General Program Description

The University St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Texas Campus, offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) as a full time, on campus (resident) program. The inaugural DPT class for the Austin, Texas campus enrolled Fall 2012. The campus-based DPT program offered at the University of St. Augustine, Texas is seven (7) trimesters in duration. The program admits students three times a year at the beginning of the fall, spring and summer trimesters (exception is 2013 when there was not be a summer trimester admission for the DPT). Course work is a blend of online and traditional classroom formats. Students attend classes and labs an average of 30-35 hours per week. Successful completion of the program requires three full-time clinical internships. The Texas DPT program utilizes the same successful DPT curriculum that has been offered on the Florida and California campuses for several years. Unique aspects of the curriculum include inter-professional educational opportunities, an emphasis on manual therapy skills throughout the curriculum and the opportunity to choose elective courses that advance knowledge in skills in specialized areas of practice, including the opportunity to attend selected courses in the University’s Manual Therapy Certification program (MTC), during the final semester of the curriculum. Core faculty members are physical therapists who are clinical scholars as well as experienced educators and academic administrators; the core faculty also includes basic scientists with interest and experience in teaching health professionals; adjunct faculty include physicians and other health care professionals as and experienced physical therapy clinicians with specialized knowledge and skills. The USA Texas faculty and students are actively engaged in the local Austin community through a variety of health and education focused service and service learning projects as well as in political activity and advocacy efforts.

Clinical Experiences
DPT students complete three full-time clinical internships in a variety of settings and geographic locations (both national and international). All students who enter the DPT program can expect to be required to participate in clinical internships in locations outside of Texas.

Faculty
The majority of the core faculty members for the USA Texas DPT program are physical therapists who hold post-professional doctoral degrees and/or are board certified clinical specialists actively engaged in clinical practice as well as in teaching. The USA Texas core faculty also includes a doctorate level basic scientist with extensive experience in health professions education. All university faculty members participate in clinical, educational or basic science research, and serve the professional community in a variety of capacities including reviewers for scientific journals, textbook authors and editors, continuing education instructors, and as officers in local and national associations. Many of our faculty members are also actively engaged as community leaders and volunteers. The average faculty to student ratio for lab classes in the DPT program is 1:15. University of St. Augustine faculty are responsible for all course management, updating of course materials, student advisement and assessment, course evaluation and curriculum planning, and coordination of lab activities with lab instructors. Associated faculty members include local health professionals as well as nationally known experts who supplement the core faculty in selected areas of the curriculum. Core faculty are also supported by teaching and lab assistants as well as by guest lecturers who are brought to campus each term to provide expertise in specialized clinical and professional topics.

Enrollment
The Austin campus at full capacity admits a maximum of 50 new DPT students three time each year with an average of 400 DPT students on campus at all times once the program is fully populated. 37 students were admitted to the inaugural class for the fall semester 2012. An additional 39 students were admitted January 2013 and aclass of 50 in August 2013. In 2014 a new class will be entered each trimester with a maximum class size of 50.

Admission
The university is a private institution, and applications are welcome from students from all states. The University’s standard application due dates of December15 for fall term admission, June 15 for spring term admission, and October 1 for summer term admission apply to the Texas campus. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree prior to starting the DPT programs. Required prerequisites include: biology, anatomy and physiology, general chemistry, and physics. Science prerequisites should have been completed within the past 5 years. Substitutions and advanced course standing will be considered. Qualified applicants are interviewed for each term generally within 6-8 weeks following the application due deadline. Notification of acceptance by the Admissions Committee occurs within 2 weeks of the interviews.

Outcomes
The 1st DPT graduates from this program are expected in December 2014. Outcome date for other programs at the University of St Augustine can be obtained from their individual Directory listings in Florida and California.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the Austin Resident program for the 2013-2014 academic year is $12,220 per trimester. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same. Average book, supplies, insurance, professional association expenses and miscellaneous educational costs per trimester are approximately $1,500. Room and board costs are estimated to be $900 per month. Average book, supplies, insurance, professional association expenses, and miscellaneous educational costs per trimester are approximately $600. A limited number of scholarships are available. Information about scholarships and private loan plans can be obtained by contacting the Student Services office.

Student life
All Texas campus students reside off campus. General housing information is available from the Student Services Coordinator, as well as a list of current rental properties in the area. A variety of housing options as well as shopping, entertainment and recreational venues are located near the campus. The university is located in Austin, Texas, a vibrant educational, sports and cultural center situated in the beautiful Texas hill country. The university is located in southwest Austin on a twenty-seven acre campus in the Circle C community. The campus is in close proximity to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center as well as to an abundance of parks, biking and hiking trails. A variety of outdoor recreational and sports opportunities are available on a year round basis. The university opened the Texas campus in August 2012 with plans to complete the campus in 2014 with two additional buildings housing academic spaces, dedicated research space, as well as a wellness center, and out-patient rehabilitation clinic. In addition to campus and outdoor life, each DPT student is a member of his/her professional organization; all students attend at least one professional conference. University of St. Augustine students are engaged in the local community collaborating with a variety of institutions and organizations in projects that serve, advocate and educate.