Programs in Physical Therapy
Programs in Physical Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Degree Program (dpt)
Professional Program
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
Curriculum
The Transitional Doctor of
Physical Therapy (tDPT)
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
Curriculum
Physical Therapy Programs
Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training
Programs/Degrees Awarded:Physical Therapy DpT, tDPT
The Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training offers two programs in physical therapy. The Doctor of Physical Therapy is a graduate degree for those who currently hold a baccalaureate degree and wish to enter the profession of physical therapy. The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy is a post-professional program for practicing physical therapists who wish to complement their current knowledge and skills with advanced content.
Programs in Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an integral and unique component of health care. As a health profession, physical therapy focuses on movement disorders and rehabilitation of functional activity and underlying impairments in the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary systems of the human body. The ability to interact physically with one’s environment is an essential component of physical, emotional, and social well-being. The physical therapist is dedicated to promoting health, preventing disease, and rehabilitating people disabled by injury or disease.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Sargent College
The entry-level program in physical therapy leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is designed to educate graduates as generalists. Physical therapists must be educated in evaluation of clients and treatment planning, as well as in administration of programs, supervision of health care workers, teaching, consultation, and clinical research. Students and physical therapy graduates are bound by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Physical Therapy Association. When students begin their studies, they are required to become student members of the American Physical Therapy Association.
The essential components of a physical therapy education include developing a strong foundation in the basic life sciences; understanding a body of applied scientific knowledge; adopting a professional code of ethics; demonstrating a commitment to professional values; possessing the ability to communicate effectively, solve problems creatively, perform a thorough examination of patients/clients, evaluate the examination data, and administer a treatment effectively and efficiently.
Students and educators share the responsibility of a learning process that is dynamic and lifelong. The type of entry-level education offered requires a mature student with demonstrated capability in the basic and social sciences, as well as interpersonal skills. The student’s personal values should fit with the ideals of the physical therapy profession.
Students participate in clinical experiences as part of their degree requirements. BU Sargent College works with a rich array of clinical facilities representing the entire spectrum of physical therapy practice. Clinical placements are arranged for students with the goal of meeting students’ interests and competencies. Affiliated institutions are located in the greater Boston area and throughout the U.S. Several are available in Europe and Australia. All students complete clinical experiences within the academic program, culminating in a full-time clinical internship. Students are advised that there may be a cost associated with housing and transportation during clinical experiences.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education.
Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure to practice physical therapy in each of the 50 states.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Program (DPT)
Professional Program
The entry-level professional physical therapy program leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy is designed for those students already possessing a baccalaureate degree who wish to become
qualified as physical therapists. Students have the opportunity to acquire basic competencies of physical therapy, participate in supervised clinical experiences, and develop skills in education, health promotion, management, and research.
Those who are physical therapists may pursue the tDPT as a post-professional degree. See the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy section below.
Application Deadline
The review of applications begins on December 15.
Admission Requirements
Applications received by the January deadline will
be assured consideration. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis. Applicants are responsible for the gathering and simultaneous submission of all required materials by the deadline. Accepted applicants will be notified and invited to attend an information session during February.
A completed application and official transcript(s) showing evidence of completion of a baccalaureate degree and prerequisite coursework are required for admission. The following courses must be completed at the college level:
- Biology: 3–4 credits (one course with lab)
- Human anatomy: 3–4 credits (one course with lab) (Note: When anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, two semesters are necessary to meet the requirements.)
- Human physiology: 3–4 credits (one course with lab)
- Chemistry: 6–8 credits (two-semester sequence with lab)
- Physics: 6–8 credits (two-semester sequence with lab)
- Statistics: 3–4 credits (one course to include descriptive statistics, correlation, and introduction to inferential statistics)
- Developmental psychology: 3–4 credits
(one course, which must include the childhood portion of development)
- Exercise physiology: 3–4 credits (one course)
Courses taken to fulfill prerequisites must be completed with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in order for the application to be considered. An applicant may have courses still in progress by the January deadline, but all prerequisites must be completed by the start of the program. If you have questions about whether a course fulfills one of the above requirements, please submit a course description from the appropriate college catalog to Professor Julie Ann Starr, Chair, Admissions Committee, Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, Boston University Sargent College, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application to the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), www.ptcas.org.
- Three letters of reference (one must be from a course instructor or academic advisor, and one from a supervisor in professional or other work capacity) via PTCAS.
- Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (institution code 3028). Scores of 500 or more on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE are strongly recommended.
Analytic writing scores are also evaluated.
Applicants with one or more subtest scores below 400 will not be considered.
- Official transcripts showing evidence of completion of your bachelor’s degree will need to be sent to the following office by our program’s start date in May:
Boston University
Academic Services Center
College of Health & Rehabilitation
Sciences: Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 207
Boston, MA 02215
Degree Requirements
Candidates must complete a minimum of 90 credits, including a minimum of 42 weeks of clinical experience, to fulfill degree requirements. All requirements must be completed within six years of initial acceptance. The curriculum is designed for full-time study; part-time enrollment is not an option. Degree candidates must attain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher. No grade below a C is acceptable for credit. For further details, please refer to the DPT Policy and Procedure Manual or visit www.bu.edu/sargent/academics/physical-therapy/dpt.
Curriculum
The following is a typical three-year program for
the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Each course carries 4 credits unless otherwise noted.
