Curriculum

The DPT program begins each May and lasts for 31 months (eight consecutive semesters).  The final summer and fall semesters are devoted entirely to clinical education. Students who complete the program are candidates for a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree conferred by Southwestern School of Health Professions.

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 240 affiliated institutions located throughout the United States but predominantly in Texas. Each affiliated institution has a center coordinator of clinical education. During Clinical Experiences II and III, 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 licensing examination in any state.

Program of Instruction

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

Summer 1
HCS 5407 Human Physiology
HCS 5308 Human Anatomy Lecture
HCS 5309 Human Anatomy Lab
DPT 5139 Clinical Correlation
DPT 5251 Professional Practice Development I
DPT 5151 PT Procedures

Fall 1
DPT 5140 Elements of Pharmacology for the PT
DPT 5351 Clinical Kinesiology
DPT 5257 Professional Practice Development II
DPT 5320 Tests and Measures
HCS 5306 Introduction to Pathology
HCS 5106 Professional Development
DPT 5323 Therapeutic Interventions I

Spring I
DPT 5236 Evidence-Based Clinical Research I
DPT 5237 Pathokinesiology
DPT 5240 Neuromuscular Patient/Client Management I
DPT 5330 Musculoskeletal Patient/Client Management I
DPT 5235 Therapeutic Intervention II
DPT 5303 Introduction to Neuroscience

Summer 2
DPT 5236 Geriatric Client/Patient Management
DPT 5235 Therapeutic Intervention III
DPT 5137 Evidence-Based Clinical Research II
DPT 5134 Service Learning (Camp John Marc)
DPT 5138 Integumentary Patient/Client Management
DPT 5216 Professional Practice Management I
DPT 5306 Pediatric Patient/Client Management

Fall 2
DPT 5431 Musculoskeletal Patient/Client Management II
DPT 5444 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Patient/Client Management
DPT 5305 Medical Practice Management
DPT 5341 Neuromuscular Patient/Client Management II

Spring 2
DPT 5445 Clinical Internship I (8-week affiliation)
DPT 5132 Evidence-Based Clinical Research III
DPT 5218 Assistive Technology in Rehabilitation
DTP 5136 Professional Practice Management II
DPT 5141 Prevention, Health Promotion, Fitness and Wellness
DPT 5217 Advanced Therapeutic Techniques

Summer 3/Fall 3
DPT 5702 Clinical Internship II (14-week affiliation)
DPT 5701 Clinical Internship III (14-week affiliation)

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 School of Health Professions 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 School of Health Professions.
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.