Doctor of Physical Therapy DPT Curriculum

This course introduces students to fundamental physical therapy skills used in patient management within various inpatient and outpatient settings. Content is introduced to provide a framework for patient management principles used throughout the curriculum and for immediate application to the physical therapy clinical environment. This course introduces patient positioning and handling skills including palpation, infection control, vital signs, body mechanics, patient transfers, and gait training. Students are introduced to the components of the basic examination as a function of the patient management process. Foundational knowledge and skills related to the medical interview, basic examination procedures, and clinical reasoning are developed and form the basis for systems-based patient management throughout the curriculum. Laboratory sessions focus on foundational psychomotor skills including, but not limited to, goniometry, range of motion, manual muscle testing and anthropometric measures to manage patients in various clinical settings. This course also includes: foundations of defensible documentation with appropriate medical terminology, introduction to the medical interview, examination tests and measures, and measuring patient outcomes.

Prerequisite: Admission to Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The course is the first of a two-course series that introduces the student to the physical therapy profession and the professional roles and responsibilities of the physical therapist in healthcare. Special emphasis is placed on exploring constructs of cultural, emotional/social and caring competencies and associated behaviors of medical professionals. This course includes the study of emotional/social intelligence, concepts of flourishing, learning theories, learning styles, characteristics of learners through the lifespan, and literacy and communication issues for patients. These learning concepts prepare students for the DPT program curriculum and for clinical practice as a life-long learners and educators in the physical therapy profession. Instruction includes essential technology competencies that help manage healthcare delivery in a constantly changing digital world. Software and mobile apps are leveraged to improve communication, facilitate learning, and enhance clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Prerequisite: Admission to Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Medical physiology deals with the functioning of the human body. Ability of the body to maintain constancy of the internal environment is termed homeostasis. Restoring the normal physiology is the essence of medical management. This course emphasizes the physiology and pathophysiology of the cellular, integumentary, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems. Function and tissue mechanics of each system are presented, with specific emphasis on changes across the lifespan and adaptations to activity/exercise and disease. A brief systems review of the renal, endocrine, and immune systems will focus the student on physiologic processes relevant to physical therapy practice. Students will be able to apply this foundational knowledge about human function to future coursework and patients, enabling students to make quantitative and qualitative observations and decisions regarding patient presentations and clinical management.

Prerequisite: Admission to Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Prerequisite: Admission to Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The course provides the physical therapy student with an overview of prevention, health, wellness, and fitness as they relate to injury prevention, nutritional influences, fitness testing, and exercise prescription in an apparently healthy population. Students investigate the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries and identify risk factors for injury as identified in the literature. Primary prevention topics are introduced via the four APTA Preferred Practice Patterns using the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Students learn and perform components of various health and fitness assessments for people seeking to improve health and wellness, as well as explore the evidence behind injury prevention and health promotion programs. Prior knowledge of human physiology and exercise principles are applied to fitness testing and prescription for patient performance improvement. Clinical tools and procedures presented include the Functional Movement Screen; Y-Balance Screen; methods of testing strength, power, endurance, flexibility, and balance; and functional testing algorithms. Students develop injury prevention and/or exercise programs based on test results and adapt the execution to specific healthy populations.

Prerequisite: Admission to Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

This course introduces general research principles and evidence-based practice. The student becomes oriented to the South College library system and technology resources and becomes familiar with high-level literature reviews. Students begin the formulation of clinical questions, methods of obtaining peer-reviewed research to those clinical questions, and how to critically appraise the evidence. The student is introduced to the following topics in the research process: basic research design, issues of reliability and validity, diagnostic utility of clinical tests, and fundamentals of conducting a literature review. This course provides a framework for assignments in subsequent courses in which evidence-based foundations of physical therapy are presented.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 1 courses

This is the first course in a four-course series introducing students to the clinical application of human biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles. These principles are applied to musculoskeletal dysfunction of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip regions in this course, but also serve as a foundation for future courses in the management of patients with other system- or lifespan-related disorders. Evidence-based practice in the management of patients with musculoskeletal lumbo-pelvic and hip conditions is emphasized in the remainder of this course. Students concentrate on the application of psychomotor skills related to regional palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise. Instruction on differential diagnosis and determining primary and secondary hypotheses is completed. Foundational elements of patient management are emphasized that use patient presentation and clinical evidence to classify patients, establish prognosis and functional goals, and develop comprehensive intervention programs related to the lumbo-pelvic and hip regions. A patient-centered approach to health and disease is presented to help students recognize conditions both at risk for advanced chronicity and outside the scope of physical therapy.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 1 courses

