General Program Description

The Physical Therapy Program at the University of Puerto Rico is housed at the Medical Sciences Campus, School of Health Professions in the Department of Graduate Programs. It is the first and only academic program in Puerto Rico, which leads to a professional entry – level degree in physical therapy. The Program was established in 1951 as part of the offering of the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy to prepare qualified clinicians to offer rehabilitation services to individuals with work- related injuries. In 1954, the program obtained its first accreditation. Since November 2002, an entry – level Master in Sciences in Physical Therapy has been offered as approved by the University of Puerto Rico Board of Trustees and authorized by the Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education. The mission of Master’s program is to graduate versatile physical therapists who will serve the Puerto Rican Community. In synchrony with the mission of the School of Health Professions, the Program embraces three dimensions of the educational experience: teaching, research and service. The Professional Master’s degree in Physical Therapy is a 28 month full time program with clasess year round, for a total of 90 credits. All courses in the curriculum are required.

Clinical Experiences
There are four full time clinical experiences the reflect a diversity of setting and in-detph experiences. The clinical experiences include patient management across the lifespan and continuum of care, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist at a variety of clinical settings in Puerto Rico and the United States

Faculty
There are 8 full-time and three part-time faculty members. Fifty percent (50%) of the full-time faculty members hold post-professional doctoral degrees, and fifty percent (50%) are currently engaged in clinical practice. For the last two years, the faculty has been engaged in research activities and published articles in peer reviewed journals. Actual faculty student ratio is 1: 4.62

Enrollment
Student enrollment for the 2013-2014 academic year at the Physical Therapy Program is 37.

Admission
The program admits 16 students from the pool of applicants. Candidates for admission into the program undergo a screening process. The primary requirement for consideration as a candidate for the Master of Science in Physical Therapy is the satisfactory completion of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree. The admission screening process includes evaluation of the candidate’s academic record, official academic transcripts and GPA of 2.8 are required. In addition, candidates will be expected to satisfy the interview requirement and to submit scores for the EXADEP exam.

Outcomes
The graduation rate for the 2009- 2010 class was 85% , for the class 2010-2011 was 100% and for the class 2011-2012 class was 87.5%. The passing rate first-time takers of the Puerto Rican licensing Board Examination for the 2009-2010 class was 100% , for the 2010 -2011 class was 87.5 % . For the 2012-2013 class the test have not been offered yet. The employment rate for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 class is 100%.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for residents is approximately $ 4,110.00 per year. Nonresident students who are US citizens pay fees equal to the amount they would pay in their home state. Nonresident students who are foreign citizens pay $4,655 per year. Cost related expenses are approximately 2,750.00. Book costs range from $800-$1,000 per year. Federal and state funding in the form of educational loans will continue to be available to students.

Student life
The Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico is part of the Puerto Rico Medical Center featuring a number of hospitals and outpatient centers housed within the campus. The campus is located in the San Juan Metropolitan Area. Housing or dormitories are not provided within the campus. However, a number of boarding houses are available in the vicinity of the campus. A list is available upon request. Social, cultural, athletic and recreational activities for students are offered throughout the academic year.