The professional curriculum is designed in two phases: systems and lifespan. Courses in the first year use a systems approach with cases in musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular physical therapy and wound care. In this first year, the students have an opportunity to practice and integrate their professional skills in a simulated clinic course (Case Management). Use of this experiential learning technique has been presented at international meetings. At the end of the first year, the students have an 8-week full time clinical rotation to further solidify and integrate this material in the clinical setting. The clinical experience is further enhanced by a clinical synthesis course which all students take after their rotations have ended that allows them to share different aspects of their experiences with one another.

In the second year of study, students explore practice topics in more depth within the context of a lifespan approach, looking at the physiological changes that occur during the aging process of normal children and adults. These more advanced courses are followed by two 11-week full time clinical rotations. A second clinical synthesis course is offered, providing students with an opportunity to further integrate and share their new skills and experiences with one another. In this way, the students are able to continally build upon the leaning and experiences of prior semesters.

The curriculum is further integrated through team teaching. Different faculty members contribute their individual expertise to one or more courses. In this way, students are introduced to the different techniques and approaches that can be utilized in patient care. Additionally students gain an appreciation for the importance of teamwork.

Semester Detail. (Number in parentheses represents credit hours.)

Year 1, Summer:

• PHTH 5101: Functional & Structural Aspects of Movement I (5)
• PHTH 5111: Introduction to Pathophysiology I (2)
• PHTH 5131: Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention I (6)
• PHTH 5161: Physical Therapy Practice Issues I (1)
• PHTH 5181: Clinical Practicum I (1)

Year 1, Fall:

• PHTH 5202: Functional & Structural Aspects of Movement II (6)
• PHTH 5212: Introduction to Pathophysiology II (2)
• PHTH 5232: Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention II (8)
• PHTH 5262: Physical Therapy Practice Issues II (1)
• PHTH 5282: Clinical Practicum II (1)

Year 1, Spring:

• PHTH 7303: Functional & Structural Aspects of Movement III (4)
• PHTH 7313: Introduction to Pathophysiology III (2)
• PHTH 7333: Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention III (8)
• PHTH 7363: Physical Therapy Practice Issues III (1)
• PHTH 7383: Clinical Practicum III (1)
• PHTH 7390: Case Management (3)

Year 2, Summer:

• PHTH 7400: Critical Inquiry (2)
• PHTH 7481: Supervised Clinical Education I (8)
• PHTH 7491: Clinical Education Synthesis I (2)

Year 2, Fall:

• PHTH 7501: Clinical Medicine I (3)
• PHTH 7531: Adv. Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention I (8)
• PHTH 7561: Lifespan Concepts I (2)
• PHTH 8901: Physical Therapy Project I (1)

Year 2, Spring:

• PHTH 7602: Clinical Medicine II (3)
• PHTH 7623: Adv. Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention II (8)
• PHTH 7662: Lifespan Concepts II (2)
• PHTH 8902: Physical Therapy Project II (1)

Year 3, Summer:

• PHTH 8703: Clinical Medicine III (3)
• PHTH 8733: Adv. Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention III (6)
• PHTH 8763: Lifespan Concepts II (2)
• PHTH 8903: Physical Therapy Project III (1)

Year 3, Fall:

• PHTH 8804: Clinical Medicine IV (1)
• PHTH 8834: Adv. Foundations of Examination, Evaluation and Intervention IV (2)
• PHTH 8882: Supervised Clinical Education II (10)
• PHTH 8903: Physical Therapy Project IV (1)

Year 3, Spring:

• PHTH 8900: Leadership & Management in PT (3)
• PHTH 8983: Supervised Clinical Education III (10)
• PHTH 8992 Clin Educ Synthesis II (3)
  

GRADUATION!