Educational, professional, and technical skills are integrated into the academic and clinical aspects of the student's education. The faculty reinforce basic competencies necessary for an entry-level prosthetist-orthotist.    A portion of the curriculum is provided online via the BlackBoard course management platform or a student designated server.  Students are able to access lectures and handouts at any time.  This material is reinforced through face-to-face classroom environment with instructors and patients.  The skills learned via online content are applied through the casting, fabrication and fitting of patient models with orthoses and prostheses.  Students will also engage in research projects and community service as a part of their learning experience.

Master of Prosthetics Orthotics Degree Plan

Course Descriptions

HCS 5308 Human Anatomy (Lecture)
3 semester credit hours

This course is a comprehensive study of the structure and function of human body systems and their mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on the major characteristics of each body system and its relationship to other systems. Lectures emphasize basic correlative clinical concepts.

HCS 5309 Human Anatomy Dissection Laboratory
3 semester credit hours

This course is an advanced study of the human body and includes human cadaver dissection.

HCS 5407 Human Physiology
4 semester credit hours

This course provides a basic understanding of the major organ systems that control bodily function, beginning with an introduction to cell and membrane physiology.

HCS 5207 Introduction to Human Neuroscience
2 semester credit hours

This course is primarily a lecture format study of the anatomical substrate related to function of the nervous system. Topics include neuroanatomy, cellular and intercellular physiology, neuroplasticity, development of the nervous system, and the somatic and motor systems. Neural disorders encountered in practice are emphasized.

MPO 5101 Introduction to Laboratory Skills and Materials in Prosthetics and Orthotics
1 semester credit hour

This course introduces equipment and tools used in the fabrication of prostheses and orthoses.  Proper safety techniques and operating procedures in the laboratory environment are stressed.  Prosthetic and orthotic material characteristics are introduced.

MPO 5102 Clinical Evaluation Tools
1 semester credit hour

This course provides an overview of clinical evaluation tools commonly used to develop treatment plans and assess outcomes for patients with orthopedic and neurologic impairments.  Students have the opportunity to become proficient in selected measurement techniques and evaluation tools through lecture, lab and clinical experience.

HCS 5306 Introduction to Pathology
3 semester credit hours

This course is an introduction to general pathology. Basic pathologic processes are emphasized, and specific disease entities are used extensively to illustrate principles. Clinical manifestations of disease are correlated with their pathology.

MPO 5203 Biomechanics of Human Movement 1
2 semester credit hour

This course is designed to develop a fundamental understanding of the anatomical, neuromuscular and biomechanical principles of human movement.  Emphasis is on the importance of mechanical principles in relation to analysis of the human body at rest and in motion, in both normal and pathological conditions.

MPO 5504 Orthotic Management of the Lower Limb I
5 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term lower limb orthotic patient management distal to the knee.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and orthotic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected orthoses is presented including material characteristics.  International standards and product failure are also included.

MPO 5505 Prosthetic Management of the Lower Limb I
5 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term lower limb prosthetic patient management distal to the knee.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and prosthetic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected prostheses is presented including material characteristics.  International standards and product failure are also included.

HCS 5106 Professional Development
1 semester credit hour

This course offers interprofessional education to health professions students through interaction with students from other healthcare disciplines and faculty facilitators in a small group setting. Topics include communication skills, team dynamics, conflict management, cultural competency, and other professional skills necessary to succeed in a collaborative healthcare work environment.

MPO 5106 Biomechanics of Human Movement 2
1 semester credit hour

This course is a continuation of MPO 5203 Biomechanics of Human Movement 1 and is designed to develop a fundamental understanding of the anatomical, neuromuscular and biomechanical principles of human movement.  Emphasis is on the importance of mechanical principles in relation to analysis of the human body at rest and in motion, in both normal and pathological conditions.

MPO 5407 Orthotic Management of the Lower Limb 2
4 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term lower limb orthotic patient management at and proximal to the knee.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and orthotic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected orthoses is presented.

MPO 5308 Orthotic Management of the Spine
3 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term spinal orthotic patient management.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and orthotic design for the spine.  Fabrication and fitting of selected orthoses is presented.

MPO 5409 Prosthetic Management of the Lower Limb 2
4 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term lower limb prosthetic patient management at and proximal to the knee.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and prosthetic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected prostheses is presented.

HCS 5230 Health Care Research
 2 semester credit hours

This course provides an overview of the research process with a focus on evidence based health care research. Lecture topics include the evidence-based medicine approach, critical appraisal of medical literature, study design, reliability, validity, statistical analysis and its interpretation.

MPO 5310 Prosthetic Management of the Upper Limb
3 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term upper limb prosthetic patient management.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and prosthetic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected prostheses is presented.

MPO 5411 Clinical Experience
4 semester credit hours

This course provides the opportunity to apply learned skills during a multi-week clinical experience.  It may occur in a general practice setting or a specialty practice such as upper limb prosthetics, pediatrics, acute management, Department of Defense facility or Veteran’s Administration facility.

MPO 5112 Clinical Research 1
1 semester credit hour

Students with an assigned faculty mentor develop a project proposal to answer a defined clinical question.  The project may be an in-depth literature review or an experimental research pilot project.  Students may also be assigned to ongoing projects.  This course will focus on identifying and critically analyzing the literature using skills learned in the HCS 5230 course.  Guidelines for research involving human subjects will also be covered.

MPO 5313 Orthotic Management of the Upper Limb
3 semester credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive study of short- and long-term upper limb orthotic patient management.  It includes evaluation, treatment plan formulation, biomechanics, and orthotic design.  Fabrication and fitting of selected orthoses is presented.

MPO 5214 Interdisciplinary Aspects of Prosthetics and Orthotics
2 semester credit hours

This course covers the medical, psychological and social conditions, and needs of the patient requiring orthotic or prosthetic management.  It expands on topics presented in other prosthetic-orthotic courses and includes experts in related fields. Topics include ethics, the interdisciplinary team concept, gerontology, wound care, pain management and co-morbidities affecting care.  An integral part of this course is a review of classic and current literature with respect to the evidence based practice model.

MPO 5115 Clinical Research 2
1 semester credit hour

This course is a continuation of MPO 5111 Clinical Research 1.  Students summarize their findings to form conclusions to their clinical questions.   This capstone project will result in a final scientific paper summarizing the project and a formal presentation to further develop communication skills.

MPO 5316 Contemporary Practice and Synthesis
3 semester credit hour

This course presents prosthetic and orthotic practice within the context of current healthcare.  Three distinct areas of focus are presented.  Practice management, advanced technology and clinical reasoning and synthesis.  It emphasizes documentation and coding skills and includes regulations related to reimbursement by federal, state and private payers, patient confidentiality, quality assurance and accountability, healthcare economics, marketing, codes of professional responsibilities, licensure and certification.  It also covers professional organizations, international service, and life-long personal and professional development.  Resume development and interviewing skills for securing a residency position are included.  This course also builds on current prosthetic and orthotic design principles by introducing additional available technologies and research trends.  It includes computer aided design, myoelectric prosthetic and orthotic control, functional electrical stimulation, microprocessor controlled joints, management of the high activity individual, advanced prosthetic socket design and suspension, complex orthotic gait and device design, targeted reinnervation and osseointegration.  This course is offered in the final semester to further prepare the student for the role of prosthetic-orthotic resident.  Prior course work is synthesized and facilitated through patient interaction, case studies, and other means to enhance patient management and problem-solving skills.