Sample Curriculum

Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI105 & CASBI106 or CASBI107 & CASBI108 and CASBI211 or CASBI315 - Regional approach to the musculoskeletal, peripheral nervous, and circulatory systems of the human body. Laboratories reinforce the lectures by a study of osteology, prosected cadavers and live anatomy palpations. Either semester. (Credits: 4)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPY105 & CASPY106) Or CAS PY104; DPT students only; or consent of instructor - An overview of tissue response to injury, pain transmission, and pharmacology provide the foundation from which students will learn about physical agents and specific conditions from a medical perspective. Students will become familiar with the theoretical and practical application of physical agents as it relates to tissue response to injury and pain control. The laboratory portion of this course emphasizes safe and effective application of these modalities using a problem-solving approach to treatment planning and implementation. (Credits: 4)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PP-OTD Online students - Graduate Prerequisites: PP-OTD Online students - This graduate-level course for occupational therapy practitioners aims to develop the essential skill set for competence in evidence-based practice. In HP 561, we will apply the basic steps of the EBP process. Starting with a practice situation or problem, we will develop a clear, focused, answerable clinical question, conduct an effective systematic search for published literature that provides research evidence, critically appraise the evidence, and draw an unbiased conclusion as to how the evidence answers the clinical question. The practicum that follows, entitled OT618: Directed Study in Evidence-Based Practice, builds upon the knowledge and capabilities gained in this first course. The course format will include weekly self-paced lessons, live online classrooms, written discussions, and assignments. (Credits: Var)

This course reviews the anatomy and physiology of the cardiopulmonary system. This course will highlight the adult and pediatric dysfunctions of the cardiopulmonary system, medical and surgical care of this patient population, and the appropriate physical therapy interventions. Emphasis is placed on patient evaluation, medical assessment, treatment planning, and the performance of the appropriate procedures. In addition, patient compliance issues, ethical and legal aspects of physical therapy care, and the health care professional's own cardiopulmonary function will be addressed. Current research will be introduced throughout the course as appropriate. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT515 & SARPT520) PT Students only. - This course is the first in a series of three for the musculoskeletal system. It is designed to provide the student with the necessary skills for prevention, examination, evaluation, and intervention of musculoskeletal impairments of posture and the upper extremity joints. The student will learn a systems approach to patient care. Specifically, this course will teach the student how to determine which impairments are related to specific activity limitations and participation restrictions of the individual with upper extremity disorders. It will consider upper extremity impairments throughout the life span, as well as throughout the natural history (acute through chronic) of the problem. An eclectic approach to interventions will be stressed. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SARHS369 or SARHS581; and SARPT515 and SARPT520; PT students only. - This is the first of two courses in the integrated clinical experience series. Using class discussion, standardized patients, community service opportunities and clinical observations, students will practice patient education strategies, appreciate the role of the physical therapist in relation to other health care providers, and apply skills related to professionalism, interpersonal skills and communication. (Credits: 1)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARHP531) DPT students only - This course introduces the physical therapy student to the physiology of different body systems as well as the risk factors, diagnosis, and management of common medical conditions manifesting in these systems. Associated factors that influence PT examination and intervention will be discussed. Also discussed is when referral to other practitioners is recommended and required. (Credits: 4)

