General Program Description

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is designed to prepare competent, ethical, compassionate, and caring physical therapists who serve the diverse healthcare needs of society in accordance with the Benedictine values. All students are required to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to admission into the 32-month professional phase of the program. The professional curriculum consists of unique experiences provided within a supportive health care community including an optional service-learning experience in Guatemala. An individual or group research project, culminating with a presentation and paper in manuscript form, is required to complete the clinical inquiry portion of the curriculum. Full-time clinical education experiences are completed at a large variety of diverse settings throughout the US and are spaced throughout the educational program. Students also manage a pro bono clinic on campus and provide physical therapy services under faculty guidance in order to practice their skills and serve the needs of the people in the region. The experienced faculty, representing several specialty areas of practice, are assisted by adjunct faculty, including physical therapists, physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Clinical Experiences
Students participate in 8-week clinical experiences during late summer of the first year and early summer of the second. Terminal clinical education consists of 2 8-week experiences. Sites for clinical experiences are primarily in the Midwest; however, we have many sites throughout the country. Students are also required to practice in the student clinic during 4 of the 8 semesters.

Faculty
There are seven core faculty, one part time, and several associated faculty. The core faculty hold doctoral degrees and are licensed physical therapists. Three are certified clinical specialists. The faculty have published in a wide array of scholarly journals, have held national offices within the APTA sections, and have presented platform and poster presentations nationally. The faculty to student ratio is 1:14.

Enrollment
The University has a total enrollment of 3500 students. The physical therapy program allows for enrollment of up to 48 students each year.

Admission
Entry into the 3-year (eight-trimester) doctorate program requires a special application and selection process administrated through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. All candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must have completed all core requirements for the program. Only 64 credits are allowed from 2-year accredited institutions. Prerequisite classes for the graduate program include 2 courses in each of the following subject areas: Biology, Physics, Anatomy/Physiology, Chemistry, and Psychology (one developmental and the other abnormal). Medical terminology and statistics are also prerequisites but not core courses. The criteria for admission include a minimum GPA of 3.0 on all core courses and 40 hours of observation or paid clinical experiences. Graduate students who are admitted have an average pre-requisite GPA of 3.5. The deadline for applications to be submitted to PTCAS is January 15. Interviews are scheduled for mid-March. Sixty percent of qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).

Outcomes
Students in the University of Mary Program in Physical Therapy benefit from small class sizes and personal interaction with faculty. The average graduation rate over the past 3 years (2011-2013) was 99%. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). The overall 3 year pass rate (2010-2012) was 100% and the average first time pass rate over the past 3 years (2010-2012) was 92.3% which was above the national average. One hundred percent of graduates are employed as physical therapists in a variety of settings across the nation.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees are approximately $68,500 for all 8 semesters. Most of our graduate students live in the city of Bismarck so board and room costs vary. Average book costs are $350 per semester. No special funds are available to physical therapy students. Approximately 85% of the students receive some financial aid.

Student life
The University of Mary is located 6 miles from downtown Bismarck, the capital city of North Dakota with a population of 60,000. Bismarck normally has relatively mild winters and beautiful spring, fall, and summers. It is a hunter and hiker paradise with several close lakes and scenic spots and a plethora of wide-open spaces. The campus is built on a bluff overlooking the scenic Missouri River. Campus life is immersed in the Benedictine tradition with the values of respect, hospitality, community, service, moderation, and prayer. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the University of Mary campus for an interview with an admissions officer, a tour of the campus and facilities, and contact with students and faculty.