Curriculum

The curriculum is a 31-month program that begins annually in May and consists of a summer term, fall and spring semesters, a second summer term and fall semester, and a final summer and spring semester devoted entirely to clinical education. Students admitted to the program are candidates for a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree conferred by Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School.

The academic experiences consist of theory in the basic, clinical, and professional sciences and skills. To be eligible to enter the clinical education phase of the program, a student must have satisfactorily completed all previous courses.

The clinical experiences offer an opportunity to integrate professional knowledge and skills in a clinical setting. These experiences are offered by more than 250 affiliated institutions located throughout the United States but predominantly in Texas. Each affiliated institution has a center coordinator of clinical education. During Clinical Experiences III and IV, the student rotates through two fourteen-week full-time affiliations that offer broad experiences in both general and specialty areas of physical therapy.

Students who graduate from this nationally accredited curriculum are eligible for membership in the American Physical Therapy Association. They are also qualified to sit for the state licensing examination in any state.

Program of Instruction

The possibility exists that some of these courses may be exchanged between semesters or terms without any further published notice.

Summer 1
HCS 5407 Human Physiology - 4 hours
HCS 5308 Human Anatomy Lecture - 3 hours
HCS 5309 Human Anatomy Lab - 3 hours
DPT 5139 Clinical Correlation - 1 hour
DPT 5251 Professional Practice Development I - 2 hours
DPT 5151 PT Procedures - 1 hour
Total:  14 hours

Fall 1
DPT xxxx Elements of Pharmacology for the PT - 1 hour
DPT 5351 Clinical Kinesiology - 3 hours
DPT xxxx Professional Practice Development II - 2 hours
DPT 5320 Tests and Measures - 3 hours
HCS 5306 Introduction to Pathology - 3 hours
DPT 5323 Therapeutic Interventions I - 3 hours
Total:  15 hours

Spring I
DPT 5236 Evidence-Based Clinical Research I - 2 hours
DPT xxxx Pathokinesiology - 2 hours
DPT xxxx Integumentary Patient/Client Management - 1 hour
DPT 5240 Neuromuscular Patient/Client Management I - 2 hours
DPT 5330 Musculoskeletal Patient/Client Management I - 3 hours
DPT Therapeutic Intervention II - 2 hours
DPT Introduction to Neuroscience - 3 hours
Total:  15 hours

Summer 2
DPT xxxx Geriatric Client/Patient Management - 3 hours
DPT xxxx Therapeutic Intervention III - 1 hour
DPT 5137 Evidence-Based Clinical Research II - 1 hour
DPT xxxx Service Learning (Camp John Marc) - 1 hour
DPT xxxx Professional Practice Management I - 2 hours
DPT xxxx Pediatric Patient/Client Management - 3 hours
Total:  11 hours

Fall 2
DPT 5431 Musculoskeletal Patient/Client Management II - 4 hours
DPT 5444 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Patient/Client Management - 4 hours
DPT xxxx Medical Practice Management - 3 hours
DPT 5341 Neuromuscular Patient/Client Management II - 3 hours
Total:  14 hours

Spring 2
DPT xxxx Clinical Experience I - 4 hours
DPT xxxx Evidence-Based Clinical Research III - 4 hours
DPT 5218 Assistive Technology in Rehabilitation - 2 hours
DTP xxxx Professional Practice Management II - 1 hour
DPT xxxx Prevention, Health Promotion, Fitness and Wellness, 1 hour
DPT xxxx Advanced Therapeutic Techniques, 2 hours
Total:  14 hours

Summer 3/Fall 3
DPT xxxx Clinical Internship II (14-week affiliation) - 7 hours
DPT xxxx Clinical Internship III (14-week affiliation) - 7 hours

Total Program Credit Hours:  94

The curriculum is sequenced; therefore, all courses included in each semester or term are considered prerequisites to any course in the following semester. A student must complete each course with a minimum grade of B and must maintain a GPA of 3.0. The student is advised to consult the policy statement of the department upon admission to the program.

Graduation Requirements

A candidate for the Physical Therapy Degree in Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School must meet all of the following requirements:

1. The student must demonstrate a high order of scholarly achievement in physical therapy, including appropriate research and professional competencies. The program's Student Progress Committee determines whether adequate mastery has been acquired.
2. The student must complete satisfactorily a minimum of 94 semester hours at Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School.
3. The student must discharge all financial obligations to the medical center. In the event of nonpayment, one or more actions may be taken by the dean: a) readmission may be denied; b) a student's grades and official transcript may be withheld; and c) the degree to which the student would otherwise be entitled may be withheld.
4. The student must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, have no academic deficiencies, and have no incompletes.
5. The student must complete the academic requirements listed on his or her degree plan, including completion of any academic deficiencies in prerequisite courses, by the times stated in the student's official letter of acceptance. The student is responsible for submitting official documentation of successful completion of the prerequisites to the Office of the Registrar.
6. The student must complete all required courses in the degree plan with a grade of B or higher (P for Pass/Fail courses), receive practical evaluations reflecting an acceptable level of performance and professional conduct, and successfully complete all clinical affiliations.