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, with the ability to apply the new knowledge, necessary to provide sound patient care, as well as preventive, educational, administrative, and consultative services that respect individuality.

Philosophy: The faculty of Nazareth College Physical Therapy Program support professional autonomy for the licensed physical therapist. The faculty believes 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 self-directed learning experiences and collaboration in the teaching/learning process. 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 curricular improvement.
Facilitate adult learning in a student-centered curriculum.
Provide experiential learning opportunities in a variety of settings.
Utilize the Nazareth Physical Therapy Clinics as a collaborative learning environment.
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.

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

Entry Requirements

Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 2.75 and a 3.0 average in the major field. Please note: while the minimum required cumulative index is 2.75, in most cases graduate level students enter this program of study with 3.0 or above.
Presentation of official transcripts.
Two letters of recommendation.
Application and fee.
Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the application form.
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:
The application deadline is the first of every month, except in the months of January, August, and December when no admissions decisions are made.

Prerequisite Coursework

Applicants whose undergraduate/graduate preparation in health sciences is deficient will be required to complete pre-requisite courses in an extended program. The following course work, or equivalents, is required before a student may begin Doctor of Physical Therapy coursework: general biology with laboratory; inorganic chemistry with laboratory; anatomy and physiology with laboratory; physics with laboratory; human gross anatomy with laboratory.

Since Human Gross Anatomy (PTR518) is only offered in the summer term, graduate students may be admitted to the Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy program without having completed this pre-requisite requirement, but must successfully pass Gross Anatomy before taking additional program coursework.