Professional Curriculum: DPT
Summer Term 1
SAR HS 581 Gross Human Anatomy
Summer Term 2
SAR PT 515 Physical Therapy Examination
SAR PT 520 Functional Anatomy
First Year (DPT I)
First Semester
SAR HP 531 Clinical Medicine I: Physical Agents
SAR PT 511 Cardiopulmonary Systems I
SAR PT 521 Musculoskeletal Systems I (6)
SAR PT 555 Integrated Clinic I (2)
Second Semester
SAR HP 532 Clinical Medicine II (2)
SAR HP 561 Evidence-Based Practice I (2)
SAR PT 512 Cardiopulmonary Systems II (2)
SAR PT 522 Musculoskeletal Systems II
SAR PT 550 Scientific Basis of Human Movement (2)
SAR PT 551 Neuroscience for the Physical Therapist
SAR PT 565 Integrated Clinic II (2)
Summer
SAR PT 791 Clinical Experience DI (0)
(8 weeks: July–mid Sept.) Fee
Second Year (DPT II)
First Semester
SAR PT 791 (continued from summer)
SAR HP 662 Evidence-Based Practice II (2)
SAR PT 633 Clinical Medicine III (2)
SAR PT 634 Diagnostic Procedures for Rehabilitation Professionals
SAR PT 652 Neurological Systems I
SAR PT 691 Clinical Education Seminar I
Second Semester
SAR PT 610 Health Promotion and Wellness (3)
SAR PT 623 Musculoskeletal Systems III (6)
SAR PT 653 Neurological Systems II (6)
SAR PT 692 Clinical Education Seminar II
Summer
SAR PT 792 Clinical Experience DII (0)
(10 weeks: June–Aug.) Fee
Third Year (DPT III)
First Semester
SAR HP 720 Educational Theory and Practice (2)
SAR HP 770 Health Care Management II (3)
SAR PT 756 Pediatrics (2)
SAR PT 773 Comprehensive Clinical Reasoning
SAR PT 780 Academic Practicum: Research, Management, or Education
SAR PT 794 Clinical Education Seminar III
Second Semester
SAR PT 793 Clinical Internship (6 months) (0) Fee
The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT)
The transitional DPT program bridges the gap between current DPT entry-level practitioners and the current MSPT or BS
practice expectations. As academic programs convert to an
entry-level DPT degree and more graduates enter the workforce with doctoral degrees, BU is committed to meeting the needs of practicing clinicians by offering advanced content designed to promote a high level of competence and autonomy. The tDPT program is available to all qualified physical therapy graduates of accredited programs who are licensed physical therapists in the U.S.
The program is offered on campus, as well as in a distance format. Physical therapists interested in the distance education program should visit our website at http://dptdegree.com.
Admission Requirements
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis allowing entry into the program six times during the academic year. If the applicant is a Boston University graduate from 1993 forward, a transcript is not required. All other applicants must submit a transcript(s) showing evidence of completion of an entry-level degree in physical therapy.
Applicants must submit:
- Two references attesting to clinical experience, job responsibilities, and academic ability.
- One personal essay on career goals, and educational and vocational interests; and one referenced essay detailing the impact of the tDPT degree on the physical therapy profession.
- Evidence of a minimum 3.0 professional grade point average from an entry-level physical therapy program.
- Evidence of six months of full-time clinical employment.
- Assessment, via portfolio process, of prior coursework, experiential learning, and continuing education.
- Current résumé.
- Copy of your current U.S. professional license in physical therapy.
- All applicants who have not graduated from a U.S.-accredited physical therapy program, or who did not receive a physical therapy degree from an English-speaking institution, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The following minimum scores must be achieved:
writing—22
speaking—23
reading—25
listening—21
Degree Requirements
The program requires 22 credits, including a choice of academic practicum experience in education, management, or research. All requirements must be completed within three years from the time of initial acceptance. Degree candidates must attain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher. No grade below a C is acceptable for credit. For further details, please refer to the tDPT online policy and procedure manual.
Curriculum
The following courses are required of all students.
Each course carries 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
SAR HP 561 Evidence-Based Practice
SAR HP 650 Health Care Management I
SAR HP 720 Educational Theory and Practice
SAR HP 770 Health Care Management II
SAR PT 610 Health Promotion and Wellness
SAR PT 634 Diagnostic Procedures for Rehabilitation Professionals
SAR PT 780 Academic Practicum (2)
SAR PT 773 Case III: Comprehensive Case Management (2)
Up to two courses may be waived by petition. Recent BU graduates may waive three courses. SAR PT 780 and SAR PT 773 may not be waived by any student.
Physical Therapy Programs
617-353-2720
Acting Chair, Department of
Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
Professor Wendy Coster
617-353-7518
wjcoster@bu.edu
Professional Program (DPT)
Interim Program Director
Julie Ann Starr
617-353-2720
jstarr@bu.edu
Post-Professional Program (tDPT)
Program Director
Diane Heislein
617-353-2720
heislein@bu.edu
Professor Wagenaar
Associate Professors Holt, Keysor, Saltzman
Assistant Professsors Kluzik, Lewis
Clinical Associate Professors Brown, Dalton, Ellis,
Heislein, Palaima, Starr
Clinical Assistant Professors Clements, Marinko, Maxwell, Peteet
Adjunct Associate Professor Fetters
Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
19 November 2009
Boston University
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