General Program Description

With more than 8,300 students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges on campuses in Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah, and at four Regional Academic Centers around the state, Mercer is consistently ranked among the nation’s leading institutions by such publications as U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review. Our more than 68,000 alumni are making important contributions to their professions and communities throughout Georgia, the Southeast, and the world. Located on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, Georgia, the Department of Physical Therapy is pleased to offer programs for professional and post-professional study and an on-site clinic. The professional program in physical therapy offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This innovative, 8-semester program provides a comprehensive, entry-level, professional education, including an integrated clinical education track that consists of service-learning, clinical experiences, and clinical internships. Mercer DPT students are actively engaged in patient/client-related activities each semester. Built upon an integrated traditional model, the DPT curriculum provides a strong foundation in basic, applied, and physical therapy science courses. If you would like more information about our DPT program, contact us at [email protected] Post-professional programs include residencies, fellowships, and continuing education opportunities for licensed physical therapists. The APTA-credentialed Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy, a collaborative effort with The Shepherd Center, enable physical therapists to accelerate their examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, interventions, and management of patients. Both 13-month programs of study combine contemporary evidence-based coursework with highly individualized clinical mentoring under the supervision of experienced clinicians. For more information about our post-professional offerings, please e-mail [email protected] Mercer Physical Therapy is our on-site practice, and is closely connected to our professional and post-professional education programs. Mercer Physical Therapy aims to be a center of clinical excellence providing comprehensive physical therapy services for individuals in the Metro Atlanta area.

Clinical Experiences
Mercer University’s DPT program includes an integrated clinical education model that is divided into two components: • five part-time experiences that occur during semesters one through five and include three service-learning experiences and two clinical experiences, and • three full-time, 12-week clinical internships that occur during semesters six, seven, and eight. 1) The service-learning experiences incorporate service-learning principles (preparation, provision of community service, subsequent reflection). Students participate in community-based activities related to prevention, health promotion, fitness, and/or wellness in each of the three lifespan categories (pediatric, adult, geriatric). Through the service-learning activities, students achieve goals related to professional practice expectations (accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, communication, and cultural competence) and patient/client management expectations (prevention, health promotion, fitness, and wellness; consultation; and social responsibility and advocacy). The clinical experience courses are designed to introduce students to the variety of settings and continuum of care in which physical therapists commonly practice and provide opportunities for students to apply foundational classroom learning and to interact with other healthcare professionals. Environments include acute &/or intensive care, sub-acute care, long-term care, home health, outpatient clinics (neurologic, orthopedic, pediatric), inpatient rehabilitation, specialty clinics, and schools. Over the series of the two courses, students experience a minimum of four settings. Large medical complexes anchor these experiences. These are very structured part-time learning experiences with selected clinical partners; clear objectives are incorporated within these two courses to guide the clinical faculty and students. 2) Clinical internships are designed to give students full-time experiences in a variety of settings representative of those commonly seen in practice. Students are required to engage in three different, 12-week clinical internships in regard to patient/client management (e.g. lifespan, continuum of care), and clinical practice areas (e.g. musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary, and cardiovascular/pulmonary). One of the internships occurs outside of the state of Georgia.

Faculty
The Department includes twelve full-time core faculty, two part-time core faculty, and a cadre of part-time adjunct clinical assistant and associate professors. All core faculty are physical therapists licensed to practice in the State of Georgia. All are members of the American Physical Therapy Association. Additionally, Mercer physical therapist residents and fellows serve as clinical instructors during their programs of study.

Enrollment
Mercer DPT students are outstanding! The inaugural Class of 2013 graduated in May, 2013. The Classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 include 36 students each, our maximum class size.

Admission
Admissions requirements and standards are designed to maximize success in the Mercer DPT Program. Selecting a candidate for the future practice of physical therapy involves many important factors including academic background (undergraduate coursework, GPAs, GRE scores), and observation, work, and volunteer experiences. Admission is limited to 36 new students per cohort who enroll in the fall of each year. We encourage you to review our website. After you review our information about the professional DPT Program, please refer to the profile of the Mercer University Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate. You may identify with these philosophical statements which we believe should personify a physical therapist. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is an intense program that places specific physical and intellectual demands on students enrolled in the program. These abilities and skills are integral to the successful completion of didactic and clinical components of physical therapist education. These abilities and skills, which candidates and students must possess in order to successfully complete their professional training associated with the program, are referred to as the “Abilities and Attributes.” Candidates for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program should consider these and assess if they are able to meet the abilities and attributes with or without a reasonable accommodation. In addition to the information provided in our admissions website, we hold monthly information sessions where you can hear more about our professional program, meet faculty, staff, and students, and tour our facilities. If you have any questions, or would like more information about the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, please contact us at [email protected] or (678)547-6391.

Outcomes
Mercer’s inaugural DPT class graduated in May 2013. The NPTE pass rate for the inaugural class was 100% (96.4% first attempt). Students taking the exam scored, on average, 35 points higher than the national average. All graduates were practicing within three months of passing the examination.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Mercer’s Office of Student Financial Planning is available to provide information and assistance to students who need financial aid in order to attend the University. Financial aid may include a combination of loans, scholarships, grants and part-time employment. It is important that students apply for financial assistance as early as possible so that forms may be processed and the financial need of each applicant determined. All necessary forms and applications can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Planning or at Mercer’s website. Students may speak with a financial aid advisor during office hours with no appointment necessary. Students who would like to make appointments may do so by calling (678) 547-6444. Additional information is available online at http://atlanta.merceraid.com/. Estimated tuition for the 2014-2015 academic year is $27,825. Estimated fees are $150 per semester. Mercer University is a private university; state residency is not required.

Student life
Located on 200 heavily wooded acres inside the Atlanta Perimeter, the campus is convenient to Interstates 85 and 285 and about two miles from the Doraville MARTA station. Mercer offers students opportunities to enjoy collegiate athletics, including football, baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, and lacrosse. Mercer University is an NCAA Division I institution and competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference, of which Mercer is a founding member. On the Atlanta campus, students have access to the Sheffield Student Center to support their personal wellness plans. The Center offers fitness/wellness classes, sport clubs, and aquatics. The space includes a basketball court, pool, and weight room with many cardio, free weights and strength training machines. Outdoor recreation opportunities are offered throughout the year for students. The Sheffield gym is available for use by Mercer University students, faculty, and staff who hold a valid Mercer ID (Bear card) and their immediate family members.