General Program Description

The program is a full-time, eight-semester curriculum terminating in the DPT degree. A new class of 36 students is accepted in June of each year. There are no classes in the second summer semester; the program is complete at the end of the third spring semester.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are interspersed throughout the curriculum beginning in the second semester and progressing to 4 months of full-time clinicals by the eighth semester. Opportunities in a variety of practice settings are offered throughout the world.

Faculty
There are 13 full-time core faculty and four part-time faculty members. All have PhD’s except four who are currently enrolled in PhD programs. All have active research programs and several participate in clinical practice. There are 10 adjunct faculty in the department.

Enrollment
The total enrollment for the university is 28,000. The program accepts 36. Transfer students are not accepted.

Admission
Students must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or international university with equivalent requirements for the bachelor’s degree. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, all prerequisite courses, and in the math and science prerequisite courses is required A Graduate Record Examination minimum score of 450 in each section (verbal and quantitative) and a minimum of 4.0 in analytical writing is recommended. Prerequisites courses necessary for admission are as follows: Humanities: 2 courses in English composition and 1 course in speech. Social Sciences: 1 course in each: general psychology, upper-level psychology, normal development, and sociology. Basic Sciences: 2 semesters in each: biology (w/lab), chemistry (w/lab), general physics (w/lab); and 1 semester in each: mammalian or human anatomy (w/lab), mammalian or human physiology (w/lab), and Mathematics: 1 course in college statistics and algebra/trigonometry or calculus or pre-calculus. Applicants must include written verification of 32 hours of observation in a physical therapy clinic, 16 of which must be in a hospital setting.Three personal references are required, and one of the three must be a physical therapist. Application packets may be obtained at our web site, www.ptrs.kumc.edu after July 1 of the year prior to the student’s desired year of admission. Applications are reviewed as they are received through our rolling admission’s service. Students accepted into the physical therapy program begin in June. 42.5% of qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).

Outcomes
99.2% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for spring 2010 is approximately $389.00 per credit hour for in-state students and $791 per credit hour for out-of-state students. There are 94-95 credit hours in the program. Health insurance is mandatory and is available through the university. Contact the Student Financial Aid Office at 913/588-5170. Deadline for submission of completed application for financial aid is March.

Student life
Off-campus rentals are available for students. Student memberships are available at the Kirmayer Fitness Center, which has an indoor pool, track, and more. The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is recognized as the “city of fountains and parks.” The Plaza Shopping Center is world renowned for its Christmas lighting ceremony. Bountiful entertainment, cultural facilities, and sports activities are readily accessible.