This course is designed to expand the student's knowledge of cardiovascular and pulmonary systems as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. The student will gain an in-depth understanding of physical therapy examination, intervention, and management of peripheral vascular disease, wound care, prosthetic management for amputations, and cardiopulmonary disease. Laboratory sessions will facilitate the students understanding of lecture material and provide them with hands on physical therapy skills needed to care for patients with the above disorders. Current literature will be the basis for all lecture and lab sessions. (Credits: 2)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT521) - This course is the second in a series of three for the musculoskeletal systems. It is designed to provide the student with the necessary skills for prevention, examination, evaluation, and intervention of musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremities. The student will build upon the systems approach to patient care. Specifically, this course will teach the student how to determine which impairments of body function and structure are related to specific activity limitations and participation restrictions of the individual with lower extremity disorders. It will consider lower extremity disorders throughout the life span, as well as throughout the natural history (acute through chronic) of the problem. An eclectic approach to interventions will be stressed. Laboratory sessions will develop the student's skills in examination and intervention techniques to address lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SARHS 369 or SARHS 581; and SARPT 520 - This course is designed to serve as an introduction to the normal development and function of the nervous system. It is assumed that students have a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology (e.g., cell structure, ionic exchange, and action potentials). This is a clinically-focused basic science course that serves as a building block for successive clinical PT courses. (Credits: 4)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT555) PT students only. - This is the second in a series of two courses which will continue to integrate course content taught in the DPT curriculum with clinical experiences incorporating all components of the patient/client management model. Through review of patient records, patient interviews, and observation and treatment of non-complex patients or diagnoses, students will develop skills in the process of clinical decision making, obtaining patient data, and treatment progression. This course will be closely aligned with concomitant academic preparation to enable students to practice recently learned skills in a clinical environment. Additionally, the student will begin to understand clinical teaching, the role of the PT in relation to other health care providers, and issues involved in the delivery of physical therapy, including professionalism, interpersonal skills, communication, and law and ethics. (Credits: 1)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PT students only. - This is the first of three full-time clinical experiences in the DPT curriculum. It is designed to focus on the synthesis of knowledge, skills and behaviors learned in the classroom and laboratory, and addressed during the integrated clinical experiences. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to make sound clinical decisions in the management of non-complex patient problems in a moderately paced environment. Students are supervised in clinical and community settings by qualified physical therapists. (Credits: 0)

The course includes discussion and synthesis of current theories of human action (performance, learning/plasticity, and development) with an emphasis on systems/constraints, dynamical systems and ecological psychology approaches to human action, perception, and action-perception coupling. It serves as an introduction to these theories. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to conceptualize and evaluate functional movement based on these theories. Student participation in class is essential and required reading should be completed prior to class so that each student can fully participate in discussion. (Credits: Var)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT520) - This course will provide students with an integrative study of the scientific basis for human movement that spans the fields of biology, neuroscience, biomechanics, and behavior. The course is guided by the belief that to evaluate and treat movement dysfunction, it is necessary to understand the structure of the neuromotor system in relation to its ecological functions. Through lectures, labs, and reflection activities, students will develop a holistic and principle- based understanding of how we move, why we move the way we do, and how rehabilitation interventions and technologies can be used to treat movement impairments. (Credits: 2)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SARPT511, SARPT512, SARPT521, SARPT522, and SARHP532 - This course will identify and describe various modes of imaging techniques and tests used in medical practice for the neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems. The process of diagnosis in the context of the physical therapist's practice will be discussed. Identification of basic radiological pathology and tests results that directly impact physical therapy care and prognostication will be emphasized, as well as integration of test/imaging results in the physical therapy evaluation and plan of care. Correlation of test results with clinical examination findings will be emphasized to allow the student to engage in professional dialogue with other health care providers, including collaboration with radiologists. Diagnostic procedures covered in the course will include but not be limited to: X-ray, CT scan, MRI, bone scan, fluoroscopy, PET, SPECT, EMG/NCV, ECG, echocardiogram, thallium scan, exercise testing, cardiac catheterization, angiogram, MRA, CBC, electrolytes, lipid profiles, cardiac enzymes, and oncology markers. (Credits: 4)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT551) - The purpose of this course is to provide the students with a foundation for examining, evaluating, and determining appropriate interventions for individuals who have movement dysfunction secondary to neurological deficits. Students will learn the key elements of the neurological examination and its basis in functional neuroanatomy. Students will become skilled in conducting a neurological examination which is guided by the pathophysiology, patient history, and functional deficits associated with or resulting from disease or injury to the nervous system. Emphasis will also be placed on understanding normal and impaired movement through discussion of current motor control and motor learning theories. The ICF model of disablement will be used as a framework for examining and evaluating movement dysfunction and for developing a plan of care. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: (SARPT566) - This course is the second in a series of two courses on Evidence Based Practice for physical therapy students. It is designed to develop essential skills for conducting evidence-based practice. There are about three forms of evidence supporting clinical practice, that is, 1) experience from clinical practice, 2) patient values and goals, and 3) the evidence that comes from the research literature. It takes skill combining these sources of evidence into effective and efficient physical practice. This course enhances the student's ability to formulate answerable clinical questions, search relevant research literature, analyze the validity of the outcomes reported in these studies, and combine the outcomes of different research studies in the form of a research synthesis (i.e., critical review and meta-analysis). Literature addressing clinical issues of intervention, diagnosis, and prognosis will be used throughout to illustrate the arguments. (Credits: 2)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SAR PT791 - This course is the first in a series of three seminars related to clinical education experiences of students in the Doctoral of Physical Therapy Program. The content is rooted in professional behaviors, ethics, and the core values of accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility in the practice of physical therapy. The Institute of Medicine Core Competencies provide a framework for assignments and discussions. The seminars are designed to bridge clinical and classroom experiences using discussion, reflective learning, authentic examples from clinical experiences, case studies, and collaborative learning. This first course/seminar will also provide tools to assist the student with requesting future clinical experiences. (Credits: 1)

