General Program Description
As an integral part of Chatham University, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is housed within the College for Graduate Studies. The mission of the program is to educate doctors of physical therapy who will advance the quality of human life through excellence in clinical practice. The Program educates autonomous practitioners who will meet the challenges of a dynamic health care environment and supports scholarly activity that bridges science and clinical practice. Our vision is to provide an exceptionally innovative and integrated curriculum that promotes active and student-centered learning and produce professionals who are guided by integrity and committed to excellence in practice. The program offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the completion of seven full-time semesters of study. The program stresses clinical decision making through the study of patient problems typically encountered in the clinical setting in a problem-based learning format. The study of normal structure and function provides the background for students to study altered function and its effects on movement. The modified problem-based curriculum presents the clinical arts and science of physical therapy in an integrated manner organized around body systems. Students also complete a community service project that involves service to the wider community beyond one’s professional role. The curriculum design prepares graduates to practice as generalists.
Clinical Experiences
The DPT program includes 36 weeks of clinical experience integrated into the academic program at the completion of major areas of study. The program assigns students to clinical sites based on academic need, site availability, and student preferences. In addition to sites located in the Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania area, the program offers sites throughout the United States in acute care, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, pediatric, sub-acute, home health, and rehabilitation settings.
Faculty
There are eight full-time and one part-time faculty along with our basic science faculty (anatomy, physiology and neuroscience). Five of the current faculty are certified as clinical specialists in the following areas: orthopedic, manual therapy, neurologic, and geriatric . The faculty are well published in multiple physical therapy venues. The majority of the faculty maintain active clinical practices. In addition to the core faculty, Chatham employees many master clinicians to serve as guest speakers and lab assistants.
Enrollment
Chatham University has approximately 2200 students enrolled in its undergraduate (women only), and graduate (coeducational) programs. The Physical Therapy Program admits approximately 40 students each Fall.
Admission
Admissions requirements for the DPT are as follows: – Completed application through PTCAS including: Official transcripts – Evidence of volunteer/work experience in a physical therapy setting, – Three references: two academic and one Physical Therapist OR one academic and two Physical Therapists; A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; On-site interview, overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale; cumulative prerequisite course GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale; Graduate Record Examination (GRE); Required prerequisite courses include -General Biology with lab (two terms), – General Chemistry with lab (two terms), – Physics with lab (two terms), – Anatomy (one term), – Physiology (one term), Developmental Psychology (one term) and Statistics (one term).
Outcomes
92% of admitted students graduate from the program (3 year average). 100% of our graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation. The first time licensure exam pass rate is 92% and the ultimate pass rate over the past 3 years is 100%.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Full-time tuition for the 2014-15 academic year is $10,625 per semester (seven semesters total) for a total of $74,375. In addition, students pay a university fee of $222 and a lab/liability insurance fee of $185 per term. Applicants wishing information on federal and state financial aid programs should contact the Financial Aid Office at 412/365-1777. The majority of students enrolled in the program receive some type of financial assistance.
Student life
The University consists of two campuses: Shadyside/Eastside Campus and the Eden Hall Farm Campus. The Health Science programs are located in the Eastside building (renovated in 2009) one mile from the main campus which consists of 32 wooded acres in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh. A state of the art Athletic and Fitness Center includes an aerobic exercise and weight training room, Olympic-size pool, climbing wall, gymnasium and dance studio. Chatham’s location, close to Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, provides students with the advantages of housing, social, and intellectual activities inherent in a large academic community. Pittsburgh offers a wide range of cultural and recreational activities and is home to the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. Free public transportation is available to all students with a valid ID.