General Program Description
Our program is located in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian mountains and offers many opportunities for outdoor pursuits. The program is a 4+3 doctor of physical therapy program. It was the first program in the state of Ohio to transition to a doctoral degree. The first graduating class that received the DPT degree was in 2005. The baccalaureate degree is required for entry into the program. The degree can be in any field, but students must have all of the prerequisites completed prior to the beginning of classes in the summer. The program begins in the summer and extends three years. Students graduate in May. The degree programs at Ohio University that have consistently assisted students in achieving the prerequisites for the PT program are psychology, biology, and exercise physiology. Ranking for admission is based on the following: overall GPA (3.0 or higher) ; GPA on prerequisite courses; references from two physical therapists and one educator; GRE scores; and life experiences. At this time, we do not have a cut-off for GRE scores; however, they are used in the rankings. Prospective students are invited to campus for a day to meet with faculty and students, learn about financial opportunities, have any questions answered, and participate in interviews. We do have several graduate assistantships available each year for incoming students. Graduate assistants either work in a faculty member’s laboratory or teach an undergraduate course to students interested in becoming a physical therapist. The Division of Physical Therapy has a clinical practice, Ohio University Therapy Associates (OUTA). Within the OUTA clinicians, some hold clinical specialty certifications within their areas, some teach within the didactic portion of the program, and some participate in the integrated clinical experiences of the students. Students are in class an average of 18-20 hours per week (which does not include the integrated clinical experiences). The first year of the program is a fairly traditional lecture/lab format with concepts progressing from simpler to more complex. Beginning with the second year of the program, professional classes are taught more in a problem-solving format, which prepares the student for practice in today’s healthcare environment. By the third year of the program, many courses are taught in a seminar format. Students are expected to complete a professional project during the program that may include research with a faculty member, community projects, or case studies. Students may work in groups or individually with faculty in their labs on the faculty member’s research agenda. Typically, students have presented their work at state or national conferences or had their work published with their faculty mentor. The emphasis of the program is to produce an excellent physical therapist ready for clinical practice in today’s healthcare environment.
Clinical Experiences
The clinical component of the curriculum is integrated with the didactic and laboratory components throughout the program of study. Students participate in integrated clinical experiences during the first year in local facilities. The three full-time clinical experiences are offered in a variety of locations across the country. Students are responsible for their housing while at practicum sites. Although some clinics may offer housing for students, this is not typical; therefore, students usually stay with relatives or friends or find other economical housing. Students are required to complete an inpatient and out-patient experience and have the opportunity for an elective rotation. The first full-time rotation of 8 weeks occurs in the middle of the second year, so that students can practice what they have been learning in the classroom. This is generally an acute care rotation or an outpatient orthopedic experience. The second rotation, 14 weeks in length, occurs in the third year. The last clinical experience, 14 weeks in length, is designed to give the student an opportunity to specialize in a particular area or to work in an environment in which they intend to practice.
Faculty
The core faculty consists of eight full-time faculty members and three part-time faculty members. 54% hold post-professional doctoral degrees. Many faculty members are engaged in clinical practice and some hold a clinical specialty certification. The faculty are recognized experts in their areas. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12.
Enrollment
Established in 1804, Ohio University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state. Ohio University has a total enrollment of approximately 22,000 students on the Athens campus including 1,200 international students from more than 100 countries. An additional 10,000 students are located on five regional campuses throughout the state. The university has a rich educational tradition and outstanding academic programs. The Division of Physical Therapy is within the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences within the College of Health Sciences and Professions. It is located in Grover Center. Currently, the Division of Physical Therapy has a total enrollment of 125 students with 40-44 students accepted annually.
Admission
Applicants to the physical therapy program must apply to PTCAS. Students must also fill out the application for Graduate Studies online (www.ohio.edu/graduate). Transfer students are accepted. Students must submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions, including course descriptions whenever possible, unless the student has graduated from Ohio University. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required. The average GPA of the last three admitted classes is 3.6. Prerequisites include: one course in statistics (descriptive and inferential statistics); one course in the basic principles of human development from prenatal through adolescence with emphasis on physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development; an additional course in psychology; one year of physics; one year of chemistry; two courses in biology that include cellular and molecular as well as animal organ systems; one course in human anatomy and one course in human or animal physiology; and one course in exercise physiology. No lab component is required for exercise physiology; however, all biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology courses require a laboratory component as part of a course or as a separate course. The GRE is required. Although we do not request a specific number of volunteer hours, we do require references from two physical therapists with whom you have worked. For the latest information, please visit our web site at http://www.ohio.edu/chsp/rcs/pt/students/prospective-students.cfm
Outcomes
Approximately 85-95% of admitted students graduate from the program. We have a 100% pass rate on the NPTE for 7 of the last 9 years of the doctoral program and a 100% ultimate pass-rate for all 9 years after 2 attempts.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for one academic semester is $4,722 for in-state students and $8,718 for out-of-state students. Students who are enrolled in the program live off campus, thus room and board fees vary. Course fees are about $500 total for the 3 years of the program. Additional costs such as books, requirements for clinical experiences, and APTA membership total about $2,800. Students are responsible for expenses during the four clinical experiences. The Ohio University Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships assists students who require help financing their education. Graduate scholarships and assistantships are available from the division as well as other departments within the university. The Division of Physical Therapy offers eight endowed scholarships to students in the PT program.
Student life
The Division of Recreational Sports offers 33 intramural sports, 16 club sports, informal sports, and intramural aerobics. An Olympic-size swimming pool, a skating arena, a bike path, and a golf course are located on the campus. Lakes and camping are available within ten miles of the campus.