General Program Description

The 118.5 credit DPT program begins in May each year and is typically completed in 3 years. Graduation is in May at the end of the third year. The program is designed as a 3+3 program for students entering directly from high school. Undergraduate students may also transfer into the program at the pre-professional level. Students who hold a baccalaureate degree and meet the program prerequisites enter at the professional level of the program. The DPT Program provides a quality educational experience to prepare competent, autonomous and professional entry-level practitioners in physical therapy. The DPT curriculum emphasizes a problem solving approach with collaboration and critical thinking skills necessary for clinical practice. Patient/client centered care is at the core of the curriculum that has been developed along six organizing elements: the musculoskeletal system, neuromuscular system, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, integumentary system, critical inquiry, and human interaction. In addition to the 6 organizing elements, 6 curricular themes extend across the curriculum: safety, communication, ethical/legal behavior, social responsibility, life long learning and evidence-based practice. All students complete a culminating critical inquiry project under the direction and guidance of a faculty mentor.

Clinical Experiences
Students are prepared to successfully bridge academic preparation with clinical practice through 3 integrated clinical experiences that are paired with the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular and pulmonary patient/client management courses. In addition to these clinical experiences, students complete 32 weeks of full time clinical education experiences throughout the United States in different practice settings including teaching and community hospitals, specialty clinics and rehabilitation centers, private practices, and home health, early intervention and school settings.

Faculty
An excellent faculty to student ratio of 1:11 allows students to enjoy a close mentoring relationship with the faculty. There are 10 full-time core faculty members. The areas of academic doctoral degrees and study that are represented in the faculty include health sciences, rehabilitation science, biokinesiology, medical anthropology, and physical therapy. Thirty percent of the faculty have completed or are enrolled in a post professional doctoral program. Sixty percent of the full time faculty hold an advanced specialty certification including Board Certified clinical specialty in orthopedic physical therapy. In addition to teaching and service, faculty are engaged in scholarly activity and clinical practice, incorporating scientific evidence with theory in the classroom and practice.

Enrollment
The Sage Colleges is comprised of three colleges in New York’s Capital Region: Russell Sage College for Women, the undergraduate co-educational Sage College of Albany and Sage Graduate School. For the 2013-14 year, Russell Sage College for Women has an enrollment of 700 students, Sage College of Albany has an enrollment of 900 and Sage Graduate School has an enrollment of 1200 students. The DPT Program is part of the Sage Graduate School. The average size of each graduating DPT class is approximately 38 students.

Admission
There are 3 points of entry to the DPT Program at Sage: 1) Sage Graduate School (SGS): Qualified men and women with a baccalaureate degree completed or in progress and who have fulfilled the prerequisite courses for the professional program in Physical Therapy are admitted to the DPT Program directly through the Sage Graduate School and complete the DPT Program in 3 years. Students who have not completed the bachelor’s degree and/or all of the prerequisites may be admitted on a provisional basis pending their completion. Prerequisite courses may be completed at Sage or at another institution. The DPT program has established articulation agreements with several other undergraduate institutions. Qualified students attending one of these institutions are guaranteed admission to the DPT program providing they have met the conditions of the articulation agreement. Further information about these articulation agreements is posted on the PT Department web page at http://www.sage.edu/academics/health-sciences/programs/dpt/articulations/. 2) Russell Sage College for Women (RSC): Qualified women from high school, or transferring from another college at the undergraduate level, who are admitted to the accelerated 3 + 3 or the traditional 4 +3 bachelor’s degree leading to the DPT degree are guaranteed continuation into the professional DPT Program, providing all academic and prerequisite requirements are met. Students entering either the 3+3 accelerated 6-year program or the 4+3 traditional 7-year program at Russell Sage College will choose an undergraduate liberal arts or health related major in one of the following disciplines: health sciences, biology, or psychology and begin the DPT Program in the summer following their third year of study at RSC. For students admitted to the 6-year accelerated 3+3 program the baccalaureate degree is awarded from Russell Sage College in December of the fourth year and the DPT is awarded from Sage Graduate School in May at the end of the sixth year. Students enrolled in the 4+3 program receive their bachelor degree at the end of the fourth year and begin the DPT program in the summer immediately following commencement. The DPT degree is awarded at the end of 3 more years. 3) Sage College of Albany (SCA): Qualified men and women from high school who are admitted to the co-educational accelerated 3+3, or the traditional 4+3 program, are guaranteed continuation into the professional DPT Program, providing all academic and prerequisite requirements are met. Students entering the 3+3 accelerated 6-year program through Sage College of Albany will major in applied biology and begin the DPT Program in the summer following their third year of study at SCA. For students admitted to the 6-year accelerated 3+3 program the baccalaureate degree is awarded from Sage College of Albany in December of the fourth year and the DPT is awarded from Sage Graduate School in May at the end of the sixth year. Students enrolled in the 4+3 program receive their bachelor degree at the end of the fourth year and begin the DPT program in the summer immediately following commencement. The DPT degree is awarded at the end of 3 more years. The minimum academic requirements for students admitted to the DPT Program include a cumulative and science grade point average of 3.25. Prerequisite courses for the professional DPT Program include 2 semesters of anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and physics; one semester of cell biology, statistics, and 2 courses in psychology (Introduction and Human Development.). Students are also required to complete 40 hours of observation before beginning the professional program.

Outcomes
Ultimate pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) surpasses 95% for the years (2009-2011) which exceeds state and national averages. Also, 100% of graduates seeking employment secure a position within six months after graduation.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
For the 2013-2014 academic year: Sage Graduate School tuition is $790.00 per credit (118.5 credits). Additional fees for the 2013-14 academic year, including books, APTA membership fee and professional liability insurance, are estimated at $1,975. Graduate assistantships are available for students.

Student life
Physical Therapy students are active in service and professional development activities throughout the year that promote the development of professionalism. The student Physical Therapy Club has a very active membership of students at the professional level of the program. The Troy campus is located 10 miles from Albany. Public transportation is available, and an airport is located 10 miles from campus. The Capital District of New York offers rich cultural and recreational activities year round.