Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
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Emory & Henry College is currently seeking a new Director for the Doctor in Physical Therapy program. Pending the hiring of a new director and approval for “Candidacy” status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the first cohort of students will begin in June, 2014. (See below for more information about program accreditation.) Inquiries and applications are welcome.
Program Mission
The mission of the developing Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Emory & Henry College is to prepare competent, caring, knowledgeable physical therapists who practice ethically and effectively and who are prepared to demonstrate engagement with the college community, with local, national and international communities, and with the professional community.
The Academic Program
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is a post-baccalaureate degree that indicates an individual’s successful completion of a doctoral-level physical therapy program, which fulfills the requirements to enter the professional field of physical therapy. The DPT degree was formulated by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), whose Vision 2020 predicts that:
By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.
The planned DPT Program is a 33 month, 117 credit hour graduate program that reflects the liberal arts tradition of Emory & Henry College in educating professionals who are critical thinkers prepared to meet the challenges of a changing health care environment. The coursework in the professional program is organized into curricular themes, with the emphasis in the first year on the Basic and Foundational Clinical Sciences, Introductory Clinical Skills, and Applied Clinical Sciences. The coursework in the second and third years emphasizes the Advanced Clinical Skills, Clinical Sciences and Critical Inquiry courses necessary to prepare knowledgeable and competent practitioners. Threaded throughout the curriculum are courses in Professional Socialization and Community Engagement where learning experiences, including service-learning, foster the development of a professional identity essential for assuming the role of a competent and caring professional. Clinical practice experiences in all three years of the program allow students to engage in physical therapy practice under the supervision and guidance of experienced physical therapists.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree program will require a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75, 3.0 in the major and completion of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants will submit a completed program application that will include a written essay and recommendations from at least three individuals. This application will be reviewed by an admissions committee.
In addition to a baccalaureate degree, applicants must have completed the following college coursework:
| Required Coursework | Credit Hours to be completed |
|---|---|
| *Science courses must have a lab component and be courses intended for a science major | **Pre-calculus or above; if pre-calculus is a two-part course, both parts must be completed |
| General Biology* | 8 |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology* | 8 |
| Chemistry* | 8 |
| Physics* | 8 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Psychology | 6 |
| Social Sciences | 3 |
| Math** | 3 |
Accreditation
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Emory & Henry College is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program will submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional/technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional or technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
About Physical Therapy
Physical therapists (PTs) work with patients who have impairments, limitations, disabilities or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease or other causes. Their role includes examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and interventions toward achieving the highest functional outcomes for each patient/client. (obtained from http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/careers/physical-therapy
Career Opportunities
Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations through 2014, and was identified as an "Excellent Career" in 2006 by U.S. News & World Report. The demand for physical therapists should continue to rise as a result of growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function. The rapidly growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the baby boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the need for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.
Advances in medical technology that increase survival of newborns with birth defects, save more trauma victims, and permit treatment of additional disabling conditions will create greater demand for rehabilitative care. Widespread interest in health promotion also should increase demand for physical therapy services. A growing number of employers are using physical therapists to evaluate work sites, develop exercise programs, and teach safe work habits to employees in the hope of reducing injuries.
Physical therapists held about 155,000 jobs in 2005. About 60 percent of physical therapists were employed in hospitals or private practice. Other jobs were in home health agencies, outpatient rehabilitation centers, offices and clinics of physicians and nursing homes. Self-employed physical therapists may provide services to individual patients or contract with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, adult day care programs and schools. They may establish a solo practice or join a consulting group. Physical therapists also teach in academic institutions and conduct research. (obtained from http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/careers/physical-therapy)
More information:
For more information about the admissions process, contact Jessica Hawks, Admissions Office at (276) 944-6827.
For more information about the program, contact Dr. Eric Coley at (276)944-6146 or ecoley@ehc.edu.
Download the DPT Information Sheet
Faculty
- Eric Coley PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
