Physical Therapy

Department Chair and Program Director: Jennifer Collins

Vice-Chair: Scott Bennie

Director of Clinical Education: Jeff Emde

Faculty: Laura Podschun, Andrew Crofton, Elizabeth Clark

Mission Statement

Consistent with the values of a faith-based environment, Adventist University of Health Sciences prepares Doctors of Physical Therapy who promote holistic, person-centered care and wellness through evidence-based practice, leadership, life-long learning, scholarship, and service to the local and global communities.

Vision Statement

As valued experts in movement and rehabilitation science, graduates will be the primary professional for movement dysfunction, health promotion, and prevention.

Curriculum Philosophy

The ADU DPT Faculty believe that:

• Students are responsible, reflective, active learners.

• Students require a foundation in basic and clinical sciences and skills that are applied across the lifespan, diagnoses, and systems, moving from simple to complex.

• Faculty are role models and mentors.

• Faculty facilitate transformational learning through critical thinking and self-reflection.

• Values-based experiential learning, woven throughout the program, instills professionalism and fosters the vision of the institution.

• Inter-professional learning develops competent and compassionate practitioners for team based environments.

Licensure and Accreditation

For information regarding Adventist University of Health Sciences (“ADU”) regional and church accreditation, see Accreditation section of this Catalog.

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Effective November 11, 2015, Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314; phone 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates that the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

For further information, see the Student Handbook - Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Supplement.

Program Description

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program prepares graduates to become licensed physical therapists. The program uses a selective admission process to identify a new group of students each summer trimester to begin study in the 3-year DPT program.  The curriculum, grounded in Christian principles, builds on the students’ undergraduate foundation in the arts and sciences, and includes 127 graduate-level credits during which students progress through and integrate foundational and clinical sciences, patient/client management skills, and ultimately, the provision of person-centered care.

Policies

By accepting enrollment as a physical therapy student, each applicant agrees to abide by the program policies as contained and outlined in the Student Handbook - Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Supplement.

Application Requirements

All applicants to the DPT program must apply online through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).

Applications for the DPT program are accepted once per academic year. The program will begin to accept applications through PTCAS on June 30, 2016. The preferred deadline for submissions is December 1, 2016. The final deadline for submissions is February 1, 2017. The program starts a new cohort of students each Summer trimester.

Applicants to the DPT program must submit the following directly to PTCAS:

1. Completed PTCAS Application. The program does not accept applications through the ADU website.

2. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions attended. Failure to disclose all colleges previously attended could result in denial or dismissal.

   Additionally, transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES, P.O. Box 5087, New York, NY 10274-5087, (212) 966-6311, info@wes.org, http://www.wes.org). This is the only company from which transcript evaluations are accepted.

   For more details on the PTCAS polices related to transcripts, please go to: http://www.ptcas.org/Transcripts/

3. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are required of all applicants, including the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning and the Analytical Writing sections.

   The program requires that one official copy of the GRE scores be sent directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to ADU’s (“Adventist U of Health Sciences”) PTCAS code - 1777.

   For more details on the PTCAS policies related to the GRE, please go to: http://www.ptcas.org/Tests/

4. Three electronic references are required from the following:  two physical therapists and one person of the applicant’s choice (employer, professor, academic advisor, etc.).  References from friends or family members will not be accepted.

   For more details on the PTCAS policies related to references, please go to: http://www.ptcas.org/References/

5. All applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

   For more details on the PTCAS policies related to the TOEFL, please go to: http://www.ptcas.org/Tests/

Supplemental Application Fee

Applicants to the ADU DPT program must submit a $50 supplemental application fee, which can be paid online, over the phone at (407)303-1631, or by check. If by check, it should be:

• made payable to: Adventist University of Health Sciences

• labeled as “DPT Supplemental Application Fee” on the memo line (please include the applicant’s name on the memo line as well), and

• mailed to:

Adventist University of Health Sciences
Attn: Financial Services
671 Winyah Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

Admission Requirements

All applicants for the DPT program must meet ADU’s general admission requirements to enroll for graduate study at ADU.

