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for California State University, Fresno.

Department of Physical Therapy

Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy
and Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The doctorate in Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) is the educational standard for the field and required for physical therapy licensure. Physical Therapy is a profession dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life. It serves humanity, which is holistic in nature and provides services to persons of all ages, gender and cultures. In concert with the mission of the university and to meet the needs of the community, the physical therapy department faculty has developed the following mission statement.

Mission Statement:

The mission of physical therapist professional education is to graduate competent, adaptable, and compassionate physical therapy practitioners of the highest quality committed to life-long learning, self-development, and critical inquiry and prepared to function autonomously in current and future healthcare environments. The physical therapy professional education at California State University, Fresno seeks to stimulate scholarly inquiry and critical thinking while supporting and encouraging research and its dissemination to develop outstanding, competent, professional practitioners and future leaders of the profession of physical therapy.

In concert with the American Physical Therapy Association 2020 Vision Statement, we will prepare graduates with skills to examine, evaluate, establish a diagnosis and prognosis within the scope of physical therapy practice, implement and manage a physical therapy plan of care, and provide a sound rationale for evaluation and treatment procedures based on a theoretical framework for practice including evidence-based practice.

Successful completion of the D.P.T. program will prepare students with the following outcomes and abilities in physical therapy management and professional development to do the following:

1. Practice across all settings in a safe, legal, ethical and nondiscriminatory manner.
2. Screen individuals to determine the need for physical therapy evaluation or referral to other health professionals.
3. Accurately perform and interpret examination findings to establish a physical therapy diagnosis
4. Choose and effectively perform appropriate examination procedures.
5. Develop and manage an appropriate physical therapy plan of care including patient education, prevention, enhancement, referral and discharge planning.
6. Utilize, with safe client-handling skills and an awareness of indications and contraindications, cost-effective efficacious patient management activities that address goals in the plan of care.
7. Re-evaluate/modify the physical therapy plan of care.
8. Provide sound rationale for evaluation and treatment procedures and plan of care development based on a theoretical framework for practice (including evidence-based practice.)
9. Cognitively understand patient needs, limits and capabilities, in conjunction with the theory and application of physical therapy practice, to determine when a task or skill can be safely and effectively delegated to another care provider.
10. Provide effective patient/client-related instruction, education and consultation.
11. Effectively communicate orally, in writing, and non-verbally with clients, caregivers, colleagues, educators, and the public with cultural sensitivity.
12. Participate in administrative/management, and supervisory processes.
13. Participate in the community as an advocate for the practice of physical therapy.
14. Engage in critical inquiry.
15. Plan and implement strategies for continued self assessment and professional growth.

Admissions to the Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program.Admissions to the Entry-Level to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program. Individuals must possess a baccalaureate degree and complete all prerequisite requirements prior to beginning the professional major. Students are only admitted for the fall semester. Students should apply to the program in the fall prior to anticipated entry into the Physical Therapy Program. Admission to the entry-level three-year D.P.T. program requires a two-part application. The application process begins with the CSU Graduate/Postbaccalaureate application, which is submitted online at http://www.csumentor.edu. The application will be automatically forwarded to the second part of the application which will list program specific application requirements.

Physical Therapy Program Application Filing Period: Please see www.csufresno.edu/physicaltherapy for specific dates.

In addition to the CSU Graduate/Postbaccalaureate application and university required transcripts from each prior institution attended by the applicant, the Physical Therapy Program also requires a separate program application, official GRE test scores, and additional transcript from each institution attended (including previous spring and summer terms), observation verification, and letters of reference. GRE scores are considered during program admissions; however, there is no minimum GRE requirement. Late transcripts or documentation will result in not being considered. Follow program application instructions provided after submitting the CSUMentor application at www.csumentor.edu. Please review the Graduate Studies section in this catalog for additional graduate admissions information.

Prerequisite requirements for entry-level D.P.T. program

--- Lower-division ---

Human Physiology
Fresno State: BIOL 65
Transfer: Human physiology with lab

Human Anatomy
Fresno State: BIOL 64
Transfer: Human anatomy with lab

Chemistry
Fresno State: CHEM 1A or 3A , and CHEM 3B with labs
Transfer: Inorganic and organic or biochemistry with labs

Psychology
Fresno State: PSYCH 10
Transfer: General psychology

Physics
Fresno State: PHYS 2A, 2B
Transfer: Physics with lab including mechanics, heat, light, sound, and electricity

Statistics
Fresno State: PH 92 or MATH 11
Transfer: Introduction to basic statistics

--- Upper-division ---

Psychology
Fresno State: PSYCH 166 or 169
Transfer: Upper-division psychology course (psychological aspects of aging or abnormal psychology preferred)

Motor Development
Fresno State: PHTH 127 or KINES 110
Transfer: Upper-division motor development course.

The screening committee reviews admission criteria. Prior to admission to the program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Hold or be eligible to receive a bachelor's degree by the end of the spring semester prior to admission to the program.
2. Have completed or be currently enrolled in the specified lower-division prerequisite courses at time of application. All lower-division courses must be completed by the end of the fall semester prior to admission to the program.
3. Submit GRE test scores by the end of the fall semester prior to admission to the program. Students are encouraged to take the GRE early to avoid delays in acceptance for graduate work.
4. Enroll in upper-division prerequisite courses during the spring semester prior to admission to the program
5. Receive a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course and maintain a total prerequisite GPA of 3.0. An overall GPA of 3.0 for upper-division units completed is required. CR/NC grades, correspondence courses, or independent study courses cannot be used for prerequisite requirements. Only those prerequisite courses completed by the end of the fall semester in which application is made will be counted toward ranking of candidates for selection into the graduate program.
6. Provide evidence of knowledge of physical therapy through employment, volunteer work, or observation in a physical therapy department for a minimum of 100 hours. Fifty hours must be in a general in-patient setting; 50 hours may be in a special area of practice. All observation hours must be under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
7. Submit three letters of recommendation, as specified in application instructions.
8. Participate in a personal interview.
9. Submit grades and final transcripts from institutions other than Fresno State as soon as grades are posted. Transcripts should be requested prior to the end of the term.

