Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Mission Statement:
Consistent with the mission of Nazareth College and the mission of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Nazareth College Physical Therapy Program prepares physical therapists dedicated to lifelong learning, reflection, and accountability, who are grounded in intellectual, ethical, and aesthetic values.  As participants in contemporary health promotion and care, the program graduate will possess the adaptive competence necessary to provide sound patient care, as well as preventive, educational, administrative, and consultative services that respect individuality. 

Philosophy: The faculty of the Nazareth College Physical Therapy Program support professional autonomy for the licensed physical therapist.  The faculty believe that a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences promotes strong interpersonal and communication skills, innovation and creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking.  The professional curriculum is designed to reflect current trends in autonomous, evidence-based practice, stimulating critical inquiry.  The faculty creates an educational environment to promote the active participation of the students through a student-centered curriculum, whereby students are responsible for learning.  Ultimately, the faculty serves as role models in demonstrating responsibility and accountability as teachers, advocates, clinicians, scholars, consultants, and administrators.

 Goals of the Program:

• Incorporate the vision and mission of the APTA throughout the curriculum.
• Foster the core values of professionalism in the curriculum and in faculty and student activities.
• Actively promote opportunities for faculty and student collaboration with local, regional, and national organizations.
• Respond to changes in the health care and educational environments in a timely and thoughtful manner for continuous improvement of curriculum and practice.
• Facilitate adult learning through self-directed learning experiences.
• Provide experiential learning opportunities in a variety of settings.
• Contribute to the accumulation of the evidence for teaching and clinical practice through faculty scholarship and faculty/student research.
• Facilitate faculty and student professional development for maximized career opportunities.

Curricular Themes/Threads

• Professional Duty
• Evidence Based Practice
• Accountability
• Critical Inquiry
• Patient Centered Care
• Reflective Practitioner
• Education
• Health Promotion/Prevention

Guiding Principles

1. Students are responsible for their own learning
2. Utilize the Nazareth Physical Therapy Clinics as a collaborative learning environment
3. Team-based, group activities simulate work environment, and are encouraged as useful teaching/learning experiences
4. Self and peer evaluation are essential strategies for accomplishing personal and program goals

Program Director
Jennifer Collins, Ed.D., P.T.

Entry Requirements  

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a B average in the major field.
2. Official transcripts.
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. Completed application, including the personal-professional statement.
5. Application fee.
6. The Physical Therapy Department will directly contact an applicant following review of his or her application materials to arrange an interview.

   
Application Deadlines

For Summer Start Term only:  February 1

Prerequisite Coursework

In addition to completion of a B.S. degree, the following courses or equivalents are required prerequisites: 8 credits of anatomy and physiology; 8 credits of chemistry; 8 credits of physics; 3 credits of statistics (psychology-based); and 3 credits of research methods/design.