This course introduces the physical therapy profession, history, physical therapist roles, contemporary professional issues and advocacy, and the APTA. The student explores professional ethics and values, communication/collaboration, and cultural competence. Students self-reflect on their own values and mission to develop personal leadership and begin their journey as physical therapists and their lifelong professional identity development.

Integrates and applies knowledge gained from previous courses and clinical experiences. Comprehensively reviews body systems, pathophysiological mechanisms, examination procedures, and management strategies consistent with evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines. Utilizes independent study and sample examinations, with a musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems focus. Prepares students for exit examination based on FSBPT Content Outline.

Builds upon DPT 6110 Capstone I to integrate prior coursework and clinical experiences. Comprehensively reviews body systems, pathophysiological mechanisms, examination procedures, and management strategies consistent with evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines. Focuses on cardiovascular, pulmonary, other-systems, and non-systems domains. Culminates in completion of an exit examination based on the FSBPT Content Outline.

This course introduces students to the science of movement and movement analysis. It begins by introducing physical therapy as a movement profession that uses the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health as vital in the process of clinical decision making. This course emphasizes concepts of neuroplasticity, theories of motor control, motor development, and motor learning.

This course introduces and initiates the integration of medical screening, pathophysiology, diagnostic imaging principles and techniques, and pharmacotherapeutics across various practice settings. The application uses a system-based approach to identify disabilities across the lifespan.

This course takes students through common orthotics and braces utilized in physical therapy practice. Functional and surgical anatomy of lower limb amputations and conditions requiring lower quarter orthotic and prosthetic intervention are presented. Lab activities emphasize gait analysis, movement analysis, residual limb management, orthotics, prosthetics, and amputee rehabilitation.

Provides an overview of managing patients with chronic pain syndromes and associated psychosocial factors using emerging evidence and contemporary concepts of pain assessment, treatment, and outcomes. Current best practice techniques and research are integrated to provide discussion of the multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary nature of chronic pain.

Prepares student professionally and emotionally for clinical practice, as a lifelong learner and educator in the physical therapy profession. Explores major forms of health care delivery and how they interact with physical therapy services, including but not limited to medical ethics, health care regulations, and risk management strategies.

Explores the therapist’s role as an interdependent practitioner working within a collaborative medical model. Presents the clinical tools and decision-making processes necessary to efficiently and effectively collect, evaluate, and communicate examination data while promoting differential diagnostic principles and clinical decision-making.

This course introduces students to the various physiological systems and principles that impact human movement and health across the lifespan through a multisystem approach to the human body. Students gain an understanding of how to apply key characteristics of physiological systems into clinical reasoning to enhance evidence-informed care and build the knowledge necessary for physical therapist practice.

Introduces patient-centered care that includes components of prevention, health promotion, wellness, and fitness. Students will explore the various domains and influencers of health while identifying appropriate screening/testing procedures, individual patient/client needs, and applicability to care, as well as targeted interventions at the individual and community level.

This course provides an introduction to selection, application, and progression of principles and interventions across the lifespan and various clinical settings. This course incorporates concepts from the International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health into clinical practice. Knowledge from this course will be integrated across the clinical management courses to prepare for physical therapist practice.

Presents fundamental concepts for the physical therapy management of children with musculoskeletal, neurological, and/or cardiopulmonary impairments. A framework of normal development and aging from birth to young adult serves as a course foundation. Topics include developmental delay and disability, family-centered care, advocacy, and assistive technologies.

Develops advanced clinical reasoning and intervention skills for the management of patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. Students develop dry needling skills and refine previously introduced manual therapy and therapeutic exercise skills. Lab activities use case scenarios to challenge clinical reasoning for the development and progression of comprehensive treatment plans.

Provides an overview of practice management fundamentals and applies principles to various aspects of leadership and personal development, strategic planning, and business operations. Students gain knowledge in health care management, leadership, strategic planning, human resources, finance, organizational structures, and fiscal management as they relate to physical therapy practice.

Introduces the physiologic changes of aging and sociologic and economic consequences of an aging population. Reviews natural aging processes and how complicating factors such as vascular compromise, fall risk, and comorbidities negatively impact the aging adult. Lab activities focus patient management skills on the aging adult patient.

Explores the clinical application of biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles for musculoskeletal dysfunction of the lower extremities. Concentrates on the application of psychomotor skills related to regional palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise in a patient-centered approach across the lifespan.

This course builds on prior knowledge of anatomical cellular structure and function. Emphasis is placed on the central and peripheral nervous system regulation of movement and movement impairments that present from nervous system pathology. Lab activities apply foundational knowledge of neuroscience to the neurologic screen and a comprehensive neurological examination. Common outcome measures and assessment tools are introduced.

Explores the clinical application of biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles for musculoskeletal dysfunction of the lower extremities. Concentrates on the application of psychomotor skills related to regional palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise in a patient-centered approach across the lifespan.

Explores the management of patients with cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary causes of movement dysfunction across a variety of clinical settings using the disablement framework. Lab activities include, but are not limited to, ECG analysis, exercise testing, heart and lung auscultation, lung function testing, and chest examinations.

Introduces patient management strategies for the medically complex patient. Community-based strategies and outpatient management for patients with primary disease or comorbidities of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, oncologic, lymphatic, and integumentary systems is emphasized. Students will design individual and community-based interventions for effective disease management.

This course introduces interview, tests and measures, communication, and documentation skills used in physical therapist practice across multiple clinical settings. Lab activities include psychomotor skill training for vital signs, goniometry, muscle testing, anthropometric measures, and functional mobility skills inclusive of transfers and gait training with assistive devices.

This course introduces gross human anatomy and the anatomical basis for various movement system impairments, and prepares the learner for future application and growth across the didactic and clinical learning experiences. Topics include exploration of embryology, histology, and functional anatomy. Laboratory experiences include 3-dimensional anatomy software, cadaver prosections, living/surface anatomy, and anatomical models.

Develops student examination, evaluation, and intervention skills during an eight-week mentored clinical internship. Utilizes interpersonal communication with patients/clients, family, and healthcare staff. Emphasizes evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning skills. Students are expected to demonstrate professionalism and progress towards competency as a clinician as rated on a standardize rating instrument.

Demonstrated readiness for clinical education progression (as determined by faculty). Develops student examination, evaluation, and intervention skills during an eight-week mentored clinical internship. Utilizes interpersonal communication with patients/clients, family, and healthcare staff. Emphasizes evidence-based patient management and clinical reasoning skills as an adult learner and medical professional. PT CPI performance expectations are at intermediate and advanced intermediate levels.

Demonstrated readiness for clinical education progressions (as determined by faculty). Progresses student to entry-level patient management skills during a fifteen-week mentored clinical internship. Students refine interpersonal communication and professional socialization skills with patients/clients, family, and healthcare staff. Develops advanced evidence-based patient management and clinical reasoning skills. PT CPI performance expectations are at entry-level by the conclusion of internship.

This course is organized as a variable credit (one-credit, two-credit, or three-credit) independent study course under the supervision of an assigned faculty member. It is designed to meet student-specific need and provides the student with an opportunity to receive direct interaction and guidance from a faculty member. This course integrates the core courses and elective courses within the DPT curriculum.