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2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Physical Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy
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 Return to: Degree Programs and Graduate Certificates
Program description
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a professional graduate program which prepares individuals for licensure and entry into the physical therapy profession. As a graduate program, it includes theoretical, clinical practice, and research courses and experiences to prepare graduates to function in a variety of settings in physical therapy.
Physical therapy is concerned with the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic conditions that cause disorders of movement. In order to provide appropriate treatment, physical therapists evaluate the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and associated systems, calling on the basic sciences and behavioral sciences in the interpretation of this evaluation. Patient programs are then developed to resolve movement dysfunctions. Physical therapists work in concert with all members of the health care team through a variety of referral relationships.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy at Oakland University is designed to prepare clinicians with the evaluation and examination skills necessary to make physical therapy differential diagnoses of movement related impairments affecting the neuromusculoskeletal system. In addition, this degree will prepare graduates to provide effective care in the areas of prevention, screening, rehabilitation and community reintegration for their clients. Finally, graduates will be able to interpret and conduct research related to physical therapy.
Accreditation
The Physical Therapy Program at Oakland University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; Telephone: 703-706-3245; Email: accreditation@apta.org; Web site: http://www.capteonline.org. The program is accredited through 2031.
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 by the semester deadline listed below.
- August 15, 2023 for the fall 2024 semester (Early Assurance Decision)
- October 16, 2023 for the fall 2024 semester (Rolling Admissions Regular Decision)
- International applicants International applications are reviewed for fall admission only.
Oakland University will be using a rolling admissions process. All applications must be completed and e-submitted to PTCAS by October 16, 2023 for fall 2024 . Verified applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee as they are received. However, if an applicant submits a fully completed application by August 15th and meets the following criteria, they will receive an early assurance decision response by September 20th.
- Overall GPA: at least 3.5
- S/M GPA: at least 3.4
- Verbal GRE: 148 or greater
- Quantitative GRE: 148 or greater
All other applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the program will receive a decision response no later than December 10th.
Late applications will not be reviewed. The DPT program accepts 38 students each year and the program begins in the fall.
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements by the published application deadlines:
Graduate application requirements
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- A completed application must be submitted through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Information and instructions for applying through the PTCAS can be found at the PTCAS web site. Applicants do not submit an Oakland University Graduate Application.
- Arrange for PTCAS to receive an official transcript from each college and university you have attended in the United States and Canada. Applicants who are admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must also submit official transcripts to Oakland University Graduate Admissions upon enrollment. Official transcripts must provide 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.
- Complete two reference letters and submit through the PTCAS website. This satisfies the university requirement for recommendation forms.
- Applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to PTCAS by the application deadline. It is recommended that official GRE scores be submitted by the end of July for an early assurance decision or the end of September for regular decision. The PTCAS OU GRE code is 0650. Further information can be found at the PTCAS web site.
- Applicants must satisfy the essay requirements through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Further information can be found at the PTCAS website.
- Applicants must review and confirm their understanding of the Essential Functions for Physical Therapy which can be found on the DPT website.
- It is recommended that applicants observe physical therapists in several different settings and document the observations on the PTCAS application. There is no minimum number of required observation hours, and documentation of hours by a physical therapist is not required. Further information can be found at the PTCAS website.
- International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will only accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Many applicants use World Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). NACES membership can be confirmed by visiting www.naces.org/members.htm. Graduate programs requiring more detailed information may require an applicant to submit a course-by-course (or detailed) evaluation report rather than the general evaluation report. Official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University since official transcripts must be submitted to and verified by the evaluation service. However, applicants must submit photocopies of their foreign transcripts with their application materials.
- International applicants must submit proof of English language proficiency to PTCAS and Oakland University.
- International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted to Oakland University 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.
- Applicants must satisfy all program prerequisite courses, with a minimum grade of 2.0 or C in each course, prior to enrollment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Applicants must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, a science and math GPA of a 2.7 and a prerequisite GPA of 2.0 or C, as calculated by PTCAS.
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Applicants who qualify for admission with limited standing must satisfy the requirements by the deadlines specified in their graduate admission letter to be advanced to full admission.
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, 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.
Related links
Academic advising
Students who are considering applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program may contact the academic adviser for the School of Health Sciences to review prerequisite courses and application requirements. Upon acceptance to the program, students are assigned a faculty adviser.
Applicants will be considered for admission, if they will be completing their baccalaureate degree and all prerequisite courses with a minimum of a C (2.0) grade prior to the start of the program. Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrolling in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Advanced placement courses, in the subjects below, that have been accepted for credit at a university may meet the prerequisite requirements.
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Prerequisite Course
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Number of Courses
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Lab Requirements
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Introductory Biology
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1
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One lab is required in the biological sciences, and it may be taken in any of the following prerequisite courses: biology, human anatomy or physiology
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Anatomy
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1
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Combined human anatomy and physiology course accepted; however, must take two semesters or be a minimum of 6 credits
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Physiology
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1
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Combined human anatomy and physiology course accepted; however, must take two semesters or be a minimum of 6 credits
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Chemistry I and II
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2
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Two-course sequence is required. Lab is required for one semester only.
