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Table of Contents | Message from the Dean and a Note to Students | The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | General Information about Graduate Studies | Graduate Programs | Graduate Courses | Appendix |The graduate programs in physical therapy are designed to offer two levels of educational curricula: Level I and Level II graduate programs of study. The Level I program is designed for students who enter the program to obtain the entry level skills necessary to become a licensed physical therapist; the Level II program is designed for students who enter the program with a degree in physical therapy and desire to obtain advanced training in one or a combination of the following: advanced clinical skills; clinical/academic teaching; developing, conducting, and analyzing clinical research in an area of physical therapy. The programs are founded on a firm scientific information base and focused on the practical aspects of modern clinical therapeutic methods.
Physical therapy is one of the health professions which helps provide for the comprehensive health care needs of today's society. Upon completion of all curriculum requirements students are awarded a master of science degree in physical therapy. The Level I graduate program is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Advanced curriculums like the Level II program do not require accreditation by the APTA.
LEVEL I GRADUATE PROGRAM
The purpose of the Level I program is the training of therapists who enter the profession as generalists, are competent evaluators, can critically analyze information, have problem solving skills, and have developed the skills to be life long learners.
Admission Criteria
The criteria for admission into the Level I program is a follows:
Selection Process
Admission to the Level I physical therapy program is competitive. Each year approximately 32 students are selected based on their grade point average (which includes the core requirements), their clinical experience, a writing sample (which is part of the application form) and their performance in selection committee interviews.
The top 70 applicants, ranked by grade point average, will be invited for interviews by two review teams composed of physical therapy faculty and practicing clinicians. The review teams will judge the applicants on the basis of the material in their application file and their performance in the interviews. Interview questions will be designed to assess the applicant's understanding of the physical therapy profession, leadership skills, communication skills, and self-perception.
Applications must be received in the department by November 1 to be considered for the next year class of professional students. The first semester of the professional program curriculum starts the summer semester of each academic year. Students will receive notification of the decision by approximately April 15.
Students should be aware that admission to the professional program is competitive and not all who apply can be accommodated.
Level I Program Overview (89-95 credits)
The Level I graduate program in physical therapy is an eight semester (30 month) program with the clinical experiences dispersed throughout. These experiences include three eight-week internships; two of the eight-week internships are scheduled during the eighth semester.
Students in the program should expect to incur additional expenses. These additional expenses include, but are not limited to, books, costs for clinical rotations, and field trips for course work.
Upon completion of the first year of the Level I program, students will have the option of selecting either a thesis option or an advanced clinical skills option as the emphasis of study for the MSPT.
Students following the thesis option will not take the third eight-week internship but will stay on campus and repeat P-T 799 Thesis for another two credits. Students following the advanced clinical option will take the third eight-week internship.
Level I Graduate Curriculum Overview:
Year I -- Summer Session
Year I -- Fall Semester
Year I -- Intersession I
Year I -- Spring Semester
Year II -- Summer Session Credits
Year II -- Fall Semester
Year II -- Intersession I Credits
Year II -- Spring Semester
Year III -- Summer Session
Year III -- Fall Semester
Program Affiliations
The program has established clinical affiliations and internships in communities throughout the state of Wisconsin and the United States. Information on affiliations for clinicals and internships is available from the Department of Physical Therapy, 2032 Cowley Hall.
Expenses
Tuition for the internship follows the standard schedule. The remaining expenses -- such as travel, room and meals -- will vary depending on distance of the clinical facility from La Crosse, area of the country and individual preference.
Degree
Master of science degree in physical therapy will be awarded after successful completion of the academic curriculum and the Physical Therapy Internship, PT 775. Grades below a "C" earned in any required physical therapy course are unsatisfactory and cannot be used toward a major in physical therapy. A minimum of a 3.00 grade point average in required physical therapy courses must be maintained. Students not meeting these requirements may be asked to withdraw from the program.
The purpose of the Level II graduate program in physical therapy is to provide a student with advanced training in one of or a combination of the following: advanced clinical skills; clinical/academic teaching; developing, conducting, and analyzing clinical research in an area of physical therapy.
The Level II curriculum will allow the following: (1) to immerse therapists in self-directed learning experiences in order to continue their efforts toward becoming a life long learner, (2) to immerse therapists in learning experiences that will result in advancement of their clinical skills, (3) to educate therapists who will demonstrate advanced proficiency in oral and written communications, and (4) to educate therapists to utilize current theoretical frameworks in the synthesis of knowledge from related sciences, humanities, clinical knowledge, and physical therapy science as a foundation for specialized areas of practice.
Admission Criteria
The criteria for admission into the Level II program is as follows:
Selection Process
Applicants are required to write a letter of intent to return to graduate school describing what the student expects to obtain from a program of graduate study. This letter, along with a curriculum vitae, should be addressed to Admissions Commitee, Department of Physical Therapy, 2032 Cowley Hall, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601. Level II Instrumentation 2 MTH 505 Statistical Methods 3
The Professional Curriculum
(35 credits)
The Level II graduate program in physical therapy is a 35 credit program. The majority of the courses taken in the Level II program are courses that are shared with students in the Level I graduate program. Shared
courses have additional criteria required for the Level II students.
