College of Health Sciences- Physical Therapy
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
Charleston Southern University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on or before December 1, 2021. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy is to prepare highly skilled practitioners who exemplify Christian principles through evidence-based clinical care while serving their community and profession. The Department of Physical Therapy vision is to embody biblical values and be a nationally recognized leader in academic excellence, compassionate service, and advanced clinical care.
The primary goal of the Department is to produce graduates who will be recognized for their leadership, integrity, evidence-based care, service, and professionalism in a variety of clinical environments. Specifically, the Department of Physical Therapy has established the following goals:
Goal 1: Faculty and students will contribute to the clinical and scientific advancement of the profession.
Goal 2: Faculty and students will advocate for the physical therapy profession through active involvement in the community and organizational membership.
Goal 3: Students will practice in a professional, legal, and ethical manner that is consistent with the APTA code of ethics, state practice acts, and the values of the Christian faith.
Goal 4: Students will demonstrate examination, evaluation, and intervention skills necessary for evidence-based, entry-level practice.
Goal 5: Graduates will develop and internalize the personal value of lifelong learning and will describe a plan to maintain contemporary expertise in their clinical practice.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Charleston Southern University DPT Program, students will be able to:
Scholarly Research
- Appraise the scientific evidence and disseminate research findings at peer-reviewed conferences.
Differential Diagnosis
- Demonstrate physical therapy assessment skills to identify a plan of care including interprofessional referrals.
- Construct a differential diagnosis relevant to the physical therapy examination.
Clinical Reasoning
- Demonstrate clinical competency to be able to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
- Provide contemporary evidence-based, holistic care to individuals, families, communities, and populations.
Interprofessional Collaboration
- Formulate strategies to successfully lead and participate in team related activities.
- Model the cognitive ability to provide integrated professional and autonomous care to people across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare arenas.
Professionalism
- Demonstrate cultural competency when providing physical therapy services for underserved and diverse people of our community.
- Practice in a manner consistent with APTA’s Mission and Vision, Core Values, and Code of Ethics.
- Display empathy to patients/clients and families during clinical practice.
Service to the Community
- Originate and participate in service-learning activities for the people of the Lowcountry and around the globe.
Service to the Profession
- Participate as member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Faith Integration
- Exhibit behaviors compatible with the Christian faith to positively influence the health of society.
Overview
The DPT program encourages everyone to apply and supports an inclusive admission criterion while we reserve the right to give preference to CSU graduates. Inclusive criteria suggests that we seek applicants from various cultures, with racial and ethnic diversity, first generation college graduates, those with foreign language proficiency, advanced degree, veteran status, and various/diverse religious backgrounds. The DPT Program utilizes the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) for application processing. The application opens June 15th and closes April 15th. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted directly to PTCAS. To learn more about PTCAS, visit www.ptcas.org. The DPT Program utilizes a rolling interview and admission process. Interviews will begin in the Fall and continue until the class size is filled. A total of 48 students will be admitted to the DPT Program each year.
Requirements
Prior to beginning the DPT Program at CSU, all applicants must earn a Baccalaureate degree, in any major/discipline, and complete the following prerequisites from an institution that is accredited by the US Department of Education (USDE):
Course Prerequisites
- General Biology*
- Human Anatomy and Physiology* ┼
- General Chemistry*
- Statistics
- Psychology #
- Medical Terminology or an approved self-study course
* Courses should be taken in a two-semester sequence and must include a lab component.
┼ One course of anatomy with lab and one course of physiology with lab will be acceptable.
# One psychology course is required, beyond the introductory level, that includes the study of behavioral, developmental, and/or abnormal psychology in adolescent or adulthood population.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Overall Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.00
- Prerequisite GPA ≥ 3.00
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
The GRE must be taken within the last 5 years. If multiple attempts, the highest score from each section will be used (e.g. - superscore). The GRE code for our school is 2904.
According to PTCAS, the most recent national data for applicants accepted is:
- Verbal = 54th percentile
- Quantitative = 48th percentile
- Analytical Writing = 58th percentile
Two Personal References
- 1 letter from a teacher, professor, or supervisor addressing the applicant’s character qualities such as attitude, work ethic, ability to problem solve, and/or academic aptitude.
