Graduate Certificate in Orthopedics

 

Physical Therapy Program 201 Hannah Hall  (map) (248) 370-4041 • Fax (248) 370-4287 www.oakland.edu/shs/pt

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Coordinator:
John R. Krauss
363 Hannah Hall
(248) 370-4044
krauss@oakland.edu
 

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Orthopedics is a one-year, part-time certificate with a broader area of focus than the OMPT program at Oakland University. The Graduate Certificate in Orthopedics will offer additional flexibility and another point of entry for individuals interested in pursuing graduate education at Oakland University. Coursework in this program may be applied toward the post entry-level Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT), the Master of Science (MS), or the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Program delivery

The graduate certificate program is offered as a part-time course of study accommodating the needs of working professionals. Students enrolled in the program will participate in 17 credits of coursework including orthopedic theory, techniques, and clinical training. Courses are offered primarily on a weekend and evening basis.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Applicants are admitted Fall semester only. Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

• July 15 for fall semester

Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.

Special Graduate classification

Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission.  The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department.  Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Students may request special graduate classification beginning  with the dates below.

• August 1 for fall semester
• December 1 for winter semester
• April 1 for summer semester

Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following University and Program application documents by the published application deadlines:

University graduate application requirements

• Application for Admission to Graduate Study    
• Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
  • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
• Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
• Proof of English language proficiency

• International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate. 

Program application requirements

• Applicants must have earned an entry-level degree in physical therapy from an APTA accredited program or its equivalent.
• Applicants should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Professional vitae or resume
• One-page narrative goal statement outlining academic and professional goals
• Applicants must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants who do not have a license upon admission will be considered for admission with limited standing. Proof of licensure is required to register for courses with clinical hours.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 with the appropriate academic background and strong letters of recommendation may be considered for admission with limited standing. Applicants who qualify for this admission status must complete a minimum of 16 credits of graduate-level work, with a GPA of 3.0 or above within the first year of their program, to be advanced to full admission.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.