Additionally, applicants for the DPT program must meet all of the following admission requirements in order to be considered for admission:

1. Submit application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). The program does not accept applications through the ADU website.

2. Provide evidence of an earned bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited college or university by his or her start date in the program.

3. Present a minimum cumulative, science, and prerequisite grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Higher GPA’s are more competitive within the applicant pool.

4. Must have completed the following prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university. It is recommended that these prerequisites be completed within the five years immediately prior to application to the program. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the program though 75% should be completed prior to application to the program. Grades of “C” or better are required in all prerequisite courses. Three quarters are considered equivalent to two semesters of course work.

   Anatomy & Physiology, two semesters with lab (Anatomy with lab, one semester, and Physiology with lab, one semester, may be substituted)
   General Biology, two semesters with lab
   General Chemistry, two semesters with lab
   General Physics, two semesters with lab
   Statistics
   General Psychology
   One course in human development across the lifespan (e.g., developmental psychology, human growth and development)

   It is assumed that the applicant is computer literate and familiar with the use of computers at home, on the job, or in school.

5. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all applicants.

   On the Revised General Test, scores of 151 or greater on the Verbal (≥460 on the General Test) and 152 or greater on the Quantitative (≥660 on the General Test) Reasoning sections, and 3.5 or greater on the Analytical Writing section are recommended. Higher scores are more competitive within the applicant pool.  

   Test scores more than five years old will not be accepted.

   If there are multiple test scores available for an applicant the program will consider the highest score earned in each section of the GRE. For example, if the applicant’s Verbal Reasoning test score was 153 on their first attempt and 147 on their second attempt, the program will use the first (higher) score when considering the application. However, if the applicant has scores from both the prior General Test and the revised General Test, the program will use the scores from the revised General Test.

6. The program requires that one official copy of the GRE scores be sent directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to ADU’s (“Adventist U of Health Sciences”) PTCAS code - 1777.

7. Three electronic references are required from the following:two physical therapists and one person of the applicant’s choice (employer, professor, academic advisor, etc.).References from friends or family members will not be accepted.

   The applicant must arrange for PTCAS to receive all of the applicant’s references by the program’s application deadline date.

8. All graduate students for whom English is not their primary language must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction in the United States; or
• A minimum score of 570 on the paper-based TOEFL exam; or
• A minimum score of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL exam; or
• A minimum total score of 89 on the Internet-based TOEFL exam
  • Composite of reading, listening, and writing: 63
  • Speaking: 26

Interview

All applicants who meet the minimum admissions requirements will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants found to be competitive will be invited for an interview. The interview process serves a dual purpose:

1. It provides a realistic evaluation of eligibility for admission into the program as it assesses oral communication skills, professional behaviors and attitudes, ability to interact in a group, knowledge of the profession, ability to solve problems, and motivation to pursue a career in physical therapy. The applicants’ written communication skills will also be measured with an on-site writing sample.

2. It gives the applicant an opportunity to learn more about the program’s teaching and learning philosophy and to spend time with faculty to appraise the program in terms of meeting personal and professional growth.

Interviews will begin after the preferred deadline of December 1 and may continue until the class is full.

Student Selection

The primary requirement for admission into the DPT program is the applicant’s ability, as appraised by the program’s Admissions Committee, to successfully complete the 3-year curriculum. Applicants who are admitted into the program have strong academic records as evidenced by their cumulative, science, and prerequisite grade point averages and GRE scores, their breadth and depth of science background and their demonstrated consistency of academic performance. A firm and clear commitment to the profession of physical therapy and to fulfilling the missions of the University and program are additional criterion for admission and are assessed through the writing samples and interview process. Qualities such as maturity and effective interpersonal relationships, as determined from the references and the interview are also important admissions criteria.

Applicants are reminded that, due to the competitive nature of the admission process, meeting the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee admission to the program.

Admission decisions may occur until the program start date in May.

