Graduate Certificate in Orthopedics

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Physical Therapy Program
3077 Human Health Building (map)
(248) 370-4041 • Fax (248) 364-8660
www.oakland.edu/shs/pt

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Coordinator:
John R. Krauss
3168 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8693
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, winter and summer semesters. 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
November 15 for winter semester
March 15 for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department 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.

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Orthopedics program is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 17 credits in an approved program of study.

Course requirements

a. Core requirements

PT 502 - Understanding Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
PT 510 - Advanced Orthopedics I (2 credits)
PT 511 - Advanced Orthopedics II (2 credits)
PT 601 - Clinical Orthopedic Internship I (1 credit)
PT 611 - Applied Movement Sciences (2 or 3 credits)
PT 631 - Clinical Pharmacology of the Musculoskeletal System (1 credit)
PT 677 - Advanced Differential Diagnosis: Screening for Referral (2 credits)

b. Electives (5 credits)

Five credits of electives which may include the following or other adviser-approved courses:

PT 503 - Diagnostic Imaging (2 credits)
PT 523 - Craniomandibular System (1 credit)
PT 526 - Advanced Arthrology (1 credit)
PT 695 - Special Topics in Physical Therapy (1 to 4 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: In order to remain in good standing at the graduate level, students must maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Credit toward the degree will not be given for courses with grades under 2.5.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.