- 1 letter from a physical therapist addressing the applicant’s professionalism, knowledge of the profession, and potential for success in the field of physical therapy.
- Letters from relatives are not permitted.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Examination
The Test of English as a Foreign Language must be taken by those whose native language is not English. Only the internet-based testing is accepted, and scores must be submitted through PTCAS. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) require the following minimum passing scores for the Internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT®) and do not permit the substitution of other examinations for TOEFL. (http://www.fccpt.org/; accessed 12/3/19). Composite of reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and writing 63 Speaking 26
Applicant Screening
Each student application is evaluated by the Executive Assistant or Chair of the Admissions Committee to determine if he or she satisfies the prerequisite requirements for admission to candidate status. The Executive Assistant is responsible for ensuring that the Applicant Data Sheet for each applicant admitted is electronically stored.
Interview Selection Process
The Department of Physical Therapy utilizes a holistic approach to determine which candidates will receive an invitation to interview for the program. The method evaluates candidates based upon a variety of factors including cognition, diversity, and the ability to contribute to the program’s mission. Based upon these factors, the most qualified individuals are invited for an interview.
Accept a Seat in the Program
For the accepted applicant, the program requires a response by the date provided in the official offer letter. A $1,500 non-refundable payment to the CSU Office of Enrollment Services (OES) is required to reserve the seat in the program at the time the offer is accepted. The program administration staff will provide directions for submitting the online payment.
If an applicant commits to another program, we request the professional courtesy of notifying the CSU Department of Physical Therapy so other candidates may be considered.
Candidates offered a position will be required to complete the following prior to enrollment:
- Official transcripts from all college and universities for any courses not yet completed.
- Proof of health insurance (must be maintained throughout the program).
- Essential Functions and Requirements of Physical Therapist Education (provided during interview).
- Immunization Records and TB Screening.
- Background Check.
- Release of Records.
Detailed instructions on how to complete the above requirements is communicated to candidates.
The standard practice of the Program is to not accept credit transfers, from another university, in lieu of completing the required program curriculum. The Program reserves the opportunity to evaluate and award transfer of credit in special circumstances, such as in the event of a program closure so as to preserve debt load on students. If this should be the case, students should refer to the University Handbook for institutional policy on the transfer of credits and consult with the Physical Therapy Program Director. All potential program transfer credits for the DPT program must be submitted for approval prior to enrollment in the DPT program. Students must provide transcripts and a course syllabus or catalog with a course description so a determination can be made regarding the specific transfer credit request. Transfer credit will be awarded only if approved by consensus by core faculty.
Given that the DPT curriculum utilizes a lock-step process, students must complete each course of the semester, demonstrating mastery of knowledge, skills, and behaviors prior to moving on to the next semester, and ultimately, graduation. Students must also maintain professional behaviors in their interactions with others as outlined in the APTA Core Values.
The following policies and procedures are detailed in the DPT Student Handbook:
- Retention
- Academic and Professional Behavior Probation
- Program Dismissal
- Program re-entry
- Withdrawal request by the student
- Leave of absence
- Appeal a Final Course Grade
- Appeal for Dismissal from Program
- The following are the required steps to graduate with a DPT degree at CSU.
- Complete all coursework in the DPT curriculum with a cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0.
- Complete all clinical coursework with at least an “entry-level” rating on all required skills listed on the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) by the end of the student’s final clinical practicum.
- Complete a scholarly project under guidance of a faculty mentor, including a poster presentation that will be evaluated by the faculty or peer reviewed. This poster can be presented at CSU Spring Symposium or at another professional meeting as approved by the department.
- Be in good professional and academic standing with the Department.
- Satisfactorily complete the PEAT comprehensive exam.
- Complete the CSU graduation application process.
- Complete payment of tuition, program fees, graduation fees, and outstanding university fees or library charges.
- Attend both the CSU Doctoral Hooding and the Departmental Graduate Recognition ceremonies
It is the responsibility of the student to make sure all degree requirements have been met to qualify for graduation. Graduating students must apply for their degree at the start of their final semester through the Registrar’s Office. The Office of the Registrar keeps the official records demonstrating the student has met requirements for degree completion.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (124 hours)