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Physics I and II
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2
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Two-course sequence is required. Lab is required for one semester only.
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Exercise Physiology
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1
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Introductory Statistics
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1
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Introductory Psychology
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1
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Developmental Psychology
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1
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Child or lifespan psychology courses may be used to fulfill this prerequisite.
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| Precalculus |
1 |
Alternate way to fulfill requirement is to take one semester of college algebra AND one semester of analytical trigonometry.
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Degree requirements
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 122-130 credits in an approved program of study.
Note: With approval from the program director, students may graduate with fewer than 130 credits if they have completed an equivalent pathology course prior to entry into the professional program.
Core requirements
A minimum of 122-130 credits are required for the degree, consisting of the following courses: 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 SAP 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.
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Doctor of Physical Therapy requirements:
Student progress policy
Good standing in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and progress through the program requires:
- No course grade below 2.7 (B-) or an Unsatisfactory (U) grade
- Semester GPA above a 3.0 (B)
- Overall GPA above a 3.0 (B)
- Meeting essential functions guidelines, standards of professional conduct, ethical conduct and academic conduct.
Successful completion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program requires completion of the academic requirements. In addition, students must adhere to standards of academic conduct, professional conduct, ethical conduct, and meet the essential functions guidelines described in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook. A copy of the Physical Therapy Student Handbook is provided to each student in the first semester of the program.
Student academic progress, professional conduct, and compliance with the essential function guidelines are monitored by the Physical Therapy Program Promotions and Honors Committee. The Physical Therapy Promotions and Honors Committee also reviews any suspected violations of the standards of academic conduct or ethical conduct. Students who are not demonstrating satisfactory progress in any of these areas or who violate standards of academic, professional or ethical conduct are subject to probation, suspension or dismissal. Dismissal by Oakland University Graduate School is based on a recommendation from the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee. Students will be informed of all probation decisions, and recommendations for suspensions and dismissals, in writing, including the grounds for the decision, a time frame for probation/suspension, and any recommendations, requirements, remedial work and/or repeat coursework that must be completed.
Academic progress
The physical therapy curriculum is sequentially designed so that early courses serve as the foundation and contain the pre-requisite knowledge and skills for coursework later in the curriculum. It is therefore expected that students complete coursework sequentially as indicated in the curricular plan outlined in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook. The curricular plan is subject to change and modification by the program faculty. The Promotion and Honors Committee may modify the curricular plan for particular students in extenuating or special circumstances.
An overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher for all coursework taken in the professional program is required for graduation, and no grade below 2.7 (B-) may be applied toward this degree. For courses graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U), no coursework graded Unsatisfactory (U) may be applied to this degree.
Students receiving a semester GPA below a 3.0 (B) are subject to probation. Students receiving an Unsatisfactory (U) course grade or a course grade below 2.7 (B-) are subject to any or all of the following:
- Probation: Students who are placed on probation may attend courses as determined by the Promotion and Honors Committee. The Promotion and Honors Committee makes the determination of the courses which students may attend based on the cognitive and psychomotor knowledge and skills needed to progress in the curriculum, as well as the student’s professional, ethical and academic conduct.
- Suspension: Students who are suspended may not attend any classes in the physical therapy program without the permission of the Promotion and Honors Committee. A student who is suspended when the Promotion and Honors Committee has determined that the student does not have the prerequisite cognitive, psychomotor and affective knowledge and skills required to progress in the curriculum and/or does not meet the expectations for professional, ethical and academic conduct. In general, as courses are only offered once a year, students are suspended for one year until the course is offered again.
- Remediation: Remediation in the form of coursework, independent study, and/or supervised clinical experience may be required.
- Academic testing: Students may be recommended for academic testing to assess academic needs.
Clinical experiences and clinical internships: Students who have not successfully completed pre-clinical courses, pre-clinical practical exams and/or do not meet the expectations for professional, ethical and academic conduct may not be allowed to participate in clinical experience and clinical internship courses. Students receiving an Unsatisfactory (U) grade or a course grade below 2.7 (B-) must request, in writing, permission from the course instructor and Oakland University Graduate School to retake the course when it is again offered.
The essential functions consist of minimum physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for students to successfully complete the physical therapy program and to practice safely once students graduate. Students must meet the essential functions guidelines for admission, retention, and graduation from the program. Essential functions guidelines can be found in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook, or on the Physical Therapy Program Web site. Students who do not meet the guidelines will be reviewed by the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee and are subject to probation, suspension or dismissal.
Students who have questions or need more information regarding accommodations to meet the essential functions may contact the Oakland University Disability Support Services office at (248) 370-3266 (voice) or (248) 370-3268 (TDD).
Dismissal from the DPT program
- Students are subject to dismissal from the program for any one of the following:
- Receipt of two course grades of Unsatisfactory (U) and/or course grades below a 2.7 (B-) during the professional program
- A semester GPA lower than a 3.0 (B) for any two academic semesters during the program
- An overall GPA lower than a 3.0 (B) for any two academic semesters during the program
- Being on probation more than twice, on probation for consecutive semesters, or having been suspended for any academic progress, essential functions guidelines, academic conduct, professional conduct or ethical conduct issue
- An egregious violation of essential functions guidelines, or an egregious violation of standards of professional conduct, ethical conduct or academic conduct.
