UM SOM: Department of Physical Therapy

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Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy

Curriculum

The curriculum is composed of required and specialty courses, using a format that combines web-based learning, weekend seminars, and independent study.

Each student will construct an individualized curriculum plan. The number of credits required for program completion depends on each student’s existing professional and academic credentials and goals. The minimum number of credits is 31 and the maximum is 75.

Many of the courses are taught by a multi-disciplinary team with recognized academic experts, master clinicians, and skilled managers. The curriculum incorporates several state of the art concepts of effective and efficient learning strategies including:

• Admission of clinician-students who are independent learners;

• Flexible and diverse courses of study that will enable the student to master new skills in physical diagnoses and screening;

• Utilization of innovative evidenced-based physical management skills and managerial-communication abilities;

• Utilization of team teaching, using locally-, nationally,- and internationally-known academicians and clinicians of multiple disciplines;

• Incorporation of distance learning, with multi-media links to foster synchronous and asynchronous learning, in and out side the academic environment;

• Construction of an individual course of study, tailored to meet the candidate’s personal needs and the terminal objective of becoming an independent, yet collaborative, provider of physical rehabilitation services or a leader in the managerial arena.