Program Advisors: Allen, Dockter (Program Director), Eckert, Parker, Roller, Schulte, Taylor
Program Overview
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is designed to prepare competent, ethical, compassionate, and caring physical therapists who serve the diverse healthcare needs of society in accordance with the Benedictine values. All students are required to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to admission into the 32-month professional phase of the program. The professional curriculum consists of unique experiences provided within a supportive health care community including an optional service-learning experience in Guatemala. An individual or group research project, culminating with a presentation and paper in manuscript form, is required to complete the clinical inquiry portion of the curriculum. Full-time clinical education experiences are completed at a large variety of diverse settings throughout the US and are spaced throughout the educational program. Students also manage a pro bono clinic on campus and provide physical therapy services under faculty guidance in order to practice their skills and serve the needs of the people in the region. The experienced faculty, representing several specialty areas of practice, are assisted by adjunct faculty, including physical therapists, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Graduate Outcomes
Graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum will have the ability to perform as entry-level physical therapists in a variety of roles and practice settings. Specifically, the intended outcomes are:
Practice in a safe, legal and ethical manner.
Practice autonomously and collaboratively and recognize when a problem or need is outside the scope of physical therapist practice.
Effectively communicate in verbal, non-verbal, written and electronic formats with all stakeholders.
Competently examine and manage patients/clients in diverse settings.
Apply knowledge of diversity into practice, service, and scholarship.
Educate others using a variety of culturally appropriate teaching methods commensurate with learner characteristics.
Apply evidence to the clinical decision making process in the practice of PT that results in effective outcomes for patients and clients.
Participate in the administration of the practice setting.
Provide prevention and wellness programs appropriate to physical therapy.
Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism including lifelong learning, advocacy and servant leadership.
Demonstrate the ability to discover, integrate, and apply knowledge for the advancement of PT practice.
Accreditation
The Program in Physical Therapy at the University of Mary is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA, 22314: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. This information and the pass rates listed below were updated February 2013 following the review in Fall 2012.
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) has accredited the University to offer the DPT.
Graduate Outcomes
Students in the University of Mary Program in Physical Therapy benefit from small class sizes and personal interaction with faculty. The average graduation rate over the past 3 years (2011-2013) was 99%. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
The overall 3 year pass rate (2010-2012) was 100% and the average first time pass rate over the past 3 years (2010-2012) was 92.3% which was above the national average.
One hundred percent of graduates are employed as physical therapists in a variety of settings across the nation.
Mission of the Program in Physical Therapy
The mission of the University of Mary Program in Physical Therapy is to prepare competent, ethical, compassionate, and caring physical therapists who serve the diverse healthcare needs of society through the advancement of practice, advocacy, education, and service in accordance with the Benedictine values.
Application and Admission
The University of Mary is a member of the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), available at www.ptcas.org. Students should submit their application to PTCAS and indicate that the University of Mary is one of their choices. PTCAS will send the documentation to the Department of Physical Therapy Admissions Committee for consideration.
After receipt of application through PTCAS, the Admissions Committee selects candidates eligible for the required personal interview. The final class is selected on an objective point system based on prerequisite GPA and interview. The deadline for submission of the application to PTCAS is mid-January of the year prior to the August start date. Interviews are conducted in mid-March. University of Mary does participate in the PTCAS Early Decision option.
The following are the program prerequisites and minimum criteria for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy professional program.
Prerequisite Requirements
Biology Course General Biology I (BIO 103) is recommended
Biology Course Biology course (Botany and Zoology not acceptable); Medical Microbiology (BIO 209) is recommended
BIO 207 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 208 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
CHE 109 or 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry or General Inorganic Chemistry I
CHE 110 or 112 Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry or General Inorganic Chemistry II
PSY 207 Lifespan or Developmental Psychology
PSY 406 Abnormal Psychology
PHY 203 Introduction to Physics
PHY 304 Intermediate Physics
Other Requirements (not included in the prerequisite GPA calculation)
Medical Terminology--The applicant must demonstrate competence by either completing a Medical Terminology class (minimum grade of C) or passing a Medical Terminology exam within the first semester.
Statistics (minimum grade of C)
Recommended Courses
If students plan on participating in the optional field experience in Guatemala, they are encouraged to take Beginning Spanish.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are welcome to apply. Advising of transfer students occurs through the Office of Admissions at 701-355-8235 or jweltz@umary.edu.
Minimum Criteria for Admission
The minimum criteria for admission to the doctoral program in physical therapy include:
Minimum Academic Requirements
Seven prerequisite courses completed prior to application
Cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all undergraduate college work on a 4.0 scale
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all prerequisites and a minimum of a 2.0 on any course
A candidate may retake any prerequisite course one time. The higher of the two grades will be used when calculating the prerequisite GPA.
No more than two (2) retakes in the prerequisites will be considered.
Completion of a bachelor's degree by the time of admission into the professional program.
Clinical Observation or Work Experience Requirement
The candidate must complete 40 hours of observation, volunteer or paid experience with one or more licensed and practicing physical therapists. It is highly recommended that the hours occur in more than one area of clinical practice. The clinical experience hours must have taken place within two years of the application deadline. For each clinical experience, the student and the supervising physical therapist complete a Clinical Experience Form. These forms are available on PTCAS.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must have two letters of recommendation describing the applicant's suitability for physical therapy.
Early Admission
A selected group of high school seniors may apply for early enrollment into the program. The number is determined on a yearly basis. Applicants for early enrollment must be outstanding in their own high schools; having at least a score of 24 on the ACT or a GPA of 3.5. A member of the PT faculty interviews these students prior to their early acceptance. Students accepted for this program sign an agreement detailing specific requirements.
Rolling Admissions
If the class number doesn’t reach full capacity, rolling admissions comes into effect. Qualified applicants on PTCAS who did not originally interview will be invited to interview. Students must meet all criteria previously outlined and participate in the formal interview process. Applications are considered until the first day of class in the fall.
Evaluation and Grading
The program uses a variety of teaching methods including lectures and discussion, laboratory activities, service learning, student presentations, and integrated clinical experiences. Competency and proficiency are determined by written, oral and practical examinations, class presentations, and projects.
Students must meet the academic requirements of this program in compliance with the regulations of the graduate policies of the University. The minimum cumulative GPA requirement is a 3.0 for both the University and the DPT program.
Graduation Requirements
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is awarded upon successful completion of both the academic and clinical portions of the curriculum.
Feedback
The Physical Therapy Program values constructive feedback. Faculty and administration strive to respond to complaints and concerns in a timely and appropriate manner. A complaint is considered genuine when the individual voicing the concern submits it in writing with a signature, or speaks directly with the Physical Therapy Program Director or Dean of the School of Health Sciences.
The Physical Therapy Program Director, Dr. Mary Dockter, may be reached at (701)355-8045 or via e-mail at mcdoc@umary.edu. The Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Dr. Joellen Roller, may be reached at (701) 355-8189 or via email at rollerj@umary.edu.