This is the second course in a four-course series introducing students to the clinical application of human biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles. These principles are applied to lower extremity musculoskeletal dysfunction in this course, but also serve as a foundation for future courses in the management of patients with other system- or lifespan-related disorders. Students advance the application of psychomotor skills related to palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise. Instruction on differential diagnosis and determining primary and secondary hypotheses is directed. Foundational elements of patient management are emphasized that use patient presentation and clinical evidence to classify patients, establish prognosis and functional goals, and develop comprehensive intervention programs related to the lower extremity. A patient-centered approach to health and disease is presented to help students recognize conditions both at risk for advanced chronicity and outside the scope of physical therapy.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 1 courses

The second of a two-course series completes the study of foundational human gross anatomy and neuroanatomy for the physical therapy student. Instruction continues to focus on the clinical application of functional anatomy to consider patient problems relevant to the physical therapist. Key emphasis in this course is a detailed study of the musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system of the cervical and thoracic spines, thorax, shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm and hand, to include associated osseous, muscular, nervous and vascular structures. A discussion of facial and temporomandibular joint structures is also provided. Neuroanatomy content provides an in-depth study of the brain, cranial nerves, and nervous system. Gross anatomy of additional body systems including the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urogenital, and integumentary systems will be discussed with regard to their relevance to physical therapist practice. This course consists of lecture related to the static and dynamic application of applied anatomy along with heavy use of three-dimensional anatomy software, medical imaging, living/surface anatomy, and synthetic human anatomical models in lab sessions for hands on application and learning.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 1 courses

This course studies the foundations and clinical relevance of biomechanical principles as applied to neuromusculoskeletal form and function, movement analysis, and therapeutic interventions. Students will begin to understand the nature and control of both normal and abnormal movement (motor control), as well as the acquisition and/or modification of skilled action (motor learning). Emphasis is on the integration of theory, structured movement analyses of activities performed in daily life, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model to inform clinical decision making in physical therapist practice. Students are introduced to the principles and application of therapeutic exercise, to include motion, motor control, balance/coordination, strength, power, endurance, agility, and return to work/sport/function. Fundamental principles of manual therapy and soft tissue mobilization are also discussed.  Strategies to effectively teach, progress, and motivate patients are discussed to improve patient performance and compliance with treatment programs.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 1 courses

This course introduces the specific elements of applied research design and statistics. Students become familiar with relevant research statistics to become intelligent consumers of scientific literature. Items related to measurement, research design, statistical analysis, critical inquiry, and strength of evidence are presented. These concepts are applied in the critical evaluation of published physical therapy literature. This course provides additional framework for subsequent courses in which scientific foundations of physical therapy practice are presented.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 2 courses

This course introduces students to the underlying principles and clinical applications of selected biophysical agents. Critical appraisal of current evidence examines the physical and physiological effects of these biophysical agents, with emphasis on pain, inflammation, tissue healing, and muscle re-education. Clinical decision-making emphasizes the appropriate selection of physical agents and treatment parameters based on patient indications and contraindications/precautions and desired treatment effects.  Laboratory sessions develop skills for the safe and effective clinical application of these biophysical agents.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 2 courses

This is the third course in a four-course series introducing students to the clinical application of human biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles. These principles are applied to musculoskeletal dysfunction of the cervical-thoracic spine and temporomandibular joint in this course, but also serve as a foundation for future courses in the management of patients with other system- or lifespan-related disorders. Students concentrate on the application of psychomotor skills related to regional palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise. Instruction on differential diagnosis and determining primary and secondary hypotheses is completed. Foundational elements of patient management are emphasized that use patient presentation and clinical evidence to classify patients, establish prognosis and functional goals, and develop comprehensive intervention programs related to the cervical and thoracic spine regions. A patient-centered approach to health and disease is presented to help students recognize conditions both at risk for advanced chronicity and outside the scope of physical therapy.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 2 courses

This is the final course in a four-course series introducing students to the clinical application of human biomechanics, functional movement, and examination principles. These principles are applied to upper extremity musculoskeletal dysfunction in this course, but also serve as a foundation for future courses in the management of patients with other system- or lifespan-related disorders. Students concentrate on the application of psychomotor skills related to regional palpation, examination, and evidence-based interventions emphasizing patient education, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise. Instruction on differential diagnosis and determining primary and secondary hypotheses is completed. Foundational elements of patient management are emphasized that use patient presentation and clinical evidence to classify patients, establish prognosis and functional goals, and develop comprehensive intervention programs related to the upper extremity. A patient-centered approach to health and disease is presented to help students recognize conditions both at risk for advanced chronicity and outside the scope of physical therapy.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 2 courses

