General Program Description

The fully accredited program is located in a state-of-the-art medical complex. The DPT curriculum is a full-time, 36 month, 122-semester hour plan of study with the foundational courses in the first year and clinical sciences in the second and third years. The didactic portion of the curriculum is delivered in multiple formats including formal lectures, clinical practical labs and small group case discussions. Graduation occurs in May of each year.

Clinical Experiences
Students begin clinical exposure early in the curriculum through faculty-facilitated small group clinic visits as part of didactic courses. The full-time clinical education experience is 38 weeks in length and is placed throughout the curriculum with the intent of providing the student the opportunity to practice and incorporate the information provided in the didactic portion of the curriculum.

Faculty
The program has seven full-time academic faculty members and one full-time clinician who manages the faculty-practice clinic and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Therapists. The majority of the academic faculty members have doctoral degrees. We have two board-certified clinical specialists on our core faculty, representing specialization in orthopedics and neurology. All faculty are dynamic, progressive clinicians with outstanding clinical expertise. All of our faculty are actively engaged in scholarly activity. We have a large, fully staffed outpatient clinic on the same floor as the educational program.

Enrollment
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans campus, enrolls more than 2,700 students. Each year, the physical therapy professional program enrolls 35 students. Up to 10% of accepted students can be non-Louisiana residents.

Admission
Admission requirements: A baccalaureate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university; A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (based on a semester system) in all undergraduate science and math courses (even those repeated); A grade of “C” or better in the following prerequisites courses: 3 semester hours in each: statistics, anatomy, physiology, advanced biology, public speaking, and advanced English composition; 6 semester hours in each: English composition, mathematics (algebra level or above), and psychology; and 8 semester hours in each: chemistry, biology/zoology, and physics (all laboratory-based for science majors); Applicants must take the GRE including the Analytical Writing Assessment. A minimum score of 296 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE obtained at one sitting is required; Sixty or more hours of practical experience under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist by the time of application. The Department of Physical Therapy at LSUHSC – New Orleans participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Deadline for application is October 1, unless that date falls on a weekend. The deadline will then be the Monday immediately following October 1. Applicants should send all application materials including GRE scores directly to PTCAS and must be received by October 1. Documentation of practical experience hours will be submitted to PTCAS and must be completed by October 1.

Outcomes
98% of admitted student graduate from the program. Of those graduates, 100% are licensed and employed in physical therapy (3 year average)

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2013/14 academic year (including summer semester) is estimated to be approximately $17,000 for Louisiana residents and $25,000 for non-Louisiana residents. Grants, loans, and scholarships are handled through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Insurance. Accepted students interested in receiving financial aid may contact the Financial Aid office in advance of enrollment.

Student life
New Orleans, “the BIG EASY,” has an extremely rich and diverse cultural environment, reflected in the traditions of Creole cooking, jazz music, and visual arts. Numerous festivals are held in the area each year, many of which are free and offer students the opportunity to enjoy Louisiana’s unique culture and lifestyle. In addition to the cultural activities, a full range of services is available to students including health services, counseling services, and on-campus parking. Ample housing is available in New Orleans and surrounding areas and a residence hall exists on campus with housing allocations available to a limited number of full-time students. The Residence Hall is an eleven-story building, consisting of three separate towers with a total of 208 living units. The newest on-campus housing is Stanislaus Hall which consists of 154 single occupancy dorm suites on 6 floors. The residence hall is a coeducational facility with private apartment facilities that are economical and convenient. The hall is connected to the LSU Health Sciences Center complex by a covered bridge. Secured, off-street parking facilities are provided for tenants. For leisure time indoor and outdoor activities on campus, students enjoy utilizing the modern, state of the art Wellness Center, which includes weight lifting and cardio rooms, is situated on two floors of Stanislaus Hall. The Wellness Center is free to all students. Group exercise and aerobics classes are offered in addition to saunas. The Residence Hall contains recreational areas for table tennis and pocket billiards. In addition, a basketball court with night lighting is available.