Mar 29, 2024  
2013 - 2014 Graduate Catalog 
    
2013 - 2014 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physical Therapy


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Edward C. Swanson, Chairperson and Graduate Program Director
Renee Huth, Director of Clinical Education
See Graduate Faculty list at:
http://gradcollege.asp.radford.edu/faculty.html

Doctoral Program

Radford University offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T). RU’s Department of Physical Therapy aspires to prepare responsive and engaged professionals who will lead by example by providing best practice care. The program’s vision parallels the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA’s) 2020 vision that physical therapy will be provided by doctors of physical therapy and that physical therapists will be recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as practitioners of choice for the diagnosis, intervention, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities related to movement, function and health.

Application procedures, admission criteria, course descriptions, faculty information, and degree requirements are published on the D.P.T. website available at http://pt.asp.radford.edu/admission_requirements2.html.

Contact Dr. Edward Swanson (eswanson@radford.edu), director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, for further information. This program will be housed in Roanoke, Va.

Accreditation

Radford University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; e-mail: accreditation@apta.org). Candidacy is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation.

Admission Requirements

  • Completion of the Radford University graduate application process and application fee. See http://gradcollege.asp.radford.edu/index.html.
  • The following are the prerequisites required prior to entry into the D.P.T. program. No transfer credit will be allowed into the professional program. Admission is competitive.
    • Minimum of 40 hours of observation/work-related clinical experience.
    • Minimum Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score of 1100.
    • Foreign applicants whose native language is not English must achieve an acceptable score on TOEFL examination (575 paper based, 88-89 internet) or the IELTS (6.5 band).
    • A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 (based on 4.0 scale) from an accredited 4 year institution.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (based on 4.0 scale) in math and sciences prerequisites as defined below:
    • Anatomy and Physiology (4 credit hours)
    • Biology with labs (8 credit hours)
    • Chemistry with labs (8 credit hours)
    • Physics with labs (8 credit hours)
    • Statistics or Biostatistics (3 credit hours)
  • Recommended, but not required, courses:
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Biochemistry
    • Biomechanics
    • Kinesiology
    • Public Speaking
    • Technical Writing
  • Completed essay (through Graduate College application) that addresses “How will the APTA Vision 2020 (http://www.apta.org) impact the profession of physical therapy and how you will practice?”
  • Three letters of recommendation specifically addressing the applicant’s potential for success in the D.P.T. program from:
    • 1 Academic/Educational reference
    • 1 Physical Therapist reference
    • 1 Work-Related/Volunteer reference
  • Personal interviews may be required.
  • Prior to initial enrollment, verification of required immunization, CPR certification, and completion of a criminal background check. Applicants are reminded that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s opportunity to attain state licensure and/or administration of licensure examinations. Applicants seeking additional information are encouraged to review information on the following websites:

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