General Program Description

The University of Cincinnati offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy through the College of Allied Health Sciences.

Clinical Experiences
There are four full-time clinical experiences. The first is in the summer following completion of the first year. The second occurs in the summer after completion of the second year followed by the third clinical in the fall semester of the third year. Students return to campus for an abbreviated didactic semester following the third clinical. The final clinical occurs in the spring semester of the third year. The PT Program has over 180 sites throughout the country.

Faculty
There are nine full-time faculty members, one part time faculty member and one lab instructor. Of the faculty, 70% hold post-professional doctoral degrees and three are certified as clinical specialists. Over the past 3 years the faculty has averaged two publications in peer-reviewed journals. The faculty to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10.

Enrollment
The University of Cincinnati has a total enrollment of approximately 39,000 students. The physical therapy program accepts a maximum of 30 students.

Admission
Competitive. Completion of the following requirements is necessary for consideration for admission into the physical therapist program but does not guarantee admission into the program. To be eligible for admission into the physical therapy program the following requirements must be met: 1) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with minimum overall GPA of 3.0; 2) Academic coursework: one year of Freshman English (English 101, 102, 103); one year of Chemistry with Lab; one year of College Biology with Lab; one year of College Physics with Lab; one year of Human Anatomy and Physiology; one three credit hour introductory Psychology course and one three credit hour Abnormal Psychology course; one three credit hour Statistics course (Business Statistics is not acceptable); one three or four credit hour Exercise Physiology course and one three credit hour Medical Terminology course. (Please note: The above specific courses are listed in quarter hours and are REQUIRED. If an applicant is currently attending a college that does not offer these courses, it is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange to take the required courses at another college. Questions regarding prerequisite course work can be directed to Beth Bextermueller, Coordinator of Programs, at 513-558-7455 or bexterba[email protected] 3) Completion of the Graduate Record Exam with official test scores received by the University (suggested minimum score for the GRE is 450 in each section and 4.0 in the analytical; 4) Documentation of 50 work or volunteer hours in a physical therapy setting, 25 of which must be in the inpatient department of a hospital (acute care setting) and 25 in an outpatient setting. All hours must be completed and documented by the admissions deadline. Hours must be documented by the facility on the forms provided in the online application. Please note: Hours in a Rehabilitation Center, Rehabilitation Hospital, long-term care facility, outpatient clinic or private practice will not be accepted for the required acute care hours; 5) Submission of 3 completed recommendation forms, including one from a physical therapist who supervised the applicant during a volunteer experience. Recommendations are not accepted from relatives; 6) TOEFL scores are required for all students whose native language is a language other than English. Students preparing to apply to the program are advised to check regularly with the program office regarding admission requirements. Contact the PT Office for the most recent requirements. Applications are only available online at: http://cahs.uc.edu/majorsprogram/graduate/physicaltherapy/applynow.html .

Outcomes
91% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); 98% of the graduates passed the licensure exam on the first attempt (3-year average); and 100% of those program graduates who sought employment in physical therapy and responded to surveys are employed ( 3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Full-time tuition and fees at the University of Cincinnati for the 2009-10 academic year is approximately $4118 per quarter for Ohio residents and approximately $7974 per quarter for non-Ohio residents. Applicants living in nearby counties in Indiana and Kentucky may be eligible for the Metropolitan rate which is approximately $100 above the in-state tuition rate. Information on the Metropolitan rate can be found at : http://www.uc.edu/registrar/graduate_metro_rate.html . Books and supplies will average approximately $500 per quarter. A limited number of University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) and Graduate Assistantships (GA) are awarded annually through the department.

Student life
The University of Cincinnati has established a continuing reputation for excellence in graduate and undergraduate education, cultural services and basic and applied research. Since its founding in 1918, the University of Cincinnati, located on five campuses, has served numerous students through 17 colleges and divisions that offer more than 450 degree programs from the associate to the doctorate level.