UM SOM: Department of Physical Therapy

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Entry Level Doctor of Physical Therapy

Curriculum

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is three years in length and begins in early June. The curriculum is integrated through the use of blocked courses, multi disciplinary team teaching, and integrated patient contact. In addition to the block format, course blocks are integrated by a series of "threads," including lifespan orientation, appropriate documentation, critical thinking, clinical-patient relevance, professional interaction, and individual and cultural differences.

The first year of the program begins with a systems-oriented approach to the foundational sciences. It is followed by instruction in clinically relevant, system-specific, and age-appropriate examination and intervention skills. There are also two block of Professional Issues, a Problem-Based Learning session, Seminars for Evidence-Based Practice, and the first block of information relative to Medical Issues.

The second year of the program encompasses the second block of Medical Issues along with two blocks each of focused instruction on the management of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.

In addition, students will get exposure to under-served patient populations, an additional block of Professional Issues, Seminars for Evidence-Based Practice, part-time affiliations, and the opportunity for elective credits. Woven throughout this year are Integration Labs for Independent Practice, heightened patient exposure, and clinical site visits to facilitate the synthesis of information presented thus far. Summary competencies must be successfully passed by students prior to entering the third academic year.

Year three is dedicated to 36 weeks of practical experience in a variety of clinical and non-traditional settings. The weeks are subdivided into four separate clinical affiliations. These opportunities provide the student with the skills needed to examine, evaluate, diagnose, and intervene appropriately for patients with primary, secondary, and tertiary physical impairments, and functional limitations and disabilities.

Complete Course Description

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