This course presents an in-depth analysis of neural, muscular, and skeletal factors that influence pain and movement in health and disease. Students review the organization of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems with a more functional emphasis. Normal peripheral and central nervous system function and the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders are presented. Neural control of movement and functional force development is discussed in detail with emphasis on muscle activation in health and disease.  Lab activities emphasize central nervous system screening and an introduction to balance assessment tools, common outcome measures, and a comprehensive neurologic examination.

 Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 2 courses

This course presents the physical therapy examination and management of movement disorders and neurological conditions stemming from the central nervous system pathology covered in clinical neuroscience. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neuro-degenerative conditions. Students apply the elements of patient management in physical therapy practice, including screening, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, plan of care, intervention, and outcomes across the adult lifespan. Students will learn to apply the principles of neuroplasticity while focusing on recovery-based treatment techniques in patients with neurologic dysfunction. A wide variety of lab experiences will present and develop examination and rehabilitation skills unique to patients with neuromuscular conditions.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 3 courses

This course provides an overview of managing patients with chronic pain syndromes and associated psychosocial factors. General concepts related to chronic pain, fear avoidance models, peripheral sensitization, and central sensitization as it applies to physical therapy practice are covered. Emphasis is placed on patient education and describing clinical methods of educating patients about pain. Additional clinical application is presented in the form of pain assessment, treatment, outcomes, and limitations of treating chronic pain conditions. Current best practice techniques and research are integrated to provide discussion of the multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary nature of chronic pain.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 3 courses

This course introduces students to the unique aspects of the management of patients with cardiovascular, metabolic and pulmonary causes of movement dysfunction across a variety of settings. Included is the pathophysiology, risk factor management (with an emphasis on the role of physical activity in health promotion), and medical and surgical management of diseases and injuries of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems that occur throughout the lifespan. The disablement framework is utilized to address examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and physical therapy management. This course also provides in-depth instruction in the examination, assessment, and acute management of patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders in both acute care and outpatient settings. Basic principles of care in electrocardiography, exercise testing, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and chest physical therapy to address thoracic spine and ribcage manual therapy techniques are included. The impact of cardiopulmonary conditions on physical therapy management of patients with other diagnoses is also presented. Lab activities include, but are not limited to, ECG analysis, exercise testing, heart and lung auscultation, lung function testing and chest examinations. Human simulation labs are performed in a multidisciplinary approach to provide students with “real- world” exposure to acute and critical care scenarios.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 3 courses

This comprehensive course emphasizes behavioral and social sciences applied to the analysis and management of human behavior. The course is tailored specifically to the work of a physical therapist, where professional interactions with people in a culturally competent manner, including patients, support personnel, supervisors, third party payers, and other medical professionals, is a large part of their responsibilities. Special focus is given to “mindful practice”, so students develop the ability to be aware, in the moment, and on purpose, with the goal of providing better care to patients and to taking better care of themselves. Empathic care and the cultivation and maintenance of empathy is also included with the intention of developing high-quality connections and relationships with patients and other professionals that are a significant part of the integrated healthcare team. Motivational interviewing and its importance in physical therapist practice are also emphasized with the integration of positive psychology and empathetic caring into the patient care setting. Students work with simulated patient scenarios to practice, self-assess, and self-reflect on their own interviewing skills.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 3 courses

This course builds on the foundational sciences of anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology for the performance of advanced movement analyses of pathological gait and other basic functional movements. Conditions requiring lower quarter orthotic and prosthetic intervention will be presented, along with detailed management of patients with these conditions, including pre/post op care, examination/evaluation, device design and prescription, and proper fitting and training with devices. Outcome measures commonly performed in patients with gait deficits will be covered in this course. Lab activities emphasize pathological movement analysis, motion analysis technology, and rehabilitation for the person utilizing orthotics or prosthetics.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 3 courses

