General Program Description

The Physical Therapy Program is part of Thomas Jefferson University which enjoys a long and rich history of medical education in the Philadelphia area. Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) was incorporated April 11, 1838 and currently consists of the Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health Professions (JSHP), Jefferson School of Nursing, Jefferson School of Pharmacy, and Jefferson School of Population Health. Originally founded as Jefferson Medical College, the mission of Thomas Jefferson University has undergone continuous evolution and now embraces education for a full complement of health care professions. The School of Health Proessions houses the physical therapy program along with degree programs in bioscience technologies, couple and family therapy, continuing and professional education, occupational therapy, and radiologic science. The Department of Physical Therapy was established in 1983, received initial accreditation from CAPTE in 1985, and awarded the baccalaureate degree to its first graduates in June of 1985. The program then converted to a master’s level and the first master’s degrees in physical therapy were awarded in 1992. The first DPT class was admitted to Thomas Jefferson University in 2004. 30 students were awarded DPT degrees in May of 2007. Current overall enrollment at TJU is approximately 3,300 students. The urban location of the campus provides a plethora of educational, historical, clinical, service, and cultural opportunities. The shared medical and health care missions of the six divisions within the University afford unique access to interprofessional educational experiences. Interprofessional education is central to the mission of the University, the School of Health Professions, and the Department of Physical Therapy. The University is well-known for interprofessional educational accomplishments. The curriculum is a hybrid model, with evidence-based practice and professional behavior threads. Completion of the 111 credit hours in the curriculum requires 11 semesters over three years and results in awarding of the DPT degree.

Clinical Experiences
The DPT program includes 36 weeks of fulltime clinical experiences with one 8-week internship occurring in the fall semester of the 2nd year and another 8-week internship occurring in the spring of the second year. In the third year students complete a 10-week internship in the fall, followed by a 10-week internship in the summer prior to graduation in August. Experiential learning activities inclusive of clinical simulations, use of standardized patients, patient interactions on campus and at varied clinical and community sites are integrated throughout the curriculum. Prior to graduation, the students will be able to participate in clinical experiences with sites that are national, and in a few cases international, in scope. Student placement is individualized to each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and needs. The final clinical experience may be incorporated as a specialty clinical experience, exposing the student to less traditional practice and professional arenas, such as; government, research laboratories, ergonomics, education, and administration.

Faculty
The Department of Physical Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University has 12 core full-time faculty positions (inclusive of one vacancy). The department also has 7 associated faculty who serve as course coordinators/instructors. In addition, there are 16 part-time faculty who assist in the program. Nine of the core PT faculty have doctoral degrees. Many of the core PT faculty are engaged in part-time clinical practice. Faculty are also engaged in collaborative scholarly activities with researcher within TJU as well as external partners. The faculty also serve as manuscript/grant reviewers for various publishers and organizations, and serve on different local, state and national level panels, boards, committees, and organizations.

Enrollment
The Thomas Jefferson University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has a total enrollment of 150 students, with 45-54 students in each class. We plan to achieve our anticipated enrollment of 60 students in the fall of 2013 concurrent with expansion of teaching and research facilities.

Admission
Applications are evaluated on a rolling admission basis. A bachelor’s degree is a general requirement for admission. However, under exclusive articulation agreements, a small number of students may be considered for early acceptance. Admission, in these cases, is a selective process and occurs after acceptance to the articulating school, and an application and interview with faculty from Jefferson and the articulating school. To be considered for the 3+3 articulation program a strong academic record is required and the student’s record must show evidence of the depth and breadth of coursework typically seen in records of bachelor’s degree applicants. For all applicants, prerequisites include (56 semester hours): 3 semester hours (sh) in college algebra/trigonometry or higher math; 3 sh of statistics; 9 sh in the humanities (including 3 sh of composition/writing and preferably ethics or philosophy); 9 sh of social sciences (including 6 sh of psychology, abnormal and developmental preferred); 8 sh of science-major-level anatomy and physiology w/lab; 8 sh of science-major-level general biology w/lab; 8 sh of science-level-major general chemistry w/lab; and 8 sh of science-major-level physics w/lab (need not be calculus-based). For admissions information, contact Office of Admissions, 130 South Ninth Street, Suite 100, Edison Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5233; 215/503-8890, toll free 877-JEFF-247, web site: www.jefferson.edu/pt.

Outcomes
No outcome information provided by the program.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the 2012-13 academic year is $31,726 per year. For specific information regarding financial aid, contact Susan McFadden, Director of Financial Aid, Room G-1, College Building, 1025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5083; 215/955-2867.

Student life
The Jefferson School of Health Professions is housed in an academic health center within Philadelphia. The campus covers nine square blocks and includes a 697-bed hospital. Thomas Jefferson University has six major divisions: Jefferson School of Health Professions, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Nursing, Jefferson School of Pharmacy, and Jefferson School of Population Health. On-campus housing ranges from private dorm rooms to apartments. Both on and off campus housing are plentiful and reasonably priced. Intramural basketball, rugby and volleyball are among the competitive sports available to students. The University has an Activities Department that sponsors programs for persons with varied interests. Student professional organizations and special interest clubs are supported by the Activities Department. Each student receives free membership to a premier health club on campus