Physical Therapy and Health Science

FACULTY Professor Tippett (chair); Associate Professors Peterson, Pratt, Strubhar; Assistant Professors S. Bertram, Durr, Kelly, Latva, Reynolds, Way.

Coordinator of Health Science Advising and Academic Experiences: R. Bertram

The Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a health science major in addition to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree. For more information regarding the D.P.T. degree, please refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science is to develop versatile individuals in a student-centered and collaborative environment that prepares our graduates to lead, educate, advocate, and serve in a dynamic healthcare environment. 

Kinesiology and Health Science Major

The major provides students with requisite knowledge and skills for post graduate study in a variety of healthcare fields as well as entry level positions in the workforce. Our graduates have gone on to successfully complete post baccalaureate degrees in physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, medicine, athletic training, chiropractic, counseling, public health and other professions. Graduates entering the workforce have gained employment in medical sales, pharmaceutical sales, healthcare management and administration, as well as various positions in the health and fitness arena.

Admission Requirements

In addition to University and College of Education and Health Sciences requirements, the following are recommended for students to receive full consideration for admission to the Kinesiology and Health Science major as a freshman:

1. a minimum of three years of high school mathematics and science (biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology are recommended.
2. SAT minimum score of 1,100 or ACT minimum score of 22.

Areas of Focus

Majors typically pursue course work associated with one of three distinct tracks or areas of focus. One track is geared towards students pursuing graduate study in health care professions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training. Another common track or area of focus is for students wishing to pursue professions in medicine, physician assistant or chiropractic. The third area of focus is for students wishing to pursue post-graduate study in a non-direct patient care capacity or students wishing to immediately enter the workforce following graduation.

In addition to required coursework students are required to choose a minor course of studies. Students are encouraged to explore the various options for their required minor and discuss their plans with their academic advisor before declaring a minor prior to the end of the sophomore year.

Required courses for all students in the major include:

• BIO 111/113 Introduction to Cell Biology - 4 hrs.
• BIO 112/114 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution - 4 hrs.
• BIO 230/231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I - 4 hrs.
• BIO 232/233 Human Anatomy and Physiology II - 4 hrs.
• CHM 110/111: General Chemistry I – 4 hours
• CHM 116/117: General Chemistry II – 5 hours
• CHM 302 or NUR 391 Medical Terminology -1 hr.
• ENC 370/375: Human Relations Developmental Techniques – 3 hours
• ETE 402 Educational Methods, Strategies and Evaluation Techniques - 3 hrs.
• FCS 303 Nutrition - 3 hrs.
• HS 110 Introduction to Health Science - 1 hr.
• HS 210: Concepts in Personal Wellness and Fitness or HS 230: Measurement in Physical Activity – 3 hours
• HS 300: Experiential Learning in Health Science – 1-4 hours
• HS 310: Statistical Procedures in Health Science or PSY Quantitative Methods – 3 hours*
• HS 320: Exercise Physiology – 3 hours
• HS 460: Kinesiology – 3 hours
• HS 470: Health Science Applications of Exercise Prescription or HS 480: Biomechanics – 3 hours
• ML 250: Interpersonal Effectiveness in Organizations – 2 hours or ML 350: Managing for Results in Organizations – 2 hours
• MTH 115: Brief Calculus with Applications I or MTH 121: Calculus I – 4 hours
• PHY 107: General Physics I – 4 hours
• PHY 108 General Physics II – 4 hours
• PSY 101: Principles of Psychology – 3 hours

Plus one of the following electives:

• HS/FCS 220 Consumer Issues in Health Care - 3 hrs.
• NUR 217 Men’s Health Issues - 2 hrs.
• NUR 219 Women’s Health Issues - 3 hrs.
• HS 343 Ethics of Healthcare – 3hrs.
• HS 345 Motor Control and Motor Learning – 3hrs.
• HS 350 Special Topics in Health Care – 3hrs.
• HS 380 Disability and Health in a Global Society – 3hrs.
• HS 425: Independent Study – 1-3hrs.

Total hours for the major – 71-75 hours

*Health Science majors will take HS 310 unless they are pursuing a neuroscience minor.

In addition to the required list of courses, students interested in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and athletic training are encouraged to choose as many Health Science courses as possible and should consider enrolling in PSY 303: Lifespan Developmental Psychology and/or PSY 311: Principles of Abnormal Psychology. 

In addition to the required list of courses, students interested in physician assistant, medicine, and chiropractic are encouraged to enroll in BIO 202: Microbiology and Immunology, CHM 162: Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry.

In addition to the required list of courses, students not interested in graduate education or looking to enter the workforce after graduation are encouraged to pursue a minor course of studies. Past Health Science students have successfully completed a minor course of study in multiple areas. Some of the most common minors are Management and Leadership, Neuroscience, Foreign Language, Health, Biology, Chemistry, and others.

At least 124 credit hours are required for the bachelor’s degree, with at least 40 credit hours at the 300 level or above. Students must also meet Bradley University Core Curriculum requirements.  Kinesiology and Health Science majors are required to take a minor, chosen in consultation with advisors in the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science and in the minor department.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Post-baccalaureate educational programs and future employers seek well rounded students who are involved in activities outside of the classroom. Bradley offers more than 200 student organizations that provide opportunities for Health Science students to become engaged on campus and in the local community. The Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science sponsor two organizations that include the Health Science Organization; and a service dog training program called “Wags for Mags.” Health Science students have also served as tutors for local grade school and high school students who are patients at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, have volunteered side by side with Department faculty for Special Olympics, and have participated in other community programs as well. Health Science students have also taken advantage of unique opportunities to study in London, Dublin, and other foreign cities associated with Bradley’s Study Abroad Program and in doing so have successfully completed the College of Education and Health Science Global Scholars Program. Students have also accompanied Doctor of Physical Therapy students and Department faculty on mission trips to the Dominican Republic.