This course introduces students to the physiologic changes of aging and the sociologic and economic consequences of an aging population. Significant time is dedicated to the natural aging process and how complicating factors such as chronic disease, malnutrition and other factors negatively impact the aging adult. Emphasis is placed on the positive and negative effects of lifestyle on preventing or accelerating decline, and the physical therapist’s role in this progression. Students learn to evaluate, treat, and manage common diseases and disorders in the aging adult population.  In addition, students will develop a foundation for integumentary management with study of wound healing and factors that adversely affect healing as related to wounds commonly seen in the older adult.  Topics range from degenerative processes, metabolic changes, osteoporosis, genitourinary conditions, endocrine dysfunction, cancer, arterial and venous insufficiency, pressure injuries, neuropathic wounds, and end of life discussion.  Lab intensive hours are focused on the development of patient management skills related to the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the aging adult patient as well as basic integumentary management.  Students will apply their knowledge and skills in the management of older persons during a concurrent clinical education experience.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 4 courses

This course provides students with a general understanding of pharmacologic principles, common pathological processes and their impact on patient management in physical therapy across the lifespan. The impact of prescribed and over the counter drugs on patient presentation, timing of rehabilitation sessions, and the outcome of physical therapy interventions is presented. Content on pharmacodynamics includes specific indications for use, mode of action, safety profile, and rehabilitation considerations of common medications. The body systems and conditions covered include cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, urogenital, rheumatologic, and integumentary.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 4 courses

This structured eight-week clinical experience allows students to gain experience working with patients in the clinical setting. Learning experiences occur under the guidance of a Clinical Faculty (CF). Special emphasis is placed on foundational skills of patient management in preparation for future clinical experiences. Objectives for this clinical experience include completing the clinical curriculum emphasizing, but not limited to, customer service and the Four-Habits Model, primary medical screening, the medical interview, upper/lower quarter screens, and central/peripheral nervous system screens. Students gain confidence with all aspects of the patient encounter and begin to form primary and competing hypotheses or physical therapy diagnoses. Instruction relating to the measuring and interpreting of functional outcomes of patients is also provided. By the conclusion of this clinical experience, the student is expected to demonstrate “Always” in the professional behavioral skills and 100% of patient management skills rated as “Below” or greater on the CIET as evaluated by the CF. Student performance will also be assessed using clinical education curriculum evaluation tools.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 4 courses

This course will explore the therapist’s role in the management of patients with integumentary conditions. Normal tissue anatomy, wound healing, and factors that adversely affect healing are discussed as a foundation for wound management. Examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, interventions and outcomes for persons with various types of wounds will be covered using video demonstrations and clinical cases. Specific wound types discussed include: arterial and venous insufficiency ulcers, pressure ulcers, neuropathic ulcers, lymphedema, and burns. Application of specific tests and measures, their reliability and validity, and efficacy of treatment interventions will be covered. Wound risk factor reduction will be examined.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 4 courses.

This course addresses complex patient medical problems and their application to physical therapy management strategies across the continuum of care. The dysfunctional states or disorders considered may include primary disease or comorbidities in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, lymphatic, immune, and integumentary systems. This course expands upon concepts introduced in physiology and previous systems-based courses and exists as a companion course for physical therapy management of the conditions covered in DPT 6671 Advanced Clinical Practice: Examining the Complex Patient.  Students will learn to address multiple disease pathologies and co-morbidities as they compound to produce medically complex situations in patients.  Students will examine the physical therapist implications of the medically complex patient across all continuums of care including inpatient, outpatient, home based, and institutional settings. This course will take both a systems-based and disease-based approach which will include disorders related to infectious disease, substance abuse, immunodeficiencies, oncology, and surgical procedures.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 5 courses

This course 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 is presented and serves as a course foundation. Students apply the elements of patient/client management in physical therapy practice, including screening, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, plan of care, intervention, and outcomes related to the pediatric patient. Topics include, but are not limited to: developmental delay and disability, family-centered care, legislation related to provision of pediatric physical therapy services, orthotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 5 courses

This course provides students with advanced clinical reasoning and intervention skills for the management of patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. Manual therapy and therapeutic exercise skills learned in previous courses are honed and expanded upon with the integration of advanced spinal manipulation and therapeutic exercise techniques. Students also learn basic dry needling skills for the treatment of soft tissue dysfunction. An emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning and decision-making to safely and effectively integrate these advanced interventions into patient treatment plans. Professional advocacy for restricted or challenged physical therapy interventions is explored for students to learn administrative avenues to facilitate change both locally and nationally. This course also includes multiple case scenarios and a heavy lab component to develop and/or refine the use of these advanced interventions.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 5 courses