Meeting the foregoing criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the three-year entry-level D.P.T. program. Students transferring from community colleges and other colleges or universities who meet the foregoing criteria are considered on the same basis as California State University, Fresno students applying for admission to the program. An applicant must meet the above criteria to be considered for conditionally classified standing in the graduate program.

No course may be repeated more than one time and no more than three prerequisite courses may be repeated.

For department application or admission information, write to the following address and enclose a self-addressed, stamped, legal-size envelope:

Admissions Coordinator
Department of Physical Therapy
College of Health and Human Services
California State University, Fresno
2345 E. San Ramon Ave. M/S MH29
Fresno, CA 93740-8031

The three-year entry-level D.P.T. program is open to all college graduates with a bachelor's degree who have met upper- and lower-division prerequisite requirements and show intellectual promise and ability to perform at a satisfactory level during their graduate studies.

Criteria for Departmental Retention and Progression

Criteria for retention in the three-year entry-level D.P.T. program and progression to the next semester in the program:

1. Maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA each semester in the program
2. Maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA in D.P.T. degree requirements
3. Achieving a minimum grade of C (or CR) in each PHTH course.*
4. Enrolling in and completing all required courses in sequence.

Students must carry malpractice insurance, must purchase an appropriate laboratory coat, and must provide their own transportation to hospitals and clinics for off-campus classes and clinical laboratories. Additional laboratory fees may be required. Students must also provide for all expenses while enrolled in clinical internships. Expenses include student fees, housing, meals, and travel.

__________

*Any student receiving a grade less than C will not be able to continue in the program, regardless of semester or overall GPA. Please note that grade substitution is not permitted at the graduate level. A student must receive a grade of CR in all clinical education courses (PHTH 254-257; PHTH 280). A student receiving a grade of less than a C or NC in a PHTH course will have one opportunity to repeat the course. A second grade of less than a C or NC in a repeated PHTH course will result in disqualification from the program. Any student who repeats a course will be dropped back into a previous cohort of students since all coursework is sequential. A student cannot drop back to a previous cohort more than one time throughout the three-year program.

 

Requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

Core Requirements (96 units)
PHTH 105, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 517, 518, 526, 527, 528, 529, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 554, 555, 556, 560, 561, 563, 564, 565, 591, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598

Clinic Course Requirements (14 units)
PHTH 557, 558, 559
(see Advising Note)

Total (110 units)

 

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Advising Note

PHTH 256, 257, and 280 clinical experiences are conducted in a variety of clinical facilities through out the state. Students must provide for all expenses including housing, meals, and travel. These are offered CR/NC only. A certification of clinical completion plus the D.P.T. must be completed to be eligible to take the state examination for licensure.

 

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements

Students usually advance to candidacy following the completion of two full-time semesters of graduate coursework in the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Prior to advancement to candidacy, students must have the following:

1. Classified graduate student standing.
2. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (overall, program, and California State University, Fresno) on all coursework completed after the date of the first course to be included in the doctor of physical therapy degree program, with no grade below C.
3. Demonstrated required competency in clinical coursework (PHTH 254-257) with grade of CR or a letter grade of B or better.
4. Demonstrated graduate level writing proficiency (assessment of a portfolio of writings is used). This requirement must be met within one semester of classified graduate standing. Contact the Department of Physical Therapy for detailed requirements.
5. Approval from the faculty to enroll in PHTH 298 as the doctoral project.

A culminating event is required of all Fresno State doctor of physical therapy degree candidates. Students in physical therapy satisfy the requirement through an oral and written presentation of an evidence-based review of a clinical practice question or clinical research project.

Post-Professional Doctorate in Physical Therapy

A licensed physical therapist holding an M.P.T. may be eligible for the post-professional joint D.P.T. program with the University of California, San Francisco. This program is designed to expand the foundation of knowledge developed in the Master's of Physical Therapy Program and better prepare graduates to function autonomously in current and future healthcare environments. This final year of learning is dynamic and interactive with a strong evidence-based approach. Learning activities are centered on active student involvement through seminars, case studies, clinical investigations, grand rounds, and patient care.

Admissions to the post-professional joint D.P.T. Graduate Program. Fresno State students who successfully completed the M.P.T. (final GPA of 3.0 or better, passed the culmination for the M.P.T., satisfactory completion of all clinical clerkships and demonstrated acceptable record of professional behavior) are automatically eligible for the D.P.T. year of study. Students must submit a graduate application to UCSF for fall admission (check UCSF catalog for deadlines).

The D.P.T. year is an additional 9 months of advanced study (34 semester units).

The joint D.P.T. year is offered as a self-support year and therefore, additional fees apply. Please contact the physical therapy program office for updated information.

Culminating Experience for the joint post-professional D.P.T. Students research and write an in-depth patient case report and an evidence based review of a clinical problem following the criteria established in case reports and evidence-based practice courses. The manuscripts must be prepared in a journal-ready format as well as presented orally to an audience of faculty and peers.

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