B.S. in Health Science/D.P.T. in Physical Therapy

Mission Statement
The Nazareth College Physical Therapy Program prepares compassionate professionals who are life-long learners and critical inquirers that practice collaboratively and engage with a changing world.

Philosophy
The faculty of the Nazareth College Physical Therapy Program believes that the integration of liberal arts and professional study provides a strong foundation for educating contemporary physical therapists.  The professional curriculum prepares students to practice in an autonomous, collaborative, value-based environment.  Faculty serve as role models in demonstrating responsibility and accountability as teachers, clinicians, and scholars, as well as fostering an educational experience where students are responsible for their learning.

The department’s goals are that the program will:

1. Graduates will actively participate in professional development activities.
2. Students will contribute to collaborative research that advances the accumulation of evidence in Physical Therapy with peers and faculty.
3. Students will display clinical preparedness for full time clinical education experiences in the areas of professional behavior; clinical reasoning; and communication.
4. Students and graduates will demonstrate competency for entry-level practice. 
5. Students/Faculty will demonstrate qualities consistent with the mission and goals of Nazareth College and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) throughout the curriculum.
6. Faculty and students will collaborate with local, regional, and national organizations.
7. Faculty and graduates will engage in service to the community for rehabilitation, health, and wellness.
8. Faculty will actively participate in professional development activities for the advancement of physical therapy practice.
9. Faculty and students will respond to societal trends and changes for continuous improvement of curriculum and practice.

GPA Requirement
During the pre-professional phase (undergraduate years one through three), students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in required science courses, and a 3.0 overall GPA. During the professional phase of the program (graduate years one through three), students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Refer to departmental handbook and procedures for additional grading requirements.

Science Course Requirements
From the point of entry as a freshman into the 3+3 DPT program, all remaining science course requirements must be completed at Nazareth College. If there are extenuating circumstances that result in an inability to meet this requirement, students may petition the Physical Therapy Department for an exception.

Acceleration into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program
The freshman entry into the 3 (undergraduate) + 3 (graduate) program is an accelerated approach to obtaining the DPT degree. Therefore, it is expected that students accepted into the 3+3 program will remain with their initial cohort upon admittance to the program throughout their education at Nazareth College. If a student is on track to meet all academic requirements and professional standards early they may formally petition the department requesting acceleration into the graduate phase of the program.