Department of Physical Therapy

Program Philosophy
Excellence in physical therapy education is developed in cooperation with the larger University and health science community that is student centered and focused on academic distinction. Our program seeks to enhance the professional development of every student and faculty member through a variety of academic, scholarly and service opportunities. This philosophy is well represented by the program's physical resources and integrated curriculum that links foundational and medical sciences, clinical practice and professionalism.

Program Mission Statement
An education in physical therapy at Quinnipiac University embodies both the University's commitment to its three core values: high-quality academic programs, a student-oriented environment and a strong sense of community, and the American Physical Therapy Association's core values: accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility. The program in physical therapy prepares students to become competent and compassionate entry-level physical therapists, who are able to practice in a variety of settings serving diverse populations across the lifespan.

To achieve its mission, the program in physical therapy:

• builds on a strong foundation of liberal arts and sciences
• cultivates critical and reflective thinking, clinical decision-making, and lifelong learning by utilizing an evidenced-based learning model, authentic assessments and a variety of learning experiences that include interactive technology. This learning model features small lab sizes, hands-on activities, visits to area clinics and opportunities to engage in professional development forums and community interdisciplinary collaboration
• provides both in-class and in-clinic opportunities for students to engage in the essential elements of patient/client management 
• supports faculty teacher-scholars who are effective teachers and who collectively engage in scholarship, professional development, direct patient care and University and community service

General Information and Department Goals
The program in physical therapy is divided into a three- or a four-year preprofessional component leading to a BS in health science studies and a three-year professional graduate component leading to the doctor of physical therapy. The preprofessional component provides a broad liberal arts education, as well as the basic science foundation for the professional component.

Based on the stated mission, the Department of Physical Therapy has set forth the following goals for the program:

• a high-quality, entry-level education
• continuing education for the clinical community
• effective staff support
• PT clinical partnerships
• high-quality clinical education opportunities
• opportunities for student service

Student goals include the ability to demonstrate the skills necessary for entry-level clinical practice, to participate in research and/or service learning, demonstrate effective education of patients, families, peers, other health professionals and the community, and to participate in service.

Faculty goals include providing effective teaching, as well as participating in scholarship and in service.

The program in physical therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

At the end of the spring semester of the first year, students are required to select and adhere to course work in either the three- or four-year preprofessional track. If the three-year track is selected, students will not be allowed transfer into the four-year curriculum at a later date. If a student does choose to transfer into the four-year preprofessional track after having previously selected the three-year option, acceptance into the professional graduate DPT program cannot be guaranteed.

A total of 122 credits is required for completion of the BS in health science studies

Fall Semester, First Year

Course	Title	Credits
BIO 101/101L	General Biology I with lab (UC Science)	4
CHE 110/110L	General Chemistry I with lab	4
UC	Written English (placement by exam) (usually EN 101)	3
UC	Mathematics (placement by exam) (MA 141 Calculus I, program requirement)	3
QU 101	Core Seminar I, Individual in the Community	3
		Total 17

Spring Semester, First Year

Course	Title	Credits
BIO 102/102L	General Biology II with lab (CC Science)	4
CHE 111/111L	General Chemistry II with lab	4
UC	Written English (usually EN 102)	3
UC	Social Sciences Elective (PS 101 General Psychology)	3
UC	Humanities Elective	3
		Total 17

Summer Online 

Elective		3
Elective		3
		Total 6

Fall Semester, Second Year

Course	Title	Credits
BIO 211/211L	Anatomy & Physiology I with lab	4
PHY 110/110L	General Physics I with lab	4
UC	Mathematics (MA 275 Biostatistics program requirment)	3
MSS 150	Speech as Communication	3
QU 201	Core Seminar II, National Community	3
		Total 17

Spring Semester, Second Year

Course	Title	Credits
BIO 212/212L	Anatomy & Physiology II with lab	4
PHY 111/111L	General Physics II with lab	4
UC	Humanities elective	3
HSC 315	Bioethical Issues in the 21st Century	3
or PL 222	Ethics in Biomedical Research and Health Care Delivery	3
QU 301	Core Seminar III	3
		Total 17

