General Program Description

The program is organized into two components. The first 5 years are conducted by 12 full-time faculty members on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. The final year is located in Rochester, New York, where seven full-time faculty members conduct the final graduate year of the program. Some courses are taken in conjunction with students from the occupational therapy program at Ithaca. All graduate students participate in a group research project. The Department maintains a PT clinic on the Ithaca campus. Students average 20 hours per week in class and have the opportunity to observe and participate in patient care procedures in the PT clinic. Summer experiences occur following the third, fourth and the final year. During the summer following the third year and throughout the final year, the program is conducted at the Rochester, New York campus, which is associated with the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical internships begin the summer following the fourth year of study. There are five full-time clinical experiences totaling 36 weeks that vary in length between 6 and 12 weeks each. Clinical sites are located throughout the country and number approximately 1,100.

Faculty
There are currently 19 full-time faculty members. Fourteen of the full-time faculty members hold post-professional doctoral degrees, nine are certified as clinical specialists, and nine are engaged in clinical practice. Faculty members have received national awards and honors in their teaching, scholarship and service. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12.

Enrollment
Ithaca has a total enrollment of 6,200 students. There are 400 students in the physical therapy program.

Admission
This is a 6-year program with entry at the freshman year. Target freshmen enrollment is 85 students each August. For application deadlines, please contact the Office of Admission at http://www.ithaca.edu/admission. Admission consideration is based on SAT or ACT scores and rank in high school graduating class. Because this is a freshman-entry program, openings for transfer students are limited, competitive, and most appropriate in the sophomore year. Applicants seeking to transfer into the program should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and a B or better in all natural science coursework. Prerequisites vary depending upon the exact entry point, but minimally include 8 credits in biology, chemistry (including 4 credits of organic chemistry), 3 credits of writing, and at least 40 hours of observation in a physical therapy clinic or health care setting. Specific information on transfer admission requirements, non-native speakers, and letters of recommendation, is available at http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/depts/pt/transferlink/. 42% of qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).

Outcomes
92% of students entering the professional phase of the curriculum graduate from the program in 3 years. (3 year average) Licensure rates: 95% of Ithaca College graduates passed the licensure exam on their first attempt (2007). This is well above the NYS and National averages. 100% of our graduates from the past three years were employed within 9 months of graduating with their MS degree.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
For the academic year 2007-08, costs are $28,670 for tuition and fees, $5,604 for room, $5,124 for board, and $400 for health insurance. Ninety percent of the physical therapy students receive financial aid. To be considered for any federal or need-based institutional assistance, candidates must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the appropriate agency. Merit-based awards are determined considering academic performance, special talents, and personal characteristics or non-academic achievements. Entering freshmen and/or transfer students are also required to complete the CSS Profile application. For further information, contact the Director of Financial Aid at 607/274-3131.

Student life
Founded in 1892, the College was relocated in 1960 overlooking Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Off-campus activities abound in this community that also serves Cornell University. Seventy percent of the students reside on campus. Physical therapy students attend and participate in athletics (including nationally ranked teams) and the performing arts (music, dance, theater). The curriculum is designed so that students may complete one of more than 40 minors and study abroad at the College’s London Center or at other affiliated programs around the world.