Degree Description

Midwestern University's Physical Therapy Program offers a course of study leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree for qualified students. The full-time, continuous, 34-month, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is designed to deliver the academic and clinical education required to prepare students for their professional role as key members of the healthcare team and as an integral part of the healthcare delivery system. The general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development of physical therapists uniquely prepare them to coordinate care related to improvement of functional ability.

The focus of the professional clinical doctorate degree program is the preparation of entry-level, generalist physical therapists who are able to provide competent, skilled professional services in a wide range of community and institutional practice settings that require independent judgment and self-sufficiency.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program prepares entry-level practitioners to provide physical therapy services in large, small, traditional, and nontraditional community and institutional practice settings that require independent judgment, leadership, and autonomous practice. The program also provides the foundation for graduates to identify and contribute to effecting solutions to the major, emergent health issues of our society and to contribute to the academic and clinical education of future practitioners. The graduate will be prepared to make valuable, ongoing contributions to society, healthcare, and the profession through leadership activities and collaborative efforts with others in physical therapy and professional education, practice, and research.

Program Goals and Expected Program Outcomes and Indicators

1. Students/Graduates will practice independent competent physical therapy.
   • Graduates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for independent, competent physical therapy practice.
     • 100% of students will demonstrate entry-level performance by the completion of Practicum IV. 
     • Graduates will achieve a 100% ultimate NPTE pass rate.
     • 100% of employers will agree or strongly agree that graduates are independent and competent practitioners on the annual employer survey.
   • Students/Graduates will demonstrate appropriate professional behavior.
     • 100% of students will demonstrate professional behaviors commensurate with each practical experience as measured by CPI items 2, 3, and 4.
     • 100% of employers will indicate that graduates demonstrate professional behaviors.
     • 100% of graduates will agree or strongly agree that they were well prepared to function independently as professionals in the physical therapy community.
2. Students will meet performance requirements of the MWU PT Program curriculum.
   • Throughout the didactic and clinical education portions of the curriculum, students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to maintain good standing in the MWU PT Program.
     • 100% of students will produce a publishable-quality scholarly product.
     • 100% of students will demonstrate professional behavior by the end of the didactic curriculum.
3. Students/Graduates will contribute to and advocate for the health and wellness of society through education, consultation, and community outreach.
   • Students will develop, implement, and analyze a community outreach wellness program.
     • 100% of students will produce a professional-quality health promotion project.
     • 100% of students will deliver a critical analysis of a community health promotion program appropriate for a professional forum.
   • Students will utilize current best evidence to develop age-appropriate fitness prescriptions which can be used for education and consultation in the community.
     • 100% of students will develop a high-quality age-appropriate fitness plan for pediatric or geriatric clients.
   • Graduates will be capable of providing health and wellness services to the community through education, consultation, and community outreach.
     • 100% of employers will agree or strongly agree that graduates were well prepared to provide health and wellness services to the community.
     • 100% of graduates will agree or strongly agree that they were well prepared to provide health and wellness services to the community on the graduate survey.
4. Students/Graduates will access, utilize, and contribute to the scientific literature for clinical decision-making.
   • Students will demonstrate the ability to access the scientific literature for clinical decision-making.
     • 100% of students will successfully access the scientific literature from multiple databases.
   • Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize scientific literature for clinical decision-making.
     • 100% of students will access, appraise, and apply scientific literature to answer a clinical question.
     • 100% of students will produce a high-quality project that utilizes and integrates scientific literature to support clinical decision making in case discussions.
     • 100% of students will prepare a matrix demonstrating their utilization of scientific literature to answer a clinical question. 
   • Students/Graduates will demonstrate the ability to contribute to the scientific literature for clinical decision-making.
     • Each academic year, at least 3 scholarly products will be disseminated to a professional audience by students/graduates.
5. Faculty members will be engaged in teaching, scholarship, and service.
   • Faculty will provide high quality teaching.
     • 100% of core faculty will receive an average score of agree or strongly agree on student instructor evaluations for the item “rate this instructor highly".
     • 100% of core faculty will meet or exceed expectations for teaching on annual performance evaluations.
   • Eligible core faculty will disseminate scholarly products on a regular basis.
     • 100% of eligible core faculty will disseminate at least one scholarly product every 2 years.
     • 100% of eligible core faculty will publish at least one article, book chapter, or other contribution every 3 years.
   • Eligible core faculty will provide service to the University and the profession.
     • 100% of core faculty will serve on at least 3 PT Program committees or subcommittees annually.
     • 100% of eligible core faculty will serve on at least 1 CHS or MWU committee every 3 years.
     • 100% of eligible core faculty will provide at least one form of professional service to organizations or the community every year.
6. MWU PT Program will deliver an accredited, entry-level physical therapist education program using the highest standards of academic excellence which embraces the core values of the profession.  
   • MWU PT Program will be in compliance with all accreditation standards.
     • Graduates will achieve a 100% ultimate NPTE pass rate.
     • 100% of graduates actively pursuing employment in a physical therapy setting will begin working within one year from completion of the MWU PT Program.
   • MWU PT Program will conduct comprehensive quality assurance reviews of the curriculum.
     • Graduates will demonstrate an average body system component score above the national average on the NPTE.
     • Graduates will demonstrate an average clinical practice component score above the national average on the NPTE.
     • MWU PT Program will complete a comprehensive curricular review every 3 years.
   • APTA’s Core Values content will be explicit throughout the MWU PT Program curriculum.
     • 100% of the APTA Core Values will continue to be explicitly addressed throughout the curriculum

Time Limit for Completion of Coursework

The maximum allotted time for completion of the program is 51 months.