General Program Description
The DPT program is a consecutive 9-semester program beginning in the summer semester. Students average 30-40 hours per week in class and clinics. No thesis is required, but a thesis option does exist. Students take research courses and conduct an independent research study. Graduation occurs in May of each year.
Clinical Experiences
Students begin clinical exposure in the second semester of enrollment. Beginning in the fall semester, students receive the equivalent of one full day of clinical experience per week. This exposure continues until the end of the summer semester of the third year. Following all of the didactic coursework, students experience 30 weeks of full-time clinical externships.
Faculty
The program has nine full-time and 12 adjunct faculty members. There are five ABPTS Certified Specialists (Orthopaedics, Geriatrics, Neurologic, Women’s Health and Pediatrics), a Certified Hand Therapist, three Certified Wound Specialist, and a Certified Manual Therapist on faculty. All full-time faculty members have post-professional doctoral degrees and maintain active clinical practices. The faculty is involved in presenting and publishing scholarly work, with 15 publications and approximately 70 platform and poster presentations on local, state, and national levels annually.
Enrollment
There are approximately 750 students enrolled at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Each year, 30 students are admitted to the physical therapy program, allowing an over-all, full-time faculty/student ratio of 1:8 within the program.
Admission
To be considered for admission, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.2 in all undergraduate math/science courses, a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, and at least a score of 800 from the combined score of the quantitative and verbal portions of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis after obtaining a baccalaureate degree at any accredited college or university. Prerequisites include 3 semester hours in each: statistics, anatomy, physiology, advanced biology, public speaking, computer science, and advanced English composition; 6 semester hours in each: English composition, mathematics (algebra level or above), and psychology; and 8 semester hours in each: chemistry, biology/zoology, and physics (all laboratory-based for science majors). A minimum of 60 clock-hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and test scores for the GRE are required. Applications are available for download from the website on or after September 1, and should be returned no later than November 15. First priority is given to Louisiana residents, though out-of-state applications are accepted.
Outcomes
98% of admitted students graduate from the program. Of those graduates, 100% are licensed and employed in physical therapy. (3-year average)
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year is estimated to be $12,000 for Louisiana residents. Grants, loans, and scholarships are handled through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Insurance. Students interested in receiving financial aid should contact this office well in advance of their expected enrollment.
Student life
Louisiana has a rich and diverse cultural history still reflected today in the state’s traditions of Creole cooking, jazz music and visual arts. The state hosts over 50 festivals each year, many of which are free and offer students the opportunity to relax and enjoy Louisiana’s unique style of leisure. Ample housing is available within a reasonable cost-of-living in the Shreveport area. Parking is also available for students.