General Program Description

The DPT program uses a unique problem-based learning curriculum design to prepare graduates for practice in the evolving health care system. Students are assigned to small study groups called tutorials and guided by a faculty tutor toward independent study. Supervised laboratory sessions and assignment to physical therapy treatment facilities are used for the practice of clinical skills. Another highlight of this program is its service learning component. The WJU DPT Program has become a model of service learning integrating these experiences at the local, regional, national and international levels.

Clinical Experiences
Students participate in four clinical education experiences of 6, 6, 8 and 8 weeks in duration. The variety of clinical settings includes large and small, public and private acute general and specialty hospitals, private practice settings, in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation centers, school systems, nursing homes, and general out-patient clinics. These clinical experiences may be arranged locally, regionally or nationally. Students are responsible for arranging housing and providing their own transportation.

Faculty
There are eight full-time, one part time and five adjunct faculty members. Three of the full-time faculty members hold post-professional doctoral degrees. Three faculty members are certified clinical specialists by the ABPTS (all in Pediatrics). One faculty member is a respiratory therapist and a physician’s assistant in addition to his physical therapy professional credentials and licensure. Another full time faculty member has additional credentials in clinical psychology. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:12. Most of the faculty members are engaged in clinical practice and maintain an active scholarship agenda including research activities and presentations both nationally and internationally as well as publishing research and professional articles. One faculty member is a book authors.

Enrollment
Approximately 1,200 undergraduate and 196 graduate students are enrolled in the University. The physical therapy program admits 50 students annually. Students applying from other colleges and universities account for approximately two thirds of the current enrollment.

Admission
Although priority for admission is given to candidates from Wheeling Jesuit University, qualified applicants who have obtained their baccalaureate from other colleges and universities throughout the nation are admitted as well. All candidates must meet minimum qualifications to be considered for admission. Requirements for admission include: a baccalaureate degree; completion of prerequisite courses in statistics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics and psychology; GRE scores; acceptable non-verbal, oral and written communications skills, maturity, interpersonal skills, leadership and collaboration skills, integrity, initiative, and the ability to give and receive criticism; successful performance in a scheduled interview which will assess the skills and qualities listed above; minimum grade point average of 3.0 in prerequisite course work with at least a 3.0 GPA in required math and science courses. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL paper-based score of at least 600, computer-based score of at least 250, or a web-based score of at least 100. Application documents must be complete and submitted by December 15th. Interviews for selected candidates are held in January. Classes begin in the summer with the on-line term (Term 1) but on-campus classes (Term 2) begin in September. Physical therapy graduate students range in age from 21 upwards and are diverse in socioeconomic, cultural, and career backgrounds. State residency is irrelevant for purposes of admission. Approximately one third of qualified applicants are admitted to the DPT Program at WJU.

Outcomes
90% of admitted students graduate from the program and 99% pass the licensure state boards.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The tuition is $13,400 per term with additional fees covering labs, parking, campus health center, technology, new student, and graduation. The University freezes the tuition at the entering rate for the 2 years of the program. The majority of graduate physical therapy students live off campus. There is ample, affordable housing in the area; however furnished graduate apartments are available near campus. On-campus room and board is approximately $2,400 per term for room and board. There are additional costs including, but not limited to, textbooks, name tags, supplies, transportation, housing and other expenses associated with clinical education assignments that are located outside reasonable commuting distance from Wheeling. Over 80% of all students receive some form of financial assistance. Staff members in the Office of Student Financial Planning are available to assist students with financial aid applications.

Student life
Wheeling Jesuit University is a private catholic university located in suburban Wheeling, West Virginia. Wheeling is located one hour from Pittsburgh, PA and two hours from Columbus, OH, immediately off Interstate 70. The physical therapy program is housed in the Alma Grace McDonough Health and Recreation Center. Program facilities include a spacious, well-equipped clinical skills laboratory and hi-tech physical therapy learning resource center, utilizing the latest in multi-media learning resources. Students have access to the indoor track, fitness center, pool and racquetball courts. The University campus houses two NASA related buildings, the Center for Educational Technologies and the National Technology Transfer Center. Wheeling has a symphony orchestra, community theaters, a minor league ice hockey team, the Christmas “Festival of Lights”, country music’s “Jamboree USA”, and nationally known Oglebay Park, with golf, swimming, tennis, skiing, hiking and the beautiful Wilson Lodge.