student to suspension, dismissal or other appropriate remedial action as defined by the physical therapy faculty.