General Program Description

The course of study at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is an entry-level professional program designed to prepare students to enter the profession as doctors of physical therapy. Students are prepared as generalists, but also have some opportunity to investigate specialized aspects of physical therapy through numerous clinical exposures. The program of study consists of 112 credit hours of graduate course work. These hours are divided between classroom, clinical and research activities. Upon receiving this degree, students will be eligible to sit for the licensure examination in physical therapy.

Clinical Experiences
Four full-time clinical affiliations of 6, 10.5, 11 and 12 weeks duration are integrated into the didactic coursework. All students are required to complete an affiliation in an acute setting, a rehab setting, an outpatient, and a rural setting.

Faculty
There are nine full-time faculty members. Five of the full-time faculty members are certified as clinical specialists and several continue to engage in clinical practice. All nine faculty members are physical therapists. Over the past 3 years, the faculty as a whole has averaged 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals each year. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:10.

Enrollment
The University has a total enrollment of over 28,000 students, including the 1,600 in the School of Allied Health Sciences. The physical therapy department currently has 91 students enrolled in the DPT program.

Admission
Admission to the program is competitive with 34 spaces available per class. Minimum requirements for consideration include the following: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (no preference is given to any particular baccalaureate degree); a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale with a minimum average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for prerequisite courses; a preferred composite score of 300 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (must be taken no later than the deadline for application of November 3rd); three letters of recommendation with two coming from physical therapists and the other from an individual who can evaluate the applicant’s potential as a student in the physical therapy program; and knowledge of the field through actual work or volunteer experience with a minimum of 100 hours exposure divided among two different clinical settings. Each applicant must apply to the program via PTCAS (www.ptcas.org) as well as complete and submit an application to UNLV’s Graduate College. The admissions committee will review each application and interview selected individuals. The deadline for applications is November 3rd. For a detailed list of all prerequisite courses and more detailed information, please visit our website at unlv.pt.edu.

Outcomes
Fourteen cohorts of students have graduated from the physical therapy program since the inaugural class graduated in 2000. 95% of admitted students graduate from the program (12-year average); 94% of the graduates passed the licensure examination on the first attempt (13-year average) and the overall pass rate is 100% of the graduates have sat for the exam; and, 100% of those program graduates responding to surveys are employed (12-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The Fee for the 2013-14 academic year is $514.50 per credit hour for graduate students. Out-of-state students pay an additional $14,710.00 fee per year. However, students may get state residency after the first year and, therefore, only pay the out-of-state tuition for the first year. Students are encouraged to seek individual sources of financial assistance. The primary source of outside funding for graduate students is in the form of Federal Direct Loans. Several scholarships are also available for students. Additionally, graduate assistantships are available for 2nd year students. Once an applicant is accepted into the program, the Student Financial Services Office is available to assist students: 702-895-3424.

Student life
The Physical Therapy program is housed in the Rod Lee Bigelow Health Sciences Building. The majority of the class and lab sessions are held in the Kitty Rodman Physical Therapy Facilities, which include two recently renovated lecture/lab rooms, a physical therapy student lounge, and state-of-the-art equipment in four physical therapy research laboratories. In addition, all physical therapy students have access to the extensive computer, library, and residential facilities on campus. UNLV is a comprehensive research university of approximately 28,000 students and 3,100 faculty and staff dedicated to teaching, research, and service. The university has internationally recognized programs in hotel administration and creative writing; professional degrees in law, architecture, and dental medicine; and leading programs in fine arts, sciences and education. UNLV is classified in the category of Research Universities (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation. It is the 6th most diverse major research university in the U.S. and recently announced the plans for a medical school. UNLV is located on a 332-acre main campus and two satellite campuses in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is integral to the cultural environment of a city known as “The Entertainment Capital of the World.” The Charles Vanda Master Series and Barrick Lecture Series bring world-class artists, performers, and some of the foremost thinkers of our time to the campus. In addition, UNLV Rebel athletics has the coaching, facilities, and traditions associated with big-time, Division I college athletics. As a fan, you can cheer on the Rebels in 17 intercollegiate sports.