Appeal process
Appeals of Physical Therapy Honors and Promotion Committee dismissal decisions may be made to Oakland University Graduate School. Students should consult the section of the Oakland University Graduate Catalog dealing with appeal procedures concerning academic dismissal.
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Student conduct
Academic conduct
Students are expected to adhere to the procedures for Academic Conduct described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. The physical therapy program will follow the procedures described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. Students found guilty of academic misconduct by the university will be subject to university sanctions and to sanctions from the program by the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee including probation, suspension, or dismissal.
Professional conduct
Students are expected to adhere to the Guide for Professional Conduct published by the American Physical Therapy Association and to display the generic abilities/professional behaviors described in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook. Violations will be reviewed by the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee and could result in probation, suspension or dismissal from the program.
Ethical conduct
Ethical conduct is critical to a profession. Students are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists published by the American Physical Therapy Association. Violations will be reviewed by the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee and could result in probation, suspension, or dismissal from the program.
Essential functions guidelines
The essential functions consist of minimum physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for students to successfully complete the physical therapy program and to practice safely once students graduate. Students must meet the essential functions guidelines for admission, retention, and graduation from the program. Essential functions guidelines can be found in the Supplemental Program Form, the Physical Therapy Student Handbook, or on the Physical Therapy Program Web site. Students who do not meet the guidelines will be reviewed by the Physical Therapy Promotion and Honors Committee and are subject to probation, suspension or dismissal.
Students who have questions or need more information regarding accommodations to meet the essential functions may contact the Oakland University Disability Support Services office at (248) 370-3266 (voice) or (248) 370-3268 (TDD).
Expectations for safe practice
Students must safely and effectively pass all practical examinations that have been required as part of their pre-clinical courses prior to going on their full-time clinical education experiences or clinical internships. Students who have not successfully completed a required practical examination will not have successfully completed the course and will not be allowed to go on their full-time clinical education experiences until they have successfully completed the practical examination and course.
Knowledge, skills, and professional behavior are required for safe and effective practice in the clinical setting. Practical examinations test the student’s ability to practice safely, ability to perform psychomotor skills, and ability to demonstrate professional behavior. Based on the type of examination, critical thinking, decision making, time management, and organizational skills may also be tested. The Physical Therapy Student Handbook describes the practical examination policy.
Related program information
Plan of study
All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree program requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School. Students admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program are required to attend a full-time program of prescribed course work unless a reduced load is requested and approved by the program director.
Policies and procedures
Once admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, students should consult the Physical Therapy Student Handbook and the Clinical Education Manual for detailed information on policies and procedures.
Clinical Education and internship requirements
Physical therapy students are placed in a variety of clinical settings during the professional program. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical experiences and internships, as well as associated housing costs. Admission to and progression through the physical therapy program is contingent upon meeting and maintaining all clinical education requirements. Requirements include:
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Submission of a completed PT Program health assessment form, including inoculation for tetanus, skin testing or chest X-ray for tuberculosis; proof of immunity to rubella, rubeola, mumps, varicella and Hepatitis B (or formal refusal of Hepatitis B vaccination) within four months prior to orientation.
- Proof of First Aid certificate: American Red Cross First Aid certificate, equivalent first aid certificate, or college credit course in First Aid.
- Proof of current CPR certification: American Heart Association certificate: Basic Life Support Healthcare Providers only.
- Proof of current health insurance for illness and injury.
- Criminal background checks, drug screens and Sex Offender Registry checks are to be submitted yearly.
- Proof of annual flu immunization.
- Urine drug screens and/or additional requirements may be mandatory by some clinical facilities.
- Requirements are subject to change based on current physical therapy clinical practice. Students are responsible for any costs associated with the requirements described above. Clinical sites are not required to provide free treatment for students and will bill students for use of their emergency or employee health services.
Students accepted to the physical therapy program must submit proof of all the above requirements by the deadline outlined during orientation. All requirements remain in effect throughout the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Students who have not provided or maintained the necessary documentation may not be admitted to the program or once admitted may not be allowed to enroll in academic or clinical courses.
Continuous enrollment
The continuous enrollment policy for doctoral students requires continuous registration of graduate students for at least 1 credit each semester in the academic year to maintain an active graduate student status. This includes semesters in which the comprehensive, preliminary or qualifying examination is taken, defense, and each subsequent term (fall and winter) until the degree requirements are met and the dissertation is submitted to Oakland University Graduate School.
Some agency and graduate assistantship eligibility may have course-load requirements that exceed the minimum registration requirements of the Continuous Enrollment Policy (e.g., Veterans Affairs, Immigration and Naturalization for international students, and federal financial aid programs). Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to register for the appropriate number of credits that are required for funding eligibility and/or compliance as outlined by specific agency regulations under which they are governed.
Time limit
If more than seven years have passed since the student has been admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program and all requirements for degree have not been completed, the student must petition the program director and Oakland University Graduate School for an extension. Students who are deemed inactive may be dropped from the program, although they may petition for reinstatement.
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