Additional Admissions Requirements

An applicant who receives a provisional acceptance on the basis of course work still in progress must satisfactorily complete all outstanding courses prior to enrollment and matriculation. All students must have an official final transcript submitted by the degree-granting institution directly to ADU prior to matriculation that indicates the receipt of the bachelor’s degree.

Applicants who are accepted into the physical therapy program will receive, in addition to their notification of acceptance, guidelines for the submission of the following, which must be completed prior to their enrollment in the program. Adventist University of Health Sciences and the program use VERIFYStudents to verify and ensure compliance with the following requirements. Students will also utilize VERIFYStudents to submit proof of those immunizations that are required on an annual basis:

1. Yearly verification of tuberculosis screening test. If test is positive, refer to the guidelines provided in the ADU Student Handbook’s Communicable Disease Policy.
2. Updated verification, on the Adventist University of Health Sciences Student Immunization Form, of the following vaccinations or immunity titer including:

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (adequate titer, 2 vaccines, laboratory proof, letter from diagnosing physician, or medical record history of having chickenpox)
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap required)
• Hepatitis B+ (3 vaccines)
• Influenza (during flu season, annually)
• Meningococcal
• Any other vaccinations or immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for health care providers as outlined on  the website, http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2017.pdf.

3. Completed and signed Student Health Assessment Form for Professional Programs within the three months prior to the start of the program. Students must update their records annually by submitting the Student Annual Medical Requirements Form.
4. All students admitted to the DPT program must complete a criminal background check. A student may encounter potential problems with clinical education placement and/or licensure as a physical therapist if he or she has a criminal record. For specific information, contact the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice, or the board that regulates physical therapy licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice. If a student has a criminal record, it is the responsibility of the student to inquire with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice, or the board that regulates physical therapy licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice, as to whether a criminal record may limit the student’s ability to obtain licensure as a physical therapist or practice in certain settings.
5. Each student who is enrolled in the program must complete the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification, which is designed to provide the healthcare professional the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This training and certification must occur no later than the start of the second trimester and must be maintained throughout the remainder of the professional curriculum. Proof of this certification must be presented prior to enrollment and as requested by the program. Training courses must include a skills check-off; online training courses will not be accepted.
6. Each applicant who is accepted into the program must demonstrate proof of health insurance, through the use of the ADU Verification of Insurance Form, prior to entry into the program and must maintain health insurance throughout their enrollment. Health insurance is required of all students in the DPT program.
7. Each applicant who is accepted into the program must undergo and pass a drug test prior to entry into the program.

The applicant’s acceptance letter will contain a deadline indicating when the nonrefundable $500 deposit must be received by the University, this in order to reserve the student’s place in the program. Once the student enrolls in the program, this deposit will be applied toward the student’s account. Students who have paid the deposit, but decide not to, or become ineligible to, enroll in the program, for any reason, will forfeit the deposit. If that student is admitted to the same program at a later date, he or she will be required to pay the full deposit amount again. A professional program deposit is not transferable to another department.

In addition to the information regarding the required deposit, the acceptance letter will include an Essential Functions Acknowledgment form. In order to successfully complete the program, students must perform the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program’s Essential Functions. If the student is an individual with a disability and needs reasonable accommodation in order to fully participate in this program, the student must follow the directions provided in ADU’s Catalog under “Rehabilitation Act (1973) Section 504: Services for Students with Special Needs.” The student must complete and submit the signed Essential Functions Acknowledgment form along with their deposit.

The program reserves the right to rescind an acceptance offer if the above are not completed by the start of program classes.

The Program supports and upholds the nondiscrimination policy of the Institution, which is published in the Catalog under ‘Nondiscrimination Statement’ and on the ADU website at: http://www.adu.edu/about-adu.

Reapplication Process

Applicants who are not admitted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program may reapply for the next admissions cycle as long as they have successfully met the minimum admission requirements. Reapplicants are expected to meet the published admission deadlines by submitting their application materials through PTCAS.

