General Program Description

The goal of the Program is to prepare graduates who are self-directed generalists with clinical problem solving skills. Students graduate with a comprehensive foundation of basic principles in the art and science of physical therapy. With 13 full-time faculty and a roster of distinguished adjunct instructors and laboratory assistants from Columbia Medical Center, the New York City area and nation-wide, students are ensured a comprehensive and cutting-edge curriculum. In recognition of the varied abilities and interests of graduate students, the professional curriculum is designed to be flexible and innovative, using a wide variety of learning styles. Emphasis is on an adult methodology that incorporates clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice and self-directed learning activities. Students design and complete an evidence based review paper, which is a summary of the best available evidence for a specific clinical question to show research acumen and have the option of a research elective with a faculty member in collaboration with scientists and clinicians from many parts of the University. Individual needs of the students for their careers in physical therapy are taken into consideration through the program’s unique 3rd year specialization tracks, sub-specialization and elective courses and attendance at continuing education endeavors sponsored by the program. Students are encouraged to participate in state and national meetings and are financially supported in these endeavors. The concept that learning is a lifelong process pervades the educational program. Physical therapists with generalist capabilities are prepared to develop specialty skills, contribute to the leadership and growth of physical therapy, and advance the quality of health care through clinical research. All students participate in a White Coat Ceremony to welcome the beginning of their transition in becoming empathetic practitioners, which occurs prior to the start of Clinical Education I.

Clinical Experiences
Students participate in 2 full time clinical experiences that are integrated during the first 2 years of study. Clinical Education I is 8 weeks in length and occurs in the latter part of Fall IIB. Clinical Education II runs 10 weeks and is sequenced during Summer II. An 18 week clinical internship is the culminating experience of the curriculum, occuring during Summer III. Clinical education sites are located throughout the United States and Australia and mirror today’s practice environments. Some clinical fellowships are available for Clinical Education II and the Internship to support students at some of the program’s most challenging affiliations, nation-wide.

Faculty
There are 13 full-time faculty who are assisted by numerous clinicians from Columbia Medical Center, clinical specialists from the New York City area and nation-wide. The adjunct faculty serve as laboratory instructors, guest lectures and teach elective courses. This mix of full-time and adjunct faculty sustain a small student-to-faculty ratio necessary to ensure students’ mastery of the clinical skills component of the curriculum. The full-time faculty is comprised of highly experienced individuals whose primary professional commitment is to the program and whose collective expertise is wide-ranging and impressive in its scope. The full-time faculty hold doctorates. Four have received research awards. One faculty member was awarded the Lindback Award for Teaching Excellence as well as APTA recognition with the Leadership in Education Award. Eighteen adjunct faculty hold doctorates; 11 post-professional DPT degrees, 5 PhDs, 1 an DSc and 1 a DHSc. Thirteen are recognized APTA clinical specialists; 7 in orthopedics, 3 in cardiopulmonary, 1 each in pediatrics and geriatrics. Three are certified in manual therapy; 1 is a recognized specialist in pain and craniofacial/cervical therapeutics, 2 in spinal cord injures; 1 is an advanced clinician in integrative therapies; 2 are certified hand therapists; 1 in both women’s health and orthopedics; and 1 holds dual degrees in podiatric medicine and physical therapy.

Enrollment
The Medical Center campus of Columbia University has a total enrollment of approximately 3,300 students. DPT class size ranges between 50-60 students. The faculty/student ratio is 1:50-60 in lecture, 1:7-8 in laboratory, 1:25-30 in seminar. Class size varies in the advanced seminar, sub-specialization and elective courses based on students’ interests.

