General Program Description

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) was one of the first public institutions to offer the entry-level DPT degree, accepting its first doctoral class in 2001. Accredited since 1972, the UNMC physical therapy program is designed to provide a broad scope education for entry-level practitioners. We pride ourselves on excellence in teaching, and benefit from being part of a world-class medical center with top-notch facilities. In 2006, the UNMC Division of Physical Therapy Education was recognized for excellence in teaching when it received the University-Wide Departmental Teaching Award, which is awarded to only one unit in the entire, four-campus University of Nebraska system each year. Our PT program is housed on an academic health science center campus, enabling interaction with over a dozen other health professions education programs. We enjoy a strong relationship with our affiliated teaching hospital system, Nebraska Medicine. In the fall of 2008, the new state-of-the-art, $53 million Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, a renovated gross anatomy laboratory, and two renovated classroom laboratories (in Bennett Hall and the Center for Healthy Living) were all open for student use. Applicants must complete at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework prior to admission into the DPT program. A Bachelor’s degree is not required currently, but prerequisites will change for the application cycle of 2015-16. During the 3-year professional program, students complete 123 credit hours of didactic and clinical coursework. DPT students are not required to complete a formal thesis, but have opportunities to participate in clinical and basic science research. Students can also take advantage of international service opportunities. Students enter the program in mid-August and graduate in May of their third professional year.

Clinical Experiences
The clinical education component of the curriculum comprises 34 weeks of clinical experience spread over the course of the 3-year professional program. The program offers clinical experiences in a variety of practice settings in more than 175 facilities throughout the United States.

Faculty
There are currently 11.8 FTE faculty positions, with 5 faculty holding PhD degrees and 6 certified as clinical specialists in different practice areas. Over the past 3 years the faculty has averaged ten publications per year in peer-reviewed journals.

Enrollment
Student enrollment at UNMC includes more than 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The entering DPT class size is 50, with a total DPT student enrollment of approximately 150.

Admission
Complete information regarding admissions requirements and procedures may be found at http://www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/education/pt/admission/index.html. Our program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS (web site at www.ptcas.org). The deadline for application is October 1. In addition to completing the centralized application, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental UNMC application. Based on the application materials, a limited number of applicants are offered personal interviews, which are held mid-December to early January. A personal interview is required for program admission. Applicants are required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and to submit GRE scores. Applicants must have a minimum of 90 semester hours of prerequisite course work including 1 course in anatomy, 1 course in physiology, and 1 year each of chemistry and physics (all with labs). Applicants are strongly encouraged to take a balance of electives consistent with a liberal arts education, while pursuing depth of study as typically demonstrated by a discipline major. The preferred applicant will have an academic record that reflects a balance of course work in the humanities and the social and natural sciences. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of residency, although preference is given to applicants who are current residents of Nebraska. Typical characteristics of the entering classes include a mean GPA of 3.7, a male: female ratio of 1:2.3, and an average student age of 23 years.

Outcomes
Ninety-eight (98) percent of admitted students graduate from the program, 100% ultimately pass the exam the licensure examination, and 99% are employed as PTs within six months of passing the exam (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
For the most recent academic year, tuition for Nebraska residents averages $15,756 per year; nonresident tuition averages $29,630 per year. Course fees, health care fees, general fees, malpractice insurance and books average approximately $4,000/year. Costs associated with travel and room and board during clinical experiences are additional. Nearly all students receive some financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, or scholarships. Information about financial assistance may be obtained at www.unmc.edu/student/studentservices/.

Student life
The Omaha area has a population of over 750,000. It is a highly accessible and affordable city, with a relatively low crime rate and cost of living. Omaha is home to many Fortune 500 companies, and UNMC is renowned for leadership in healthcare. The city’s 18,000-seat CenturyLink Center draws top concerts and events, such as the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. Omaha hosts the annual College World Series, and Husker football games are only a short drive away in Lincoln. Intramural sports are popular on campus, as are annual UNMC student social events) including the annual October costume party and April Luau. UNMC students can choose from newly-constructed campus apartments or plentiful housing options off-campus. Omaha’s historic Old Market district, just 2 miles from UNMC, offers numerous loft apartments, restaurants, art galleries, street musicians, a summer Farmers’ Market, and abundant nightlife.