For students working with a faculty member on a topic-specific literature review. (Credits: Var)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SARPT522 - This course is designed to provide the student with the necessary skills for prevention, examination, evaluation, and intervention of musculoskeletal disorders of the spine and TM joints. It is the third in a series of musculoskeletal based classes and will complete the required musculoskeletal content of the DPT program. The student will learn a comprehensive, biopsychosocial, evidence-based and systems approach to the care of patients with musculoskeletal spinal disorders. Specifically, this course will work to teach the student how to determine which contextual factors and impairments are related to the individual's activity / or participation restrictions across the lifespan. An evidence-informed and patient-centered approach to interventions will be stressed. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SARPT652 - This course is a continuation of Neurological Systems I and emphasizes evidence based physical therapy management for people who have specific neurological disorders. In PT652, a general foundation was developed for examining, evaluating, and determining appropriate interventions for individuals who have movement dysfunction secondary to neurological deficits. PT 653 will build on the foundation developed in PT 652 by considering how specific neurological disorders guide physical therapy practice. The course will focus on pathophysiology, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, plan of care, intervention, and expected outcomes for commonly encountered diagnoses in neurorehabilitation such as Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Parkinson's Disease, and Cerebral Palsy. Common diagnostic groups are chosen with the intent of enhancing specific knowledge as well as developing a general problem solving approach that applies to any type of neurological diagnosis. The included diagnoses will illustrate how decision-making in physical therapy takes into account issues of age (life span), natural history, stage in the disease process, and nature (stable vs. progressive) of specific neurological disorders. Students will learn to develop a plan for examination, including the most sensitive and specific standardized examination tools, and to develop a plan of care that is specific to various diagnostic groups and that is based on current evidence. (Credits: 6)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PT students only. - The purpose of the Academic Practicum (I & II) experience in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to provide students with the opportunity to apply and enhance their knowledge and skill while completing a more in depth and practical experience in one of four areas of their choosing: education, health promotion, clinical research or health care management. Students will identify an area of interest, contact and collaborate with a mentor to design and begin implementation of a project that will extend over two semesters. (Credits: 1)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SAR PT791 and PT691 - This course is the second in a series of three seminars related to clinical education experiences. The content is rooted in professional behaviors, ethics, and the core values of accountability, altruism, compassion/ caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility in the practice of physical therapy. The seminars are designed to bridge clinical and classroom experiences in these areas through the use of discussion, reflective learning, real life examples from clinical experiences, case studies, and collaborative learning. This course will also provide tools to assist the student with choosing and maximizing future clinical experiences. (Credits: 1)