Summer Online (social sciences elective)

Course	Title	Credits
PS 272	Abnormal Psychology (UC)	3
	Elective	3
		Total 6

Fall Semester, Third Year

Course	Title	Credits
BMS 300	Human Performance Physiology I with lab	4
BMS 200	Biology of Aging	3
	Elective	3
UC	Fine Arts elective	3
	Elective	3
		Total 16

J Term (three weeks online during intersession)

Elective -- 3 credits

Spring Semester, Third Year

Course	Title	Credits
BMS 301	Human Performance Physiology II with lab	4
AT 440	Biomechanics	3
AT 214	Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries	3
AT 214L	Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries Lab	1
HSC 262	Nutrition in Health and Illness	3
HM 404	Legal Aspects of Health Care Delivery	3
		Total 17

Summer Online
Electives -- 6 credits

The sequencing of couse work for the three- or four-year preprofessional track is flexible; however, all requirements in the curriculum must be completed prior to entry into the graduate DPT program.

A total of 122 credits is required for completion of the BS in health science studies

Fall Semester, First Year
Course	Title	Credits
BIO 101/101L	General Biology I with lab (UC Science)	4
CHE 110/110L	General Chemistry I with lab	4
UC	Written English (placement by exam) (usually EN 101)	3
UC	Mathematics (placement by exam) (MA 141 Calculus I, program requirement)	3
QU 101	Core Seminar I, Individual in the Community	3
		Total 17

Spring Semester, First Year
Course	Title	Credits
BIO 102/102L	General Biology II with lab (CC Science)	4
CHE 111/111L	General Chemistry II with lab	4
UC	Written English (usually EN 102)	3
UC	Social Sciences elective (PS 101, General Psychology)	3
UC	Humanities elective	3
		Total 17

Fall Semester, Second Year
Course	Title	Credits
BIO 211/211L	Anatomy & Physiology I with lab	4
UC	Mathematics (MA 275 Biostatistics program requirement)	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
QU 201	Core Seminar II, National Community	3
		Total 16

Spring Semester, Second Year
Course	Title	Credits
BIO 212/212L	Anatomy & Physiology II with lab	4
UC	Social Sciences elective (PS 272 Abnormal Psychology)	3
MSS 150	Speech as Communication	3
UC	Fine Arts elective	3
	Elective	3
		Total 16

Fall Semester, Third Year
Course	Title	Credits
BMS 300	Human Performance Physiology I with lab	4
PHY 110/110L	General Physics I with lab	4
QU 301	Core Seminar III, Global Community	3
BMS 200	Biology of Aging	3
		Total 14

Spring Semester, Third Year
Course	Title	Credits
BMS 301	Human Performance Physiology II with lab	4
PHY 111/111L	General Physics II with lab	4
HSC 262	Nutrition in Health and Illness	3
	Elective	3
		Total 14

Fall Semester, Fourth Year
Course	Title	Credits
AT 440	Biomechanics	3
HSC 315	Bioethical Issues in the 21st Century	3
or PL 222	Ethics in Biomedical Research and Health Care Delivery	3
	Elective	3
UC	Humanities elective	3
	Elective	3
		Total 15

Spring Semester, Fourth Year
Course	Title	Credits
AT 214	Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries	3
AT 214L	Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries lab	1
HM 404	Legal Aspects of Health Administration	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
		Total 13

The sequencing of couse work for the three- or four-year preprofessional track is flexible; however, all requirements in the curriculum must be completed prior to entry into the graduate DPT program.

Pre-Professional Program Math/Science Requirements
To be eligible for the professional graduate DPT program, students must achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 during the pre-professional component of the program. In addition, a 3.2 cumulative GPA in pre-professional program science and math coursework is required for admission to the professional graduate DPT component of the program. (D and F grades in the required pre-professional science and math courses are unacceptable.) Initial placement in the English and mathematics courses is determined by examination and an evaluation of high school units presented. The minimum mathematics requirement is MA 141.

