General Program Description

The mission of Georgia Regents University, formerly the Medical College of Georgia and Georgia Health Sciences University, is to lead Georgia and the world to better health by providing excellence in biomedical education, discovery, and service. As a public institution dedicated to the discovery, dissemination, and application of scientific knowledge, Georgia Regents University values leadership, social responsibility, compassion, diversity, professionalism, and excellence. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is designed to challenge talented and ambitious learners to grow into autonomous health professionals. Our primary goal is to prepare reflective individuals who possess the technical proficiency and problem solving capabilities sufficient to enable the safe, efficient and effective practice of physical therapy in a rapidly changing health care environment. The Department of Physical Therapy is housed in state of the art teaching and research facilities including a driving simulation laboratory, human movement science laboratory, and cardiovascular health and wellness laboratory. The program requires 36 months (9 consecutive semesters) of full-time study. A new class enters in May of each year. Classes are scheduled in a traditional weekday format at the main campus in Augusta. Graduation occurs in May.

Clinical Experiences
Three full-time clinical experiences are interspersed throughout the curriculum. The first is an 8-week experience, the second is a 16-week experience, and the third is a 12-week experience. There is also a 4 week specialty elective. The program maintains contracts with approximately 300 clinical education sites. Clinical facilities located on campus include the 540 bed Georgia Health Sciences Center, the Children’s Medical Center, and extensive outpatient specialty clinics and centers.

Faculty
There are 11 full-time and 1 part-time core faculty members. All have earned doctoral degrees. Georgia Regents University has a comprehensive biomedical sciences research agenda with signature programs in cancer, cardiometabolic disease, and neurological disease including stroke. We are also developing three emerging areas of research strength: regenerative & reparative medicine, personalized medicine & genomics, and public and preventive health. Physical therapy faculty are involved in research in balance, sports medicine, rehabilitation oncology, neurological rehabilitation, and educational delivery systems. In addition, faculty continue to practice in sports medicine, multiple sclerosis and amputee clinics, rehabilitation centers, acute care hospitals, and home health agencies.

Enrollment
Over 2400 students are enrolled in the Medical College of Georgia and the Colleges of Dental Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, and Graduate Studies. Students come from most of Georgia’s 159 counties. Students from other states and foreign countries comprise approximately10 percent of the student body. A maximum of 40 students are admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program each May.

Admission
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program admissions process begins August 1 and ends December 15. We conduct 5 interview sessions (1 in September; 2 in October, 1 in November; and 1 in January). It is in a candidate’s interest to apply early in the admission cycle and we strongly encourage doing so. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in a field other than physical therapy. Prerequisites include 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) of general physics w/lab; 1 academic year of general chemistry w/lab; 1 academic year anatomy and physiology w/lab; one course in general biology , and one course in statistics. Knowledge of human behavior from an individual and societal perspective is also required, as evidenced by completing at least two courses in psychology (general psychology and either developmental or abnormal psychology). In addition, applicants are expected to complete a minimum of 100 volunteer hours in a variety of physical therapy settings. We recommend spending at least 20 of those hours in an acute care/general hospital in-patient setting. Selection is based on undergraduate GPA, GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing), and overall GPA, with pre-requisite math and sciences GPA considered. Satisfactory performance during a personal interview is also required for admission.

Outcomes
The ultimate pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination for our DPT program graduates is 100% with a first time pass rate of 99% (3 year average). Of the 110 students admitted to the DPT Classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013, 101 (92%) completed the program. 100% of program graduates in these classes were employed as physical therapists within 6 months of graduation.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition is $5,248 per semester for in-state students and $12,994 for out-of-state students (2013-2014 figures). In addition, mandatory fees of approximately $900 (less for summer semesters) are charged to all students. Total estimated cost for books is $3000. Costs for clinical education, including room and board and travel, are estimated at $5000 for the 36 weeks of clinical education included in the program.

Student life
Located in Augusta, Georgia’s second largest city, Georgia Regents University has a strong commitment to providing an environment to foster research growth in the health sciences. GRU offers modern classrooms and laboratories, residence halls, a student center, a wellness center and an outstanding medical education library. Recognized internationally as the home of the Masters golf tournament, Augusta provides equal access to cultural Atlanta, historic Charleston, scenic mountains, and the Atlantic coastline. Many cultural and recreational activities are available locally making Augusta a most enjoyable place to live.