For students working with a faculty member on a topic-specific literature review. (Credits: Var)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PT students only. - This is the second of three full-time clinical education experiences in the DPT curriculum. It is designed to focus on the synthesis of knowledge, skills and behaviors learned in the classroom, laboratory and addressed throughout the first 5 semesters of the DPT program. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to make sound clinical decisions in the management of non-complex patient problems in a moderately paced environment. Students are supervised in clinical and community settings by qualified physical therapists. (Credits: 0)

This course will instruct and reinforce students in the fundamental theories and skills of health care management for the physical therapist. The course is designed with an intent of putting oneself in the shoes of a clinician as well as a manager, with acknowledgement that leaders in the health care environment are rarely able to ignore sound management principles and understanding of healthcare systems for long. Whether knowing what is being asked of you as a clinician, or being placed in a leadership position, many health and rehabilitation professionals will assume the role of a manager or have leadership responsibilities during the course of their career, often sooner than expected. The increasing rate of change in the healthcare environment is a major factor in this emphasis on leadership. This can take many forms, and an emphasis will be placed on how one can assume a position of leading in different avenues. This course will help foster the growth of an individual's knowledge and capacity to lead, in whatever form it takes. This course also develops and enhances the students' understanding of the health care system, the social and economic forces affecting the health care system, and its ability to function effectively. Additionally, the course will prepare students to enter the workforce by introducing them to a variety of tools and experiences that will enable them to manage organizations, programs, resources, and people more effectively. Emphasis in this course is on US and Massachusetts's policies and legislation, managing human resources, marketing, technology and information, accounting and finance, quality improvement, and measuring performance. Professionalism, ethics, and the APTA will be discussed as they relate to our course objectives. (Credits: Var)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: Successful completion of all second year DPT coursework. - Comprehensive Clinical Reasoning is a case based course taught in small tutorial groups using the problem based learning format. The course is intended to enhance integration of course content taught elsewhere in the curriculum within the context of a physical therapy case study. Students will be expected to use a variety of resources, ( i.e. current literature, text books) to solve complex patient cases. Issues to be discussed will include: evidence-based patient examination, clinical decision making, effective physical therapy intervention, likely prognosis, clinical teaching, the role of the PT in relation to other health care providers, issues involved in the delivery of physical therapy, including professionalism, interpersonal skills, communication, third party payers and ethics. (Credits: Var)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PT students only. - The Academic Practicum experience provides students with the opportunity to apply and enhance their knowledge and skill while completing a more in depth and practical experience in one of four areas of their choosing: education, health promotion, clinical research or health care management. The experience also provides for refinement and development of skills and behaviors in a wide variety of collateral areas not immediately associated with the primary content area. Students will implement and complete the project initially developed during Academic Practicum I course. (Credits: 3)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: SAR PT792 - This course is the final in a series of three seminars related to clinical education experiences of students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The content is rooted in professional behaviors, ethics, and the core values of accountability, altruism, compassion/ caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility in the practice of physical therapy. The seminars are designed to bridge clinical and classroom experiences through discussion, reflective/collaborative learning, and real-life examples. Some information covered in previous seminars will be explored again considering additional clinical experience in a different setting. In addition, this course will provide tools to assist the student with the transition to becoming a professional physical therapist including attaining licensure and employment and developing a plan for ongoing professional development. (Credits: 1)

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PT students only. - This is the third of three full-time clinical experiences in the DPT curriculum. It is designed to focus on the synthesis of knowledge, skills and behaviors learned in the classroom, laboratory and addressed throughout the first 6 semesters of the DPT program. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to make sound clinical decisions in the management of complex patient problems in a moderately paced environment. Students are supervised in clinical and community settings by qualified physical therapists. (Credits: 0)