Nov 01, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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


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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.

 

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Required Courses for BS Degree in Health Science/DPT Degree in Physical Therapy


Health Sciences/Physical Therapy Requirements


Psychology Elective


In addition to required psychology courses, students must complete one psychology elective, 200 level or higher. Please note - no course listed in the Psychology Requirements section can be used to fulfill the psychology elective.

Additional Requirements


Sample Six-Year Program


Sample Program, Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Leading to Doctor of Physical Therapy
Undergraduate Year 1, Fall semester Undergraduate Year 1, Spring semester
BIO.Q 103 Biological Systems I    3 ENGW 102 Argument and Research   3
BIO.Q 103L Biological Systems I Lab   1 BIO 210 Human Anatomy and Physiology I    3
CHM.Q 140 General Chemistry: Molecules, Matter And Mayhem   3 BIO 210L Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab I   1
CHM.Q 140L General Chemistry: Molecules, Matter and Mayhem Lab   1 CHM 221 Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry   3
ENGW 101 Exposition   3 CHM 221L Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry Lab   1
ACS 101 Academic and College Success   1 PSY.Q 110 Introduction to Psychological Science   3
FYS course taken with ACS 101 3    
Health & Wellness course 0    
TOTAL CREDITS 15 TOTAL CREDITS 14
       
Undergraduate Year II, Fall semester Undergraduate Year II, Spring semester
Perspectives-Enduring Questions course 3 Perspectives-Enduring Questions courses 9
BIO 211 Human Anatomy and Physiology II    3 Integrative Studies course (IS) 3
BIO 211L Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II   1 PHY 208 Introductory Physics II With Integrated Lab   3
MTH.Q 113 Calculus I   3 PHY 204L General Physics Lab II   1
PHY.Q 207 Introductory Physics I with Integrated Laboratory   3    
PHY.Q 203L Introductory Physics I Laboratory   1    
PSY 221 Development I: Infancy and Childhood  OR
PSY 224 Adolescence and Early Adulthood  
3    
TOTAL CREDITS 17 TOTAL CREDITS 16
       
Undergraduate Year III, Fall semester Undergraduate Year III, Spring semester
Elective - possible Integrative Studies course (IS) 3 Elective - possible Integrative Studies course (IS) 3

Ethics course - take one of the following courses:
BLDR 410 Leadership and Ethics ;
PHL 210 Ethics 
RES 390 Ethics of the Professions ;
RES 391 Biomedical Ethics 

 
3 General Elective 3
Psychology Elective (200 or 300 level) 3 Experiential Learning Pathway (EL) 3
PSY 200 Statistics and Research Methods for Clinical Practice   4 CME 050 Core Milestone Experience   0
PSY 343 Abnormal Psychology   3 PSY 226 Adulthood and Late Life   3
    PTU 304 Professional Development I   3
TOTAL CREDITS 16 TOTAL CREDITS 15
       
GRADUATE LEVEL COURSEWORK BEGINS
Graduate Year I, Summer A  
PTR 518 Human Gross Anatomy   6    
PTR 524 Patient/Client Management I   4    
TOTAL CREDITS 10    
       
Graduate Year I, Fall semester Graduate Year I, Spring semester
PTR 511 Kinesiology       4 PTR 514 Exercise Science        3
PTR 512 Neuroscience   4 PTR 516 Applied Neuroscience   3
PTR 513 Pathophysiology   3 PTR 519 Integrated Clinical Education Experience II   1
PTR 515 Evidence in Clinical Practice   1 PTR 522 Professional Development II   2
PTR 517 Integrated Clinical Education Experience I   1 PTR 525 Patient/Client Management II   4
PTR 523 Soft Tissue Techniques   3 PTR 628 Differential Diagnosis/Medical Imaging   3
TOTAL CREDITS 16-17 TOTAL CREDITS 16-17

PTR 598 Contemporary Issues in Interprofessional Team Practice - 1 credit first year course
Half of cohort take PTR 598 in the fall semester (17 total credits);
Half take the course in the spring semester (17 total credits).

       
Graduate Year II, Summer A    
PTR 528 Clinical Education I   6    
       
Graduate Year II, Fall semester Graduate Year II, Spring semester
PTR 617 Integrated Clinical Education Experience III       2 PTR 619 Integrated Clinical Education Experience IV       2
PTR 626 Cardiopulmonary Management   4 PTR 629 Musculoskeletal Management II   4
PTR 627 Musculoskeletal Management I   4 PTR 632 Integumentary System, Prosthetics, Orthotics   4
PTR 650 Research I   1 PTR 654 Research II   1
PTR 659 Adult Neuromuscular Management   4 PTR 660 Pediatric Neuromuscular Management   4
TOTAL CREDITS 15 TOTAL CREDITS 15
       
Graduate Year III, Summer A  
PTR 621 Physical Therapy Management of Older Adults     3 PTR 635 Clinical Education II   6
PTR 661 Research III   1    
PTR 712 Psychosocial Considerations in PT Practice   2    
TOTAL CREDITS 6    
       
Graduate Year III, Fall semester Graduate Year III, Spring semester
PTR 615 Health Promotion and Wellness       3 PTR 721 Professional Development III      2
PTR 636 Clinical Education III   6 PTR 726 Clinical Education IV   6
PTR 710 Principles of Business and Administration in Physical Therapy   3 PTR 730 Selected Topics in Physical Therapy   3
PTR 725 Integrated Clinical Educational Experience V   2 PTR 761 Research V   1
PTR 760 Research IV   1    
TOTAL CREDITS 15   12

 

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