Reapplicants are encouraged to submit:

• new references to demonstrate what steps they have taken to improve their application since they last applied.

Further information on reapplication via PTCAS can be found at: http://www.ptcas.org/Reapplicants/.

Reapplicants are required to submit the following directly to ADU:

• a written self-assessment of the steps that he or she has taken to improve their application since they last applied

• a non-refundable $50 supplementary application fee

Progression

As the DPT Program is a “block program”, 3-year, continuous course of study, students will be deemed to be making continuous satisfactory progress toward the DPT degree when they:

1. Complete all scheduled professional and cognate courses with a grade of ‘B’ or better. One course with a grade of ‘C’ is permitted.

2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00, on a 4.00 scale, or better in all program coursework.

Completion

Adventist University of Health Sciences will consider students for graduation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree when they have:

1. Met the general requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

2. Completed the Comprehensive Exam with a score that meets or exceeds the program-set scoring standards. The exam will be offered at the end of the final trimester. 

3. Completed all required courses in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00, on a 4.00 scale and no more than one grade of “C” or below.

4. Successfully completed all required courses in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum within 54 months of their matriculation into the program.

5. Completed a Capstone Project that has met, if not exceeded, the University’s and program’s standards.

6. Participated in the University’s Colloquium as instructed by the program.

Readmission Policy

Any student seeking readmission to the Program must follow the guidelines provided in the Program’s Reapplication Process.

Clinical Education Requirements

Clinical Facility Requirements

All students are expected to meet certain requirements prior to attending any clinical experience. The Institution utilizes a web-based product,VerifyStudents.com, to monitor the requirements associated with admission into the program and clinical site placement (see the Additional Admission Requirements above for a detailed description of the requirements).

Records which may be monitored by VerifyStudents.com that are required for clinical experiences but are not required for Program admission include:

• OSHA certification
• HIPPA compliance certification
• Any “special requirements” imposed by a specific clinical site (e.g., x-rays, HIV testing, immunization titers, character references, etc.)

It is the responsibility of the student to complete the above requirements, monitor the need for updates, and cover the expenses incurred in doing so.

In order for the student to give a clinical education site the information that they require, all students in the Program must develop an account with VerifyStudents.com and manage that account by uploading the required information/forms into the account and downloading the information that a clinical education site needs.  Although it will be up to the student to manage this account, access will be given to the Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Program Executive Assistant, and Program Admission Assistant for monitoring purposes.  All sharing of information and VerifyStudents.com account administration, however, will be done by the student.

It is also the responsibility of the student to determine what “special requirements” a clinical education site has and submit that information to the site at the appropriate time.  This information may be available on the site’s Clinical Site Information Form, which is available in the Program offices, or the student can contact the site’s Center Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE) to confirm the site’s requirements which may be above and beyond those listed above.  Any contact of a clinical site or CCCE should only occur after a student has been officially assigned to that clinical site by the DCE.

Furthermore, completion of these expectations and the expenses associated with each would be the responsibility of the student.  Special requirements may include:

• X-rays
• HIV testing
• Non-traditional immunization titers
• Character/Professional references
• Learning Objectives

Student Expenses

Room and board during a clinical rotation, transportation to and from clinical sites, and any pre-clinical education requirements are the student’s responsibility to arrange and fund. Clinical education courses are not be arranged to accommodate these needs or the student’s individual challenges with providing them.  While some facilities may be able to offer incentives or assistance to students, this cannot be expected. For a list of estimated expenses beyond tuition go to: http://www.adu.edu/academics/physical-therapy-program/financial-information.

Clinical Site Selection

All clinical education assignments will be made by the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) or their designee. Assignments cannot be made solely on the basis of the student’s family/marital status or personal preference/needs.

Clinical education experiences are arranged for each student approximately 6-12 months prior to the scheduled assignment. Once the arrangements are finalized, no changes will be allowed. If the assigned clinical site should become unable to provide the clinical experience, the DCE will obtain an alternate placement for the student.

Information and related materials are subject to change.

Physical Therapy, D.P.T.