General Program Description

The physical therapy program is designed in either a 4+3 or a 3+3 (accelerated) model. During the pre-professional component the focus of coursework is liberal arts education and basic sciences. Utica College students who earn a baccalaureate degree and successfully complete prerequisite requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible for admission to the professional program. All students who complete prerequisite and major coursework in three years (accelerated) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to matriculate at the beginning of the fourth year to enter the professional program; there is no reapplication process. The three-year professional component is designed in a modified problem-based learning format. Throughout the curriculum, students participate in small groups and seminars with faculty facilitators. Additionally all students participate in group research projects and work under the direction of faculty mentors. Each research project culminates with a poster presentation and a paper in manuscript format. Students spend an average of 20 hours per week in class. Nine full-time faculty, two part-time faculty, and several adjunct faculty members work closely with students throughout the program.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical education is designed to prepare students to integrate academic course work into clinical practice. Four integrated clinical experiences occur during the academic semesters on campus. Courses provide experiential learning in community settings with emphasis on prevention and wellness. Theory and practice taught in the classroom can be applied almost immediately to the clients, while faculty members supervise students. The series of courses affords the PT program a way to extend clinical practice into the community, fostering collaboration with community agencies that offer services to populations who might otherwise have limited access. Full time clinical education experiences occur in the third semester (Fall of the second year) and sixth semester (Spring of the third year) of the graduate program. Students participate in 16 weeks full-time clinical education experiences in each of the two semesters, completing a total of 32 weeks of full-time clinical education experiences in a variety of settings, working with individuals across the lifespan. Placements are arranged as separate 8 week clinical experiences and/or combined 16 week experiences in order to optimize resources available for learning opportunities. Utica College has completed contracts with facilities throughout the United States that have agreed to provide appropriate learning experiences through competent teaching and supervision. In order to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that have been developed, each student should prepare to complete all full time experiences outside of their temporary/permanent residence. There is an inherent responsibility on the part of each student for transportation and living expenses. Some of our clinical facilities offer assistance in the form of housing lists and/or stipends for room and board, however it remains the student’s responsibility to research and finalize living arrangements and travel plans for each clinical experience.

Faculty
There are nine full-time and two part-time faculty members. All faculty members hold doctoral degrees and five members are engaged in clinical practice on a regular basis. The faculty to student ratio is 1:20 (pre-professional) and 1:7 (professional).

Enrollment
The college has a total enrollment of 3000 students (undergraduate and graduate). The physical therapy program graduates a class of 36 each May.

Admission
Admission to the program is a comprehensive process and is highly selective. Students are accepted as freshmen and transfer applicants. Students admitted directly to the program, will continue in the program if they maintain satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory progress requires a 3.0 (GPA) by the end of the junior year. All students must earn 3.0 (B) or better in all major and major-related courses. Applications for admission to the physical therapy program should be completed by January 15. Early admission is available. A visit to the campus and a personal interview is recommended. Knowledge of the profession through work or volunteer experience is important. A broad overview of the profession is preferable to experience in a limited area. More than one experience is required for a total of 40 hours with at least 10 hours in an acute care setting. Two recommendations are required (one from a practicing physical therapist and one from an academic professor). Freshman applicants rank in the top 20% of their class with a strong academic program, and demonstrate talent in the sciences with at least a B+ in biology, chemistry, and physics. Combined SAT scores of 1150 or better are suggested. The admission process emphasizes academic preparation, personal qualities, and commitment to the profession. Transfer applicants must present an outstanding academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.0, based on at least 60 credit hours, and a B or better in the following prerequisite courses: 8 credits in each: anatomy and physiology and physics: 4 credits in each: general and organic chemistry; and 3 hours in each: general psychology, upper level psychology, group dynamics, interviewing and counseling, and social science statistics. Sufficient credits in the liberal arts to satisfy the College’s general education and a cognate/concentration of study must also be completed prior to entering the professional phase. Applicants with an earned baccalaureate degree must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 500 in each of the verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions. International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Applicants must also complete the following prerequisites with a B or better: 2 courses in human anatomy and physiology; 2 semesters of college physics and college chemistry (organic chemistry and/or biochemistry are preferred); 1 course in each: college mathematics (calculus preferred), statistics, research methods and 2 courses in psychology. Kinesiology, exercise physiology, child development or growth and development, gerontology, and a cross-cultural course in sociology are highly recommended. All science courses must have laboratories. Candidates should be computer literate. Health insurance coverage is required during the academic and clinical portions of the curriculum (UC health insurance may be waived with proof of other current coverage).

Outcomes
The ultimate pass rate for the licensure examination for the most recent three cohorts is 93%.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the 2009-10 academic year for all students is $26,764. Room and board based on double occupancy is $10,600. Text books average $1,000 per year with the greatest cost in the first year as students build their resources to use throughout subsequent semesters in the program. Most entry-level DPT students receive some form of financial aid, usually loans.

Student life
The student body at Utica College is diverse, made up of men and women from many socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. A wide variety of ethnic groups are represented and a significant number of graduate students are non-traditional.