DPT-Entry Curriculum - MPT - Western University of Health Sciences

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DPT-Entry Curriculum

The entry level DPT curriculum is based on the problem-solving approach to PT clinical practice. It consists of 9 trimesters, each having a particular emphasis, and is three years in length. Didactic education includes classroom and laboratory instruction to learn and practice procedures on classmates. This is followed by clinical education experiences in a wide variety of clinical settings. Simulated and real patient cases are presented in lecture and lab to prepare students for their clinical experiences..

The curriculum is structured as follows:

Year 1 - Trimester I (15 weeks)
PT 5000 Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care (2.5 units)
PT 5029 Thoracic and Abdominal Anatomy ( 2 units)
PT 5040 Histology/Tissue Healing (2 units)
PT 5070 Patient Care Skills (3 units)
PT 5075 Physical Agents and Procedures (3 units)
PT 5100 Physiology/Pathophysiology (5 units)
PT 5230 Medical Screening and Systems Review I (2 units)	total 19.5 units

Year 1 - Trimester II (15 weeks)
PT 5030 Anatomy I (3 units)
PT 5035 Anatomy II (3 units)
PT 5050 Kinesiology I (3 units)
PT 5055 Kinesiology II (4 units)
PT 5120 Human Life Sequences (2 units)
PT 5130 Research Methodology in Health Care (3 units)
PT 5141 Clinical Education & Professional Development I (1 unit)	total 19 units

Year 1 - Trimester III (18 weeks)
PT 5015 Physical Therapy in the Health Care System (3 units)
PT 5140 Research in Evidence-Based Practice (2 units)
PT 5200 Differential Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Disorders (3 units)
PT 5210 Eval & Treat Lower Quarter Musculoskeletal Dysfunction (6.5 units)
PT 5220 Principles of Teaching/Learning (2 units)
PT 5235 Medical Screening and Systems Review II (2 units)
PT 7010 Clinical Education I (1.5 units)	total 20 units

Year 2 - Trimester IV (15 weeks)
PT 5142 Clinical Education & Professional Development II (1 unit)
PT 5205 Eval & Treat Upper Quarter Musculoskeletal Dysfunction (6 units)
PT 6020 Principles of Electrotherapeutic Evaluation & Treatment (3 units)
PT 6030 Physiology of Exercise (4 units)
PT 6040 Evaluation & Treatment of Cardiopulmonary System (4 units)
PT 6220 Application of Research to Clinical Practice (0.5 unit)
PT 8100 Pharmacology for Physical Therapists (3 units)	total 21.5 units

Year 2 - Trimester V (12 weeks)
PT 7020 Clinical Education II (6 units)	total 6 units

Year 2 - Trimester VI (16 weeks)
PT 6000 Neuroanatomy (4 units)
PT 6005 Neurophysiology (4 units)
PT 6010 Evaluation & Treatment of Neurological Disorders I (4 units)
PT 6015 Differential Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders (4 units)
PT 6060 Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Gait (3 units)
PT 8110 Structural Imaging in Physical Therapy Diagnosis (3)	total 22 units

Year 3 - Trimester VII (15 weeks)
PT 5143 Clinical Education & Professional Development III (1 unit)
PT 6011 Evaluation & Treatment of Neurological Disorders II (4 units)
PT 6045 Differential Diagnosis of Integumentary System/Wound Care (3 units)
PT 6050 Principles of Administration and Management (3 units)
PT 6070 Prevention & Management of Problems in the Aging Adult (3 units)
PT 6075 Prevention & Management of Problems in Pediatric Population (3 units)
PT 6220 Application of Research to Clinical Practice (0.5 unit)
PT 8400 Research Investigation (0-2 optional)	total 17.5-19.5 units

Year 3 - Trimester VIII (18 weeks)
PT 7030 Clinical Internship I (6 units)
PT 8500 Selected Topics (4-6 units)	total 10-12units

Year 3 - Trimester IX (12 weeks)
PT 7040 Clinical Internship II (6 units)	total 6 units

ws:

Vacation breaks of 1-4 weeks are scheduled at the end of each trimester.

The DPTE program affiliates with over 300 clinical facilities nationwide. Clinical education experiences may be selected from those facilities that are available at any given time and that meet the clinical settings required.

Western University DPT students receive the didactic portion of their education in modern laboratories and lecture halls, equipped with the most up-to-date scientific equipment and learning resources. In addition, Western University opened a new library and learning resource center that is hardwired with the latest in information technology.

Last Updated:06/26/2008

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