General Program Description
Students who are admitted to the Program already hold undergraduate degrees in various disciplines. Program requires particular prerequisite courses, but does not give preference to any particular undergraduate degree program. Must first gain admission to ASU Graduate School. Professional program is 3 years in length. Includes 31 weeks of full-time clinical education experiences. Each cohort begins the Program in the fall of each academic year. One class is accepted each year. Application deadline is February 1.
Clinical Experiences
The clinical experiences are comprised of six clinical experiences. Clinical Education I, III and IV are 5-week rotations and Clinical Education V-VI are 8-week rotations for a total of 31 weeks. Clinical Education II is a part time rotation on campus in the area of geriatrics. ASU has over 150 sites contracted for clinical education.
Faculty
There are eight full-time faculty members. Five of the full-time faculty members hold doctoral degrees and three are pursuing doctoral degrees. The faculty to student ratio is approximately 1:4.
Enrollment
Total enrollment for the 2013-2014 academic year at Arkansas State University (ASU) was just under 11,500 students. The Graduate Program in Physical Therapy enrolls up to 30 students, one time each year.
Admission
Students must complete an undergraduate bachelor’s degree, complete a block of 18 credits considered prerequisite to the program (may be part of the undergraduate degree), be accepted by the ASU Graduate School, and be selected by the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy Admissions Committee. Information about the prerequisite courses and the admissions process can be found at http://www.astate.edu/college/conhp/departments/physical-therapy/. The application process is competitive and requires the student to complete an online application through PTCAS. Applications must be completed by February 1 for any given year.
Outcomes
96% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average), 90% of the graduates passed the licensure exam (3-year average); and 100% of those program graduates passing the licensure exam are employed (3-year average).
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Full-time tuition for the 2013-2014 academic year is $238 per credit hour for Arkansas residents and $460 per credit hour for non-residents. Out of state students pay $238 per credit hour if undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or greater. Information regarding fees for room and board is dependent upon specific meal plans and may be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Ample private housing is available in the community at a modest cost. Other costs include lab fees, nametags, significant amounts for books, additional transportation, and room and board costs for clinical education at distant sites. Uniforms may be required at some clinical sites as well. Financial assistance is coordinated through the Financial Aid Office, PO Box 1620, State University, AR 72467. Information about available scholarships may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Student life
Graduate students in the Physical Therapy Program at ASU have many opportunities to become active citizens of the University and community. The Program is designed for student to be active adult learners who are engaged in their education with faculty leadership. The Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA) is involved in social, political, academic, and community service activities. Undergraduate (nonprofessional) students may also be members of the PTSA. There are also a number of other social and religious student organizations that provide extracurricular opportunities for a well-rounded college lifestyle. Students are admitted free to all home sports events and the University hosts a number of regional events, concerts, plays, and other cultural events. The Student Union includes a food court and all student services. The Red Wolf Center is a fully equipped exercise facility exclusively for students. Arkansas State University is located in the city of Jonesboro which is in Northeast Arkansas, close to the Ozark Mountains, 131 miles northeast of Little Rock, AR and 71 miles northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. The state has many lakes, parks and special attractions that contribute to an attractive lifestyle.