General Program Description

The professional program is nine semesters in duration and includes 31 weeks of full-time clinical experience. Students matriculate in late May and graduate in early May 3 years later. The program has an innovative curricular design which integrates the basic and clinical sciences in a case-based, clinical problem-solving approach. The program also places evidence-based practice at the core of all professional learning experiences. The first three semesters emphasize basic examination, evaluation and intervention approaches in musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, integumentary and neuromuscular physical therapy. Interlaced with the clinical problem solving approach used in the classroom are various part-time clinical experiences. This is followed in the fourth semester by an 8-week full-time clinical experience. Semesters 5, 6 & 7 emphasize the development of advanced skills in a lifespan approach. The students then have 22 weeks of full-time clinical experiences, culminating in a return to campus for the capstone experience. This integrated clinical problem solving approach has been shown to provide an excellent preparation of the entry-level practitioner. This form of learning also encourages the development of self-directed learning and prepares students for the lifelong learning of clinical practice.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are integrated with the curriculum. The first three semesters of study includes both interdisciplinary and physical therapy clinical experiences. It also includes a mock clinic course where students evaluate and “treat” standardized patients played by second-year physical therapy students. This year of study is capped by an 8-week, full-time clinical experience during the fourth semester in the program. The eighth and ninth semesters have twenty-two weeks of full-time clinical experiences. Each of the full-time clinical experiences is followed by a clinical synthesis course where students have the opportunity to share their clinical experiences with other students. Although there are clinical sites throughout the country, most of the sites are in the southeastern states.

Faculty
There are nine full-time faculty, in addition to the Program Director. The Program Director is serving as Interim Dean for Academic Year 2014-15, but retains responsibilities as Program Director and some teaching duties. Five faculty hold Ed.D. or Ph. D. degrees, and five have completed a transitional DPT. One DPT faculty member also is enrolled in a Ph.D. program. Four faculty are ABPTS certified. Seven faculty are involved in clinical practice. All faculty are actively involved in clinical research.

Enrollment
As of Fall 2014, Armstrong State University had 6346 undergraduate and 748 graduate students enrolled. The physical therapy program admits 36 students into each class, as of spring 2014. The entering class for 2014 admitted 36 students, for a matriculation rate of 100% of the enrollment goal of 36. The attrition rate for the class of 2014, which admitted 20 students, was 20%.

Admission
The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for admission is 3.0 overall and 3.0 for the prerequisite sciences. A GRE score of 290 for combined verbal and quantitative sections and a minimum score of 146 verbal, 144 quantitative are required. Prerequisites include one year of physics (w/lab), one year of anatomy and physiology (w/lab), one year of chemistry (w/lab), one biology course w/lab and one statistics course. At least two courses in social sciences are also required; we strongly recommend abnormal psychology and human growth and development or developmental psychology. Students must earn a C or higher in all prerequisite courses. Also, students are asked to complete a minimum of 100 volunteer hours in a variety of clinical settings with at least 20 hours in an inpatient (preferably hospital) setting.

Outcomes
Of the 61 students admitted to the Classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014, 57 students (93.4%) graduated and 100% were employed within three (3) months of graduation. Over the same time period, 100% passed the licensure examination (NPTE), 96.7% on the first attempt.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for 2014 is $4,028 per semester for in-state students and $11,893 for out-of-state students. Fees are an additional $737 per semester. Students pay approximately $750 for books each of the first two semesters and approximately $400 for each term thereafter. For information on scholarships and loans, please contact the Financial Aid Office at [email protected].

Student life
The university is a small, friendly, safe and attractive suburban campus located on the south side of Savannah. Savannah is a beautiful, historic, seaport town. The downtown squares are graced with antebellum homes, towering oaks and Spanish moss. The campus is 15 minutes from downtown Savannah and 40 minutes from the beach at Tybee Island. Savannah’s temperate climate allows for year-round outdoor recreational activities. The numerous rivers and bays offer the perfect venue for water sports of all types. Students have access on campus to aerobic and weight training facilities, swimming pool, and an indoor running track. Physical therapy students participate in many of the intramural sports activities available on campus.