Physical Therapy

Dr. Melissa Peterson,
Chair and Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science

Mission

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science is to develop versatile and ethical individuals in a student-focused environment that prepares our graduates to lead, educate, advocate and serve in an interdisciplinary health care environment. The mission of the Kinesiology and Health Science program is to develop undergraduate students who will be prepared to enter graduate programs and careers in healthcare-related fields. The mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to develop graduate students as autonomous practitioners. The Department achieves this mission through excellence in teaching, research and scholarship, and service to the broader community.

Vision

The Department will strive to build a community of excellence in teaching, research, service and experiential learning which will prepare students to work ethically and effectively in a global society.

Doctor Of Physical Therapy

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting admission requirements for Graduate Education, requirements for entry into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program include the following:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree with a Health Science or Kinesiology and Health Science major from Bradley University with a “C” or higher in all required courses OR
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree with the following courses completed with a “C” or higher:
• Chemistry - 1 year chemistry sequence for science majors (eg. 6-8 semester hours) with laboratory experience
• Physics - 1 year physics sequence for science majors (eg. 6-8 semester hours) with laboratory experience
• Biology/Zoology - 6-8 semester hours with content that includes an introduction to cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics
• Anatomy - 3-4 semester hours of vertebrate, mammalian, human, or comparative anatomy that includes a laboratory experience
• Physiology - 3-4 semester hours of vertebrate, mammalian, or human physiology (a two-semester sequence of combined anatomy and physiology will meet the anatomy and physiology requirement)
• Statistics - 3 semester hours of statistics

The following courses are highly recommended:

1. Kinesiology, biomechanics, or additional courses in human anatomy
2. Exercise physiology, pathophysiology, or additional courses in physiology
3. Upper division psychology and sociology courses
4. Medical Terminology

In addition, an applicant should have:

1. Minimum 3.0 grade point average in all mathematics and science courses taken.
2. Minimum 3.0 grade point average for all courses taken.
3. GRE scores submitted to Bradley.
4. TOEFL score of 600 or higher, TSE of 50 or higher, and TWE of 4.5 or higher for non-native English speaking applicants.
5. Skills in computer literacy, communication (written and verbal), medical terminology, and teaching.

Applicants must apply through the Physical Therapy Centralize Application Service (PTCAS http://www.ptcas.org/home.aspx). Your submission of courses to PTCAS (verified by official transcripts) will be used to determine if you have required courses or course equivalents. See the department website for further instructions ( http://bradley.edu/academic/departments/pths/graduate/dpt/application.dot )

No grade lower than a C is acceptable in the required courses.

In order to begin the DPT program the requirements for a Baccalaureate degree must be met with the verification of the Baccalaureate degree being awarded four weeks after the start of the class.

Volunteer hours are not required, however 100 hours of exposure to physical therapy is recommended. Applicants should spend time observing a variety of physical therapy settings to facilitate his or her career decision.

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s student health form requirement, and prior to enrollment in the first full-time physical therapy course that includes a clinical experience, each student must verify:

• professional liability insurance (renewable annually)
• immunity to rubeola (measles) by one of the following: - a rubeola (measles) immunization received in 1990 or later, or - written verification from a physician of having had the disease, or - birth date prior to 1957
• immunity to rubella (German measles) by one of the following: - written verification of having had the immunization, or - written verification rubella titer greater than 1:10
• written verification of immunity to Hepatitis B virus
• written verification of tuberculin test results (renewable annually)
• CPR certification (renewable annually)
• Criminal background check, if required by clinical site.

Contact the Department for the most current requirements

Admission is competitive for a limited number of spaces in the class.

Course Of Study

Summer I

• PT 612 Functional Anatomy I (Summer Session I) 3 hrs.
• PT 614 Gross Anatomy I (Summer Session I) 3 hrs.
• PT 622 Functional Anatomy II (Summer Session II) 3 hrs.
• PT 624 Gross Anatomy II (Summer Session II) 3 hrs.
  12 hrs.

Fall I

• PT 600 PT Professional Seminar 0 hrs.
• PT 630 Foundations of Physical Therapy 4 hrs.
• PT 636 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I 4 hrs.
• PT 640 Clinical Science I 3 hrs.
• PT 646 Research Methods 2 hrs.
  13 hrs.

Spring I

• PT 600 PT Professional Seminar 0 hrs.
• PT 655 Experiential Learning 1 hr.
• PT 662 Neurological Physical Therapy I 4 hrs.
• PT 666 The Research Process 2 hrs.
• PT 670 Human Development Throughout the Lifespan 3 hrs.
• PT 680 Clinical Science II 2 hrs.
• PT 686 Supervised Research 1 hr.
  13 hrs.

Summer II

• PT 710 Clinical Education II (8 Weeks)
  8 hrs.

Fall II

• PT 600 PT Professional Seminar 0 hrs.
• PT 655 Experiential Learning 1 hr.
• PT 716 Supervised Research II 1 hr.
• PT 720 Teaching and Learning Theory in PT 3 hrs.
• PT 730 Neurological Physical Therapy II 4 hrs.
• PT 740 Clinical Science III 2 hrs.
  11 hrs.

Spring II

• PT 600 PT Professional Seminar 0 hrs.
• PT 655 Experiential Learning 1 hr.
• PT 700 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II 4 hrs.
• PT 766 Research III 1 hr.
• PT 770 Applied Exercise Principles 3 hrs.
• PT 790 Cardiovascular/Pulmonary/Integumentary Physical Therapy 4 hrs.
  13 hrs.

Summer III

• PT 800 Clinical Education III (8 Weeks)
  8 hrs.

Fall III

• PT 600 PT Professional Seminar 0 hrs.
• PT 655 Experiential Learning 1 hr.
• PT 810 Health and Wellness 3 hrs.
• PT 816 Supervised Research IV 1 hr.
• PT 820 Physical Therapy Administration and Professional Issues 3 hrs.
• PT 830 Physical Therapy Differential Diagnosis 4 hrs.
  12 hrs.

Spring III

• PT 850 Clinical Education IV (10 Weeks) 10 hrs.
• PT 860 Clinical Education V (10 Weeks) 10 hrs.
  20 hrs.

Electives

• PT 760 Independent Study (1-6 hrs.)
• PT 761 Advanced Dry Needling Lower Quarter Integration (2 hrs.)
• PT 762 Advance Dry Needling Upper Quarter Integration (2 hrs.)
• PT 840 Independent Study (Optional) 1-6 hrs.

Total required: 110 hrs.

This is the official catalog for the 2024-2025 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.