BS Degree in Health Science/DPT Degree in Physical Therapy

Mission Statement

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. The program will prepare professionals who are committed to meeting community health needs through engagement and service. 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 believes that a pre-professional 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 in which students are responsible for learning. Faculty serve as role models in demonstrating responsibility and accountability as teachers, clinicians, scholars, consultants, and administrators who are committed to serving community health needs

 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.

* The minimum GPA requirement for students enrolled in the Physical Therapy program will be 2.75 up until the summer before their 4th year when they begin the professional phase of their program; it will then become a minimum GPA of 3.0.