The Doctorate of Physical Therapy

Freshmen admitted to the undergraduate program in Health Science have the opportunity for early assurance (formerly known as direct admission) into Bradley’s graduate program if they meet the following main criteria:

• all math and science courses must be taken at Bradley
• students must attain a math, science and overall GPA of 3.4 at the end of freshman year, 3.4 at the end of the sophomore year and 3.5 at the end of the junior year.

In addition to the GPA requirements – student must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for the early assurance option:

Criteria to maintain the Early Assurance Option.

1. Freshman must claim their early assurance with the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science by the end of the third week in the fall of their freshman year.
2. After matriculation, all required math/science courses must be taken at Bradley. Advanced placement credit in the required math/science courses posted to their Bradley transcript will be accepted.

3. Students must attain a math, science and overall GPA of 3.4 at the end of the sophomore year and 3.5 end of the junior year. Students must have a minimum of a B average in BIO 230/231: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 232/233: Human Anatomy and Physiology II.
4. The following courses must be completed by the beginning of the senior year: BIO: 111/113, BIO: 112/114, BIO 230/231, BIO 232/233, PHY 107/108, and MTH 115 or MTH 121.
5. Prior to the beginning of senior year, a student must have a minimum of 40 hours of observation in a physical therapy clinic with a minimum of 8 hours in an inpatient, skilled nursing or acute care setting. Time observing in the Department’s Clinic for Fitness and Function does not count toward these observation hours.
6. Early assurance cannot be deferred to the next application cycle.
7. Students who have early assurance and will be graduating in 3 years must let the department know of their early graduation in the fall of their sophomore year. In addition, students graduating in 3 years must have a math, science and overall GPA 3.5 at the end of their sophomore year (second year) and apply through PTCAS in the fall of their final year (3^rd year).
8. Students MUST complete the application process to the DPT program through Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). This includes submitting GRE scores, completing all the items in the application and submitting all fees before the published deadlines.
9. Early assurance can be denied for the following reasons: not following the procedures above, not maintaining the required GPA, not completing the application through PTCAS, not meeting the required observation hours, demonstrating egregious behavior while a student at Bradley, demonstrating unprofessional behavior in classes taken at Bradley.

Sample Plan of Study

Following is a suggested plan of study for Health Science Majors. Students should create a formal plan of study and discuss progress towards their degree with their advisors at least once a semester. Please note that course offerings can vary semester to semester. According to the Bradley University catalog, every candidate for a degree is personally responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation. No University official can relieve the student of this responsibility.

Freshman - Fall Semester (16 hours)

• BlO 111/113: Introduction to Cell Biology – 4 credit hours
• CHM 110/111: General Chemistry I – 4 credit hours
• MTH 115 or 121: Calculus I – 4 credit hours
• BCC requirement – 3 credit hours
• HS 110: Intro to Health Science – 1 credit hour

Freshman - Spring Semester (15 hours)

• BlO 112/114: Introduction to Ecology and Evolution – 4 credit hours
• CHM 116/117: General Chemistry II – 5 credit hours
• PSY 101: Principles of Psychology – 3 credit hours
• BCC requirements – 3 credit hours 

Sophomore - Fall Semester (16 hours)

• PHY 107:General Physics I – 4 credit hours
• HS 210: Concepts in Personal Wellness and Fitness – 3 credit hours
• Electives or minor requirement – 3 credit hours
• BCC requirement – 6 credit hours

Sophomore - Spring Semester (16 hours)

• PHY 108: General Physics II – 4 credit hours
• HS 310: Statistical Procedures in Health Sciences – 3 credit hours 
  or PSY 205 Quantitative Methods – 3 credit hours
• HS 230 Measurement in Physical Activity (if HS 210 not taken) – 3 credit hours
• BCC or minor requirements – 6 credit hours

Junior - Fall Semester (15-16 hours)

• HS 320: Exercise Physiology – 3 credit hours
• BCC requirement – 3 credit hours
• Electives or minor requirements – 3 credit hours
• M L 250 Interpersonal Effectiveness in Organizations – 3 credit hours
  or M L 350 Managing for Results in Organizations – 2 credit hours
• BlO 230/231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credit hours 

Junior - Spring Semester (16 hours)

• Electives – 3 credit hours
• BIO 232/233: Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credit hours
• FCS 303: Nutrition – 3 credit hours
• BCC requirement – 3 credit hours
• HS 300: Experiential Learning in Health Science – 1-2 credit hours

Senior - Fall Semester (15 hours)

• BCC requirement – 6 credit hours
• HS Elective – 3 credit hours
• ETE 402: Educational Methods, Strategies and Evaluation Techniques – 3 hours
• HS 460: Kinesiology – 3 credit hours 

Senior - Spring Semester (15 hours)

• Electives or minor requirements – 6 credit hours
• ENC 370/375: Human Relations Development – 3 credit hours
• CHM 302 or NUR 391: Medical Terminology – 1 credit hour
• HS 470: Health Science Application of Exercise Prescriptionor HS 480: Motion Analysis – 3 credit hours

Students considering graduate work as a physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, or dentist should consider electives in organic chemistry, microbiology and other pertinent course work.

This is the official catalog for the 2019-2020 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.