Physical Therapy (DPT)
Faculty
Amy Heath, Associate Professor of Practice
Justin Jones, Associate Professor of Practice
Justin Beebe, Associate Professor
Jennifer Bottomley, Associate Professor of Practice
George Coggeshall, Professor of Practice
Amitabh Dashottar, Assistant Professor
James Huddleston, Professor of Practice
Elizabeth Murphy, Associate Professor of Practice, Co-Director of Clinical Education
Joanne Rivard, Adjunct Faculty Physical Therapy
Alia Sullivan, Associate Professor of Practice, Co-Director of Clinical Education
Description
Our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program emphasizes professional experience. You'll attend expert led lectures, advance your technique in the skills laboratory and participate in small group discussions focused around clinical practice. Our students build their skills during full-time clinical internships — carefully selected based on high level of mentorship, experienced clinical practitioners and a variety of patient populations.
This 3-year, full-time program is designed for men and women who have three years of undergraduate work at Simmons or a bachelor's degree from another institution and have completed the necessary pre-requisite work.
You'll graduate ready to meet the challenges of our constantly evolving health care field. Our students are dynamic leaders in physical therapy and excel in clinical practice in a variety of settings.
The DPT curriculum is designed to educate men and women to serve patients in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. The didactic and clinical course material in each semester is integrated within the semester and across the entire curriculum to allow students to synthesize and apply newly acquired knowledge and skills. Students in the professional curriculum attend classes on the Simmons campus and at Harvard Medical School for DPT 621 Human Anatomy. More than 300 clinical sites across the country are affiliated with Simmons College and provide students with the opportunity to participate in the practice of physical therapy under the mentorship of skilled clinicians.
The Physical Therapy Program at Simmons College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
Learning Outcomes
1) STUDENT GOAL
Graduates of the Simmons College Doctor of Physical Therapy program will be prepared to be leaders in providing legal and ethical, informed, effective, contemporary, and comprehensive physical therapy services across the continuum of care and patient/client lifespan within the dynamic health care environment.
OUTCOME #1: |
Students will practice as entry-level physical therapists completion of the program. |
OUTCOME #2: |
Students will seek out and critically utilize professional literature and educational opportunities to inform practice. |
OUTCOME #3: |
Students will be prepared to contribute to the body of knowledge in the profession as well as participate in the clinical research process. |
2) STUDENT GOAL
Graduates of the Simmons College Doctor of Physical Therapy program will be prepared to be leaders in recognizing and respecting the socioeconomic, psychosocial, and cultural context of patient/client-centered care and be able to adapt professional responsibilities and service delivery models within diverse communities.
OUTCOME #1: |
Students will use skills in self-assessment, teamwork, and inter- and intra-professional collaboration to foster professional development to optimize patient care. |
OUTCOME #2: |
Students will contribute to the profession, patient/clients, and/or communities of interest through service, advocacy, and leadership. |
6) PROGRAM GOAL
The Simmons College Doctor of Physical Therapy program will demonstrate commitment to educating future physical therapists by ensuring regular assessment of the appropriate resources, both capital and human, upon which informed decisions will be made towards setting and achieving the highest standards.
OUTCOME #1: |
Implement a regularly scheduled assessment program that seeks input from stakeholders and triangulates data points to ensure a thorough review. |
OUTCOME #2: |
Implement and utilize a feedback loop which would allow for objective changes in the DPT program based on current assessment. |
Requirements for entry into program
The DPT program requires a full-time commitment of 36 months and culminates in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Students begin the program during the summer session and typically graduate in May.
The following courses are required prior to application:
Biology * (one semester)
Chemistry * (two semesters)
Exercise Physiology (one semester)
Human Anatomy * (one semester)
Human Physiology * (one semester)
Physics * (two semesters) (can be calculus-based or non-calculus based)
Psychology (two semesters)
Statistics (one semester)
* with labs
All courses should be equal to one semester in length. Thus, two quarters may be required to equal one semester
All courses must have been completed within ten years prior to the application deadline. These prerequisite courses must have been graded and may not have been completed on a pass/fail or audited basis. CLEP and AP (Advanced Placement) scores are not accepted in lieu of these courses. Combined courses in Anatomy and Physiology (A/P) are acceptable. Two semesters are required.
Only two prerequisites can be outstanding for application eligibility.
A maximum of two prerequisites may have been retaken, regardless of grades earned and whether or not the courses were re-taken at the same or different institution. Course titles may differ but if the content is the same, it is considered a repeat. Repeated or failed courses should be included in GPA calculations. Students enrolled in quarter or trimester systems may need to complete/submit grades for multiple terms to equate to a semester.
Costs
Including financing and fellowships / assistantships
$1,210 per credit hour
Activity Fee: $105 per semester
Human Anatomy Laboratory Fee (one-time fee for PT students): $775
Delivery Mode or Modes Available (full-time, part-time, locations, technologies, etc.)
Full-time commitment of 36 months
Degree requirements
Credits
99
Core, Pre-requisite, and elective course requirements and progression, etc.
DPT Program Curriculum Beginning Summer 2016
Year 1 Summer
Year 1 Fall
Year 1 Spring
Year 2 Summer
Year 2 Fall
DPT 712 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
DPT 722 | Integument, Prosthetics, & Orthotics | 2 |
DPT 732 | Neuroanatomy | 2 |
DPT 742 | Hlth Prom, Wellness & Advocacy | 3 |
DPT 752 | Research Seminar: Proposal | 1 |
DPT 772 | Frameworks for PT: Cardio & Pulmonary | 7 |
Year 2 Spring
DPT 713 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
DPT 743 | Principles of Practice Management | 4 |
| | |
DPT 753 | Research Sem: Sys Review | 1 |
| OR | |
DPT 763 | Res Sem: Fac Dir Research 1 | 1 |
| | |
DPT 783 | Frmwrks for Pt: Neuromusc 1 | 7 |
SNHS 450 | Health Care Sys: Interdis Pers | 3 |
Year 3 Summer
DPT 811 | | |
DPT 821 | | |
| | |
DPT 851 | | |
| OR | |
DPT 861 | | |
| | |
DPT 871 | | |
Year 3 Fall
Year 3 Spring
Concentrations, specializations, etc.
Licensure, certification, etc.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is awarded to students who have satisfactorily completed the DPT program, attaining a minimum of a B (3.0) average. As graduates of a physical therapy accredited program, students are eligible to take the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE.) Students graduate in May of the third year and can apply to take the examination at that time by contacting the Federation of State Boards Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and your jursidiction to sit for the next fixed-date NPTE test.
Dual (and other) degree options
Other program information
Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Simmons College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.