Admission
A baccalaureate degree is required at the time of admission. Prerequisites include a minimum of 5 courses in biology consisting of general biology, anatomy and physiology and at least 1 advanced level course (300-400 level for college juniors and seniors), 2 courses in general chemistry, 2 courses in physics, 2 psychology courses, a course in statistics and 5 courses in the humanities and social sciences. Applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude scores. The TOEFL Examination is required for international students who have been graduated from a college in which English was not the language of instruction. Evidence of work or volunteer experience in the profession is required. The Program participates in the Physical Therapy Common Application Service (PTCAS), sponsored by the APTA and prospective students can apply either under the early acceptance or regualr admissions process. Detailed information on the application process and facts and figures about the program and our students can be found on the Program’s website at www.columbiaphysicaltherapy.org. The yearly application deadline is December 1. Interviews begin in January and are compulsory for acceptance. The program uses a rolling admissions format and applicants are notified of acceptance within one week post-interview.

Outcomes
On a yearly basis approximately 94% of admitted students graduate from the program. DPT classes of 20010 – 2012 had 100% pass rates on the National Licensing Examination with average scores above the NY State and national means. The Columbia graduates are highly sought after in the clinic and take positions in both traditional and non-traditional clinical settings. The graduating classes, to date, have a 100% employment rate within 1-3 months post-graduation. Approximately 40% of the graduates take positions at one of their affiliation sites. Graduates are working in positions in both desired geographical areas and interests of practice. Approximately 10% of each graduating class (2010 – 2013) are being accepted into orthopedic, pediatric, neurological and women’s health residency programs immediately post-graduation. Based on outcome assessment, with a few years of clinical experience, many graduates move into positions of program coordinators, unit supervisors, directors of in-patient and out-patient services and serve as clinical instructors to entry-level students from Columbia and other DPT programs. Some alumni return to teach at Columbia as full-time or part-time faculty or serve as laboratory instructors. Many have earned specialized certification, advanced master degrees in administration and public health, and doctorates in kinesiology, motor learning, and education.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition is set annually by the Board of Trustees and has been averaging a 2-3% increase for each incoming class. For the Class of 2016, tuition is broken down as follows: $32,900 per year for the first and second years of study (fall, spring, summer for both years) and $26,000 for the third year (fall, spring). University fees average $5,684 per year which includes student health service and medical insurance premiums, program fees average $4,000 per year and living expenses, which include housing, food, personal and misceullaneous expenses are estimated at $23,256. Approximately 90% of the physical therapy students receive financial aid. Program scholarships are available and are merit-based for high undergraduate academic achievement; 56% and 52% and 56% of the Classes of 2014, 15 and 16 respectively are receiving these merit scholarships, Clinical fellowships, on a competitive basis, help defray costs of Clinical Education II and the Internship experience for students seeking challenging experiences nation-wide. Entering students have been successful in receiving full-tuition (2nd and 3rd year) NY City Board of Education scholarships. From time to time, individuals and foundations endow scholarship money to the program. When such funding becomes available, students depending on the stipulations of the donor (1st, 2nd or 3rd year student) are invited to apply. These awards are competitive and selection is determined by the program’s Scholarship Committee. The program hires work-study students and offers some teaching assistant stipends (averaging $500 per course) to 2nd and 3rd year students to assist in Year I courses.

Student life
The physical therapy educational experience goes well beyond classroom learning and clinical training. Part of the transformation from physical therapy student to a well-rounded entry-level clinician involves pursuing interests outside of the profession. As a student you are a member of the extensive and dynamic Columbia University community in a city that offers a multitude of cultural and recreational activities. Campus housing is available to students, but is limited, in university-owned apartments. The program is housed on the Medical Center campus in the nation’s first medical school (College of Physicians and Surgeons), founded in 1767. The Health Sciences Division includes the following: the Program in Physical Therapy; the Programs in Occupational Therapy; the Schools of Medicine, Dental and Oral Surgery, Nursing and Public Health; the Centers for Arteriosclerosis Research, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Medical Informatics, Neurobiology and Behavior, Psychoanalytic Training and Research; and the Center for the Study of Society and Medicine. In addition, the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is housed within the Health Science campus environs. Students have full access to the academic, athletic, and social resources of both the Medical Center and main (Morningside) campus of Columbia University. The student body is multicultural with a wide age span and varied undergraduate preparation.