This course is designed to educate physical therapy graduates to various diagnostic imaging techniques used to evaluate a variety of neuro-musculoskeletal pathologies commonly treated by physical therapists. It also includes broad recognition of constitutional symptoms and signs, the determination of the systems most likely affected, and the process of making appropriate referrals to other health care providers. Emphasis will be on the Musculoskeletal System and Orthopedic Radiology.  At the clinical level, it is essential for students to fully understand the different imaging modalities used to make a diagnosis and treat various conditions. This includes understanding the indications for a particular imaging study, the limitations of the study, and how to interpret it.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 5 courses

This course will explore the therapist’s role as an interdependent practitioner working within a collaborative medical model. Inherent in the responsibilities associated with this role is the ability to recognize clinical manifestations necessitating contact with other healthcare professionals regarding a client’s health status. A proposed examination and a proposed patient management will provide framework for 1) The structure for our discussion, presenting the clinical tools and decision-making processes necessary to more efficiently and effectively collect and evaluate the examination data, 2) Professional communication with the client and other health care professionals, and 3) Patient case presentations in this course as a means of applying differential diagnostic principles and promoting clinical decision-making.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 5 courses

This is the final course in a two-part series that covers special issues in physical therapy related to modern patient management and the impact of ethical issues on health care practice. It will expound on the material presented in DPT 6130. This course prepares the student professionally and emotionally for clinical practice, as well as his/her role as a lifelong learner and educator in the physical therapy profession. Course content includes, but is not limited to, physical therapy core values and ethics, principles of medical ethics, legal issues in physical therapy, cultural competency, and health care regulations.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 6 courses

This 12-week intermediate clinical experience builds upon the knowledge and skills obtained during the first clinical experience (DPT 6530) to advance evidence-based patient management and clinical reasoning skills and exhibit characteristics of an adult learner and medical professional. Direct patient care experiences under the guidance of a Clinical Faculty (CF) in a collaborative learning environment include patient and family education, case presentations, staff in-services, community outreach and all aspects of the patient management model appropriate to the setting. Structured learning experiences and frequent problem-based assignments as part of the curriculum complement focused lab time and learning opportunities aside from patient care in the clinical setting. Students continue membership in the APTA and increase involvement at the state chapter and national level. By the conclusion of this intermediate clinical experience, the student is expected to demonstrate “Always” in 100% of the professional behavioral skills and achieve 100% of patient management skills rated “At That Level for All Patients” on the CIET as evaluated by the CF. Student performance will also be assessed using evaluation tools and functional patient outcomes.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 6 courses

This course provides an overview of practice management fundamentals and applies these principles to various aspects of leadership and business operations.  Students will gain knowledge of health care management, leadership, organizational structures, clinical administration, and fiscal management as they relate to the practice of physical therapy. Students are exposed to general business principles and practical applications to help a healthcare practice or system build a strategic and sustained competitive advantage in the marketplace. Students learn the how to be an effective business partner in a healthcare practice or organization.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 6 courses

This 11-week intermediate clinical experience builds upon the knowledge and skills obtained during the first clinical experience (DPT 6530 and DPT 6720) to advance evidence-based patient management and clinical reasoning skills and exhibit characteristics of an adult learner and medical professional. Direct patient care experiences under the guidance of a Clinical Faculty (CF) in a collaborative learning environment include patient and family education, case presentations, staff in-services, community outreach and all aspects of the patient management model appropriate to the setting. Structured learning experiences and frequent problem-based assignments as part of the curriculum complement focused lab time and learning opportunities aside from patient care in the clinical setting. Students continue membership in the APTA and increase involvement at the state chapter and national level. By the conclusion of this intermediate clinical experience, the student is expected to demonstrate “Always” in 100% of the professional behavioral skills and achieve 100% of patient management skills rated “At That Level for All Patients” on the CIET as evaluated by the CF. Student performance will also be assessed using evaluation tools and functional patient outcomes.

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Quarter 7 courses

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 7 courses

This course requires the student to integrate and apply previous didactic knowledge and clinical experiences. Students will participate in a structured 12-week comprehensive review of the body systems. Content will include a review of pathophysiological mechanisms, examination procedures and management strategies consistent with evidence-based practice and established clinical guidelines. Material for this course will derive from coursework covered throughout the program as well as the Scorebuilders NPTE Prep course materials and TrueLearn. The student will successfully complete this course by passing the course with a score of 600 or better on the academic version of the NPTE Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT).

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Quarter 6 courses