The Level II graduate program requires that a student select one of the following curriculum options (the focus of either option should be to maximize a student's clinical interests):
Option A, Clinical Specialization
Students choosing Option A must complete a scholarly project as part of the 35 credit curriculum. The scholarly project would demonstrate competencies gained thoughout the course of study.
Option B, Clinical Research
Students choosing Option B must complete a thesis as part of the 35 credit curriculum. The thesis project would demonstrate the competencies gained throughout the course of study.
Curriculum Committee
Students are required to select a major adviser and formulate a curriculum committee that will assist in the development and approval of a student's curriculum plan for completion of the Level II curriculum requirements. The major adviser for the student will serve as the chair of the committee.
Curriculum Plan
The curriculum plan should state clearly the clinical or research focus of a student and should clearly identify the expected goals and outcomes for each course listed in the plan. The curriculum plan should be developed prior to commencing course work and should ensure that the student and the advisers are in clear agreement with expected outcomes for each course and how each outcome is to be evaluated.
Prior to commencing the Level II graduate program, each student must obtain a major adviser, select a curriculum committee, and develop a curriculum plan using the following guidelines:
1. A research core with no less than ten credits.
2. A basic science core with no less than three credits.
3. A selection of elective credits to be taken from a combination of clinical and/or educational courses offered within and outside the department. The number of credits in the category is dependent upon the student selecting Option A or B and the number of credits taken in each of the core categories, i.e., the basic research core and the basic science core.
4. Outline the expected competencies and evaluation format for each course.
All graduate students in the Level II graduate program in physical therapy must select one of the following curriculum plans:
Plan A, Clinical Specialization Credits
Core Research Courses 10 credits
Core Basic Science Courses 3-6 credits
Clinical Science Elective Courses 19-22 credits
Scholarly Project
Total 35
Plan B, Clinical Research
Core Research Courses 10 credits
Core Basic Science Courses 3-6 credits
Clinical Science Elective Courses 13-16 credits
Research: Master's Thesis 6 credits
Total 35
Level II Graduate Curriculum Overview:
Basic Research Category
PÐT 681 Research Methods 3 credits
PÐT 781 Scientific Inquiry 2 credits
PÐT 783 Level II Instrumentation 2 credits
MTH 505 Statistical Methods 3
Total 10
Basic Science Category
BIO 715 Pathophysiology I 3 credits
BIO 717 Pathophysiology II 3 credits
PÐT 721 Level II Human Anatomy 5 credits
PÐT 723 Level II Biomechanics 3 credits
PÐT 725 Level II Neuroanatomy 3 credits
PÐT 726 Level II Pathophysiology 2 credits
Total 3
Thesis Option (Option B only)
Two thesis credits are taken each semester for several semesters for a required total of six thesis credits. Thesis credits are only required of students choosing Option B.
PÐT 799 Research: Master's Thesis 6 credits
Clinical Science Elective Category
Suggested courses to complete this category include:
P-T 641 Communication and Interpersonal Skills 1credit
P-T 642 Clinical Teaching 1 credit
P-T 645 Advanced Seminar I 1 credit
P-T 646 Professional Ethics 1 credit
P-T 699 Independent Study 1-6 credits
P-T 748 Practice Issues 1 credit
P-T 762 Level II Scientific and Clinical Foundation for Evaluation and Treatment 2 credits
P-T 763 Level II MusculoskeletalEvaluation and Treatment:
Lower Extremity 3 credits
P-T 764 Level II MusculoskeletalEvaluation and Treatment:
Upper Extremity 3credits
P-T 765 Level II MusculokeletalEvaluation and Treatment:
Spine 3 credits
P-T 790 Level II Clinical SkillsOrthopedics I 3 credits
P-T 792 Level II Clinical Skills: Sports Physical Therapy I 3 credits
P-T 793 Level II Clinical Skills: Sports Physical Therapy II 3 credits
P-T 796 Level II BiomechanicsResearch Emphasis 2credits
Note: Note: Other graduate courses from outside the department can be taken with the approval of the student's graduate curriculum committee.
A grade below a "C" earned in any required physical therapy course are unsatisfactory and cannot be used toward a major in physical therapy. A minimum of a 3.00 grade point average in required physical therapy courses must be maintained. Students not meeting these requirements may be asked to withdraw from the program.
Degree
Master of science degree in physical therapy will be awarded after successful completion of the academic curriculum for the Level II program.
This catalog is a record of graduate programs, courses, policies, staff and facilities as of April 1, 1997. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse reserves the right to change any of the information in this catalog at any time and without giving prior notice. This catalog does not establish a contractual relationship. For a further explanation of your rights and responsibilities as a student please see the
Welcome and Note to Students section.
Last Modified: Monday, March 09, 1998
Comments to: Records and
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