All students are encouraged to complete a minor in a subject area of their choice. The minor will be a requirement for students entering the program in Fall 2014. 

The following courses in the pre-professional component must be successfully completed with a C- or better and are calculated into the GPA for science and math coursework.

BIO 101-102 General Biology (8 credits)
BIO 211-212 Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits)
BMS 300-301 Human Performance Physiology (8 credits)
CHE 110-111 General Chemistry (8 credits)
MA 141 Calculus of a Single Variable I (3 credits)
MA 275 Biostatistics (3 credits)
PHY 110-111 General Physics (8 credits)

Total Credits 46

A student who scores a 4 on the AP exam for biology will be awarded credit for BIO 101-102.

A student who scores a 5 on the AP exam for calculus will be awarded credit for MA 141. If AP credits are awarded and accepted for CHE 110-111, the following courses must be taken in its place. No other AP credits in the math and science categories will be accepted for program substitutions. Credits from other non-math and science core curriculum requirements will be accepted.

CHE 110-111 General Chemistry I & II substitutions:
CHE 210 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
CHE 210L Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 credit)
CHE 211 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
CHE 211L Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 credit) 

The Review and Evaluation Committee for the program in physical therapy is responsible for evaluating and screening candidates during the pre-professional and professional graduate components of the program. Requirements for the program in physical therapy were approved in conjunction with the accreditation of the program and are acceptable to the School of Health Sciences and Quinnipiac University administration.

For freshman entry PT students, internal and external transfer BS students
A total of 112 credits is required for completion of the DPT

Fall Semester, First Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 512	Human Anatomy I	4
PT 505	Kinesiology I	3
PT 503	Physical Therapy Process I	2
PT 514	Neuroanatomy I	2
PT 548	Physical Agents	3
PT 519	Issues/Topics in Physical Therapy	2
		Total 16

Spring Semester, First Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 513	Human Anatomy II	4
PT 506	Kinesiology II	2
PT 515	Neuroanatomy II	2
PT 504	Physical Therapy Process II	2
PT 528	Musculoskeletal I	4
PT 502	Introduction to Clinical Decision Making	3
		Total 17

Summer Semester
Course	Title	Credits
PT 531	Acute Care and Cardiopulmonary I	4
PT 520	Pathophysiology I	3
PT 523	Applied Pharmacology I	1
PT 529	Musculoskeletal II	4
PT 569	Education/Community Health Wellness	2
PT 590	Introduction to Physical Therapy Research	2
		Total 16

Fall Semester, Second Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 671	Clinical Education I (10-12 weeks)	4
PT 675	Normal/Abnormal Gait (online)	1
		Total 5

Spring Semester, Second Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 666	Research Application	2
PT 629	Musculoskeletal III	3
PT 626	Pathophysiology II	3
PT 627	Applied Pharmacology II	1
PT 628	Acute Care and Cardiopulmonary PT II	3
PT 664	Neurological Rehabilitation I	4
Total 16

Summer Semester
Course	Title	Credits
PT 668	Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Disability	2
PT 658	Differential Diagnosis	3
PT 665	Neurological Rehabilitation II	3
PT 661	Administration and Management	3
PT 657	Diagnostic Imaging	3
		Total 14

Fall Semester, Third Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 736	Neurological Rehabilitation III	3
PT 749	PTP Selected Topics in Rehabilitation	3
PT 768	Professional Issues in PT	2
PT 767	Capstone Research Project	2
PT 759	Advanced Clinical Decision Making	2
PT 744	Manual Therapy/PT Skills elective	2
		Total 14

Spring Semester, Third Year
Course	Title	Credits
PT 781	Clinical Internship I (10-12 weeks)
PT 782	Clinical Internship II (10-12 weeks)
		Total 9

Summer Semester

Course	Title	Credits
PT 783	Clinical Internship III (10-12 weeks)
		Total 5

Total Credits 112