General Program Description

The mission of the program is to prepare physical therapists for clinical practice. The program offers students research electives in several areas, with an emphasis on biomechanics and motor control. The didactic portion of the program is a combination of lecture/discussion and laboratories with some problem-based learning. The Department of Physical Therapy has 10 full-time and 5 part-time faculty members. Students begin the program in August and can expect to spend approximately 30 hours per week in lecture and laboratory sessions and 37 weeks in clinical experiences throughout the course of the program. Students have two semesters of didactic work, followed by an 8-week summer session between the first and second professional years. During the fall semester of the second year, students take part in full-time clinical experiences. The student is then back on campus for didactic work during the second semester. The summer session between the second and third year is spent doing didactic work. The first semester of the third year is spent doing didactic course work. The student then spends the second semester of the third year in full-time clinical experiences. Each student must complete a collaborative, scholarly project during his/her third year based on a research project. The degree is awarded in May at the completion of the third year.

Clinical Experiences
During the second semester of the first year students have a one week clinical experience. During the first semester of the second year, the student is in a full-time clinical experience (two 9-week clinical experiences) at one of the 300+ clinical experience sites located throughout the country that are currently under contract with UND-PT. During the second semester of the third year, the student has two full-time, 9-week clinical experiences. Clinical experience during the third year is directed toward the student’s area of interest in physical therapy. Total clinical time for the student consists of 37 weeks (1480 hours). Students are required to complete one experience in an acute/general hospital setting, one experience in a rehabilitation/extended care facility, and one specialization experience ranging from sports medicine to pediatrics.

Faculty
There are 10 full-time and 5 part-time faculty members. Of the 10 full-time faculty, 10 hold post professional doctoral degrees, 4 are certified as clinical specialists, and 5 are engaged in clinical practice. The faculty to student ratio is 1:15.

Enrollment
The University of North Dakota has a total enrollment of about 15,000 (52% male, 48% female). There are normally 52 students in each physical therapy class. In 2013, there were 364 screened applicants; and interviews were granted to 76 candidates. Transfer students and non-resident students are accepted.

Admission
Acceptance to the University of North Dakota does not constitute acceptance into the physical therapy program. The physical therapy application and selection process is embedded in the Graduate School application process. Applications are completed online through the PTCAS website and the UND Graduate School website. Applications are available online through PTCAS until December 15th, and selections are conducted after January 15th. Students may be admitted to the professional after completion of at least 90 credits or after completion of a bachelor’s degree. Students without a degree upon application should visit the UND website and review the requirements for Essential Studies course at the University.

Outcomes
99% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); the weighted ultimate 3 year pass rate is 98%; and 100% of the program’s graduates responding to outcome surveys are employed (3-year average). The first time pass rate for the 2013 graduating class was 94%.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Resident tuition and fees are $17,096 per year (fall, spring and summer). Non-resident tuition and fees are $22,920 per year. Yearly room and board is approximately $6,500 for a double room with meals. The median off-campus apartment rents for approximately $600 per month. Financial aid is available to students who, without such help, would be unable to attend the University of North Dakota. To offer maximum assistance, awards often are made in the form of a financial aid “package” combining two or more different types of aid (loans, scholarships, grants or employment). Four different types of financial aid are available: employment; loans; scholarships; and grants. Most financial aid recipients may expect to receive more than one of these types of aid. All professional students enter as graduate students and are eligible for graduate student financial aid amounts.

Student life
Dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and off-campus rentals are available to students. Intercollegiate athletic programs include Division I hockey, Division I football, men’s and women’s basketball, track and/or cross-country, women’s hockey, men’s baseball, women’s softball, swimming, diving, tennis, and golf. The city of Grand Forks, located in the heart of the Red River Valley of the North, has a population of approximately 50,000 people. The city of Grand Forks has one hospital and four medical clinics; and churches representing all major faiths and most denominations. The city, served by a major airline operating out of the International Airport, offers a variety of cultural opportunities. Grand Forks has 35 parks, five golf courses, five ice arenas, public swimming pools and tennis courts, and offers numerous outdoor opportunities.