General Program Description
The program is a full-time, on-site, DPT curriculum (114 semester units) that begins in summer session (May) and ends 3 years later at the end of spring semester. 24-weeks full-time affiliations follow the final classwork (12 semester units). The curriculum is competency-based (performance-based) and emphasizes an integration of basic and clinical sciences to produce clinicians with skills in problem solving and clinical decision making for evidenced based practice. Typically, students will be in class for approximately 22 hours per week (for 15weeks) each semester. This may include weekly clinical laboratories at a near-by hospital. A student research project under the direction of a faculty sponsor is required for graduation.
Clinical Experiences
Students complete 2 semesters of on campus, faculty-supervised practice with persons having neurological disorders. 2 semesters of on campus, faculty-supervised practice with persons having musculoskeletal (ortho) disorders on campus at the out patient faculty practice. Two 6-week full-time internships are completed in summers between years of the DPT curriculum, and 24-weeks of full-time internship are completed after all coursework is finished. Clinical facilities are located throughout California. Some out of state facilities are available.
Faculty
The program employs eleven full-time and ten to twelve part time faculty. Six of the full-time faculty hold Ph.D. degrees, and five hold a post-professional DPT degree. Four are certified clinical specialists and 3 are licensed in clinical and/or kinesiologic electromyography. Part-time physical therapist faculty also are engaged in clinical practice.
Enrollment
approximately 35,000 students are enrolled at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Over 5000 are graduate students. Of these, approximately 95 are currently in the physical therapist education program. Up to forty students are admitted yearly (summer enrollment), drawn from a pool of 600-800 applicants.
Admission
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is open to all college graduates with a bachelor’s degree who have met prerequisite requirements and demonstrate academic promise to perform at a satisfactory level during their graduate studies. Lower division prerequisites are 10 units of general chemistry, 8 units of general physics, 12 units of specific biological sciences, 3 units each of general psychology and biostatistics, and 4 units of human morphology (or lower division anatomy). Visit our website at http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/physical-therapy/ or contact our Graduate Advisor, Jeffrey Rodrigues, at [email protected] or our Department Coordinator, Michelle Ramirez at [email protected] for information on prerequisite equivalences and other admission requirements. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), documented volunteer/work related clinical experience (not to exceed 200 hours), and letters of recommendation also are required.
Outcomes
Average pass rate on the licensure examination from 2007-2013 = 100%. All licensed graduates seeking employment have found employment.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
The DPT fee is $8074/semester, $24,222/year. Yearly registration fees for out of state students is $40,962/year. Annual institutional fees in the program are $1351 and program related expenses total about $5000 for new books and supplies. Full room and board averages $10,450 per year for new students. Institutional, federal, and state funding is available on an awards basis. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Financial Aid office at (562) 985-8403 or at www.csulb.edu/enrollment.
Student life
CSULB is a beautiful, multicultural, urban university on 322 acres located within 5 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Most students commute to the University although some housing is available on campus. Intercollegiate athletics for men include baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, track, volleyball, and water polo. For women, sporting activities include basketball, cross-country, field hockey, golf, swimming, tennis, track, soccer, and volleyball. The Long Beach airport is within 3 miles of campus and public transportation is available in the Long Beach area although most students prefer using an automobile.