General Program Description

The professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is designed to prepare outstanding clinicians to enter practice across the full spectrum of physical therapy settings. Our program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to function as physical therapists in increasingly complex and independent roles. The three-year, 115-credit-hour curriculum begins with a strong foundation in basic and applied sciences and introductory clinical skills. Students then progress to course sequences in musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, medical, and integumentary aspects of physical therapy practice. A life span perspective, encompassing pediatrics to geriatrics, and an emphasis on physical therapy intervention across the continuum of care are integrated throughout the curriculum. Curricular threads include reflective practice, biopsychosocial concerns, healthcare roles, the healthcare team, and professional behaviors. Students are provided with an option of participating in a group research project or taking professional development electives, which may include interdisciplinary courses. Students enroll in the program on a full-time basis. During the traditional academic semesters, students spend up to 28 hours per week in class. The first year of the program runs from late August to June; the second year of the program runs from August through August; and the third year runs from August to May. Entry-level DPT degrees are conferred in May.

Clinical Experiences
The entry-level DPT curriculum includes an extensive clinical education component, including integrated part-time clinical experiences in the first year of the program and 39 weeks of full-time clinical education in the second and third years. Full-time experiences include three 8-week rotations and a culminating 15-week clinical internship. The university maintains clinical affiliation agreements with more than 220 facilities in 35 states.

Faculty
Twelve core faculty members serve the entry-level program. Nine faculty members hold earned post-professional doctoral degrees and 5 hold clinical specialist credentials. All core faculty members are engaged or have been in clinical practice to some extent within the past 2 years. The faculty has published 7 to 10 articles in peer reviewed journals each year and multiple faculty are annually invited to present in their area of expertise at national conferences.The student to core faculty ratio is 11 to 1. In addition to the core faculty, faculty in the post-professional program assist with the DPT program in their respective areas of expertise.

Enrollment
Approximately 5000 undergraduate and graduate students attend the University of Indianapolis. The university is affiliated with the Methodist church and has a motto of “Education for Service.” The professional physical therapy program accepts approximately 45 students per class.

Admission
Approximately 10 applications were received for each available position in the class entering in Fall 2012. Over the past three years, approximately 32% of eligible applicants have been offered a position in the class. The mean undergraduate grade point average (GPA) for the class entering in Fall 2012 was 3.69. Mean GRE scores were 476 verbal, 639 quantitative and 4.11 analytical. A baccalaureate degree is ordinarily required for admission. Prerequisites include 3-4 semester hours of statistics; 6-8 semester hours in each: chemistry, physics, and behavioral sciences; and 9-12 semester hours of biological sciences, including human anatomy and physiology. Applications completed by October 1 are given consideration in our admissions process. A personal interview is required.

Outcomes
92.9% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average, 2010-2012); 99.13% of the graduates passed the licensure exam on the first try (3-year average, 2010-2012) and 100% of DPT graduates ultimately pass the license exam. All (100%) of those program graduates responding to surveys were employed (3-year average) within 6 months of graduation.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for 2013-2014 is $32,530 (total for semester I, semester II, and summer). Financial aid is available through the University of Indianapolis Financial Aid offic, and several scholarships are available from the Krannert School of Physical Therapy. Application for these scholarships can be made while on campus for the personal interview.

Student life
The Krannert School of Physical Therapy also offers post-professional masters and doctoral degrees for practicing physical therapists and a physical therapist assistant program. The majority of graduate students live off campus in one of several nearby apartment complexes. Married student housing on campus is available on a limited basis. Indianapolis International Airport is a 20-minute drive from campus. The campus is located on the south side of the city, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, which offers dining, shopping, sporting events, theaters, and museums. Indianapolis is home to teams from the NFL, NBA, and WNBA as well as minor league hockey and baseball teams. Indianapolis is also home to a full-time symphony orchestra and has several museums, including one for art and one for Native American culture.