General Program Description

The University offers a DPT as a first professional degree for those candidates who have completed a baccalaureate degree and the recommended prerequisites at two locations: St. Augustine, FL and San Diego, CA. ST. AUGUSTINE RESIDENT PROGRAM: The professional campus-based program is seven (7) trimesters in duration. Twenty-two (22) core faculty members are supplemented by adjunct faculty and teaching/lab assistants. In addition, guest lecturers are brought to campus each term to provide expertise in specialized clinical and professional topics. Course work is a blend of online and traditional classroom formats. The program admits students three times a year at the beginning of the fall, spring and summer trimesters. Students attend classes and labs an average of 30-35 hours per week. This successful program has been in existence since 1996. ST. AUGUSTINE FLEX DISTANCE PROGRAM: The Flex professional program takes the campus-based curriculum and offers it in a part-time format that combines distance education with face-to-face weekend labs. This program is 12 trimesters in duration. This format enables individuals, who for personal or financial reasons choose not to attend a fulltime campus-based program, to pursue the DPT. Students participate in labs an average of two weekends a month on the St. Augustine campus. Successful completion of the program requires three full-time clinical internships. This program currently admits students twice a year at the beginning of the fall and spring trimesters. SAN DIEGO RESIDENT PROGRAM: In September 2007 the University opened an additional campus. Both Resident and Flex Programs are also offered at the San Diego campus. For more information see California, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Clinical Experiences
At the St. Augustine resident students participate in an orientation to different practice settings of physical therapy in their first trimester. The shadowing experiences emphasize professional behavior, communication and basic clinical skill competencies. Shadowing experiences in later terms are designed to expose students to other health professionals. Students also have three full-time internships that generally include clinical experiences in an acute care setting, a long-term care setting and an outpatient orthopedic setting. Internships occur during the fourth and sixth trimesters of enrollment. The St. Augustine Flex students have the orientation to different practice settings in their second trimester. The three full-time internships occur during the eight and eleventh trimesters and include experiences in acute care, long-term care and outpatient orthopedic settings. At present, the DPT programs have approximately 2,400 approved active sites for clinical education experiences. These sites are located nationwide and internationally.

Faculty
At the St. Augustine campus there are 22 core and 21 Associated faculty members. Of the core faculty 50% hold post-professional doctoral degrees, 8 are certified as clinical specialists, and many are engaged in clinical practice. Faculty are carrying out clinically and educationally related research, reviewers for scientific journals, developing textbook materials, and actively involved in community support groups. The faculty to student ratio is 1:18. At 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. Many of the associated faculty serving as lab instructors for both the Resident and Flex Programs are local clinicians.

Enrollment
The St. Augustine campus has a total DPT student enrollment of 425. Approximately 50 students are accepted into each Resident Program class three times/year. The Flex Program admits a maximum of 30 students per class.

Admission
The university is a private institution, and applications are welcome from students from all states. Application due dates are December 15 for fall term admission, June 15 for spring term admission, and October 1 for summer term admission. Applications received after these dates will be processed and considered on a space-available basis. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree prior to starting the DPT programs. Required prerequisite courses are 6 semester hours in each: biology, anatomy and physiology, general chemistry, and physics (Kinesiology, Biomechanics). These science prerequisites should be taken within the past 5 years. Substitutions and advanced course standing will be considered. Candidates will be 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
94% of admitted students graduate from the program (3 year average). 100% of the program graduates responding to surveys are employed (3 year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the St. Augustine Resident program for the 2011-2012 academic year is $10,695 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. A limited number of scholarships are available. Information about scholarships and private loan plans can be obtained by contacting the Student Services office. Tuition for the St. Augustine Flex program for the 2011-2012 academic year is $6,245 per trimester. Average book, supplies, insurance, professional association expenses, and miscellaneous educational costs per trimester are approximately $375.

Student life
All St. Augustine students reside off campus. General housing information is available from Student Services Office, as well as a list of current rental properties. The university is located on Florida’s northeast coast and situated on a beautiful twenty-six acre campus adjoining the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The charming, restored downtown, unspoiled beaches and the proximity to Jacksonville, Daytona, and Orlando provide activities for every interest. Due to the regions moderate climate, recreational and sports opportunities are enjoyed on a year round basis. The university opened a 98,000 square foot academic building in 2007 with a wellness, center, classrooms, laboratories, student lounge, and PT and OT clinics.