Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Progam Director A.Z.: Letha Zook

Program Director N.H.: Salome Brooks

Department Chair: Letha Zook

Associate Professors (A.Z.): David Lorello, Robert Phillips, Scott Richardson, RuiPing Xia,

Assistant Professors (A.Z.): John (Jack) Bott, Shaina Ettinger, Elise Harris, Sergio Ramos, Kristina Wolff

Assistant Professors (N.H.): Roswell Childs, Cory Hall, Olga McSorley, Theresa O'Neil, Saniya Waghmare

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One University – Two DPT Programs
Franklin Pierce University offers two full-time DPT programs with distinct formats, both are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy. The faculty in both programs stay clinically relevant by engaging in clinical work. Both programs have the same mission and goals and curriculum outcomes. 

Students in both D.P.T. programs are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university and complete all prerequisite courses and requirements prior to matriculating into the program. The Essential Functions provide specific core performance standards that every student must be able to meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, for admission and progression in the D.P.T. program. 

The New Hampshire DPT program is an on-site program that is 30 months in length in Manchester, New Hampshire. It has 38 weeks of clinical experience in 10 graduate terms. An early full-time experience of 8 weeks is done during the fifth term. 

The Arizona DPT program uses the hybrid mode of delivery and is 25.5 months in length (8 terms). The curriculum is a blend of online learning (synchronous and asynchronous) and intensive 4–5-day lab sessions, held in Goodyear, Arizona. In addition to the 30 weeks of full-time clinical experiences at the end of the didactic portion, the student participates in early hands-on Integrated Clinical Experiences during the didactic phase of the program.

The Physical Therapy Profession 

Physical Therapists (PTs) are licensed healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, who have health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical therapists:

• Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.
• Restore, maintain, and promote optimal physical function, wellness, fitness, and quality of life as it relates to movement and health.
• Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries. 

Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes (apta.org). Franklin Pierce University offers Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) programs in Manchester, New Hampshire, and in Goodyear, Arizona. Both facilities are newly renovated with state-of-the-art equipment and learning technologies. Clinical experience is a vital part of the program and is conducted at sites throughout the country.

Mission By Program

DPT NH Program Mission:
The Mission of the D.P.T. program is to graduate competent practitioners who are prepared to enhance the physical health and functional abilities of the members of the public. Our graduates render independent judgment in collaboration with others to advocate for and meet the needs of the patient/client and to ensure equal access for all individuals. They critically analyze, appropriately utilize, and contribute to evidence-based practice. Our graduates embrace life-long learning and consciously apply ethical values. They contribute to society and the profession in practice, teaching, administration, community service, and the discovery and application of new knowledge related to physical therapy. 

DPT AZ Program Mission: The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is dedicated to advancing the Health, well-being, and functional abilities of individuals and their communities through the graduation of compassionate and skilled practioners.

DPT AZ Program Goals:

Students:

• will demonstrate progression to entry-level competency during the program.
• will be prepared to succed in employment and licensure testing.
• will meet the required hours of service as defined by the program.

Graduates/Alumni:

• achieve passing scores on the NPTE licensure exam.
• will demonstrate compassionate practice at the end of clinicals and one year.
• will demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning and the physical therapy profession.

Faculty:

• continually update the curricular content using evidence-based teaching/learning startegies.
• model the characteristics of a reflective practitioner.
• score above average on the student evaluations of the courses in which they are Lead or Co-Lead instructors.
• Participate in at least one event per year that promotes the profession and/or the University.

 

Graduates of both Franklin Pierce University D.P.T. programs will: 

1.  Have the knowledge and skills of a PT capable of working as an autonomous practitioner
   • Achieve 100% ultimate pass rate on the NPTE 
   • Employed as autonomous practitioners in a variety of practice settings 
   • Integrate current research, clinical expertise, and patient values into practice
2.  Demonstrate empathetic and compassionate practice
   • Adhere to the APTA Code of Ethics 
   • Respect and treat each patient as an individual, without regard to gender, race, color, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation
3. Demonstrate commitment to the physical therapy profession
   • Promote the profession through education 
   • Possess skills to advocate for the profession 

 

Franklin Pierce University’s D.P.T. Educational Philosophy 

• The curriculum and teaching are guided by the following values:
• The inherent worth of the individual and the value of diversity;
• The autonomous practice of the profession;
• The inherent value of inter-professional collaboration and consultation;
• That community service is a powerful mechanism for teaching and learning;
• That life-long learning is critical for all physical therapy practitioners; 
• That ethical thinking, behavior and social responsibility are central to physical therapist education;
• That the development of critical thinking and the application of evidence-based practice are core skills for all graduates;
• That graduates contribute to society through work, teaching, community involvement, and the application of new knowledge. 

Faculty, graduates, and employers continue to contribute to the development of the D.P.T. curriculum preparing our students and graduates to have the skills to practice in a changing society and health care delivery system. 

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Special consideration for entrance into the FPU D.P.T. program is offered for FPU undergraduates in three pathways
 (See more information under D.P.T. Direct Entry) 

1. Freshman D.P.T. Direct Entry: High School Seniors who meet specific requirements (see below) are guaranteed entrance into the FPU D.P.T. program upon satisfactory completion (see below) of the requirements for entrance into the D.P.T. program.
2. Current FPU Student D.P.T. Direct Entry: Current students who meet the established levels of academic success in the undergraduate courses (see below) can apply for D.P.T. Direct Entry in their first three years of undergraduate work. These students will have guaranteed entrance into the FPU D.P.T. program upon satisfactory completion (see below) of the requirements for entrance into the D.P.T. program.
3. Preferential FPU Application review for current student into the FPU D.P.T. program: Students who are current students at FPU and are not in the D.P.T. Direct Entry program will have preferential application review than transfer students if they meet the following criteria: 

• A Completed application in PTCAS before November 15 the year before expected entrance into the D.P.T. program 
• Recommendation from FPU advisor 

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Application Process 
The application and admissions process is the same for both Manchester, N.H. and Goodyear, A.Z. D.P.T. programs. Students must apply through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) online at ptcas.org. The PTCAS application cycle opens in midsummer for the following academic year. We evaluate applications throughout the admissions cycle with a priority deadline of mid Novemer and a soft deadline in the beginning of March and consider qualified applicants until the class is filled.

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Doctor of Physical Therapy Promotion Policy 
In addition to the University’s Graduate Academic Standing Policy, as listed in the current Catalog, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program implements the following Promotion Policy that is more stringent. 

Promotion 

• Students must satisfactorily complete all courses maintaining a 3.00 term GPA and CGPA and must have successfully completed a learning contract before proceeding to the full-time clinical experiences.
• Students must pass the comprehensive practical examination in the last didactic term in order to participate in the full-time terminal clinical experiences.
• Students must pass all full-time clinical education experiences in order to graduate. Only one repeat of a full-time clinical experience is allowed. 

 

Good Academic Standing 
The course sequence in the curriculum is designed to provide incremental knowledge and skills necessary for PT practice. In general, the sequence must be followed to achieve this goal. A student in good academic standing will progress through the curriculum as designed. Since courses are arranged in a specific sequence, repeating a course will result in deceleration of the student’s progress through the curriculum, and require a longer period of time to successfully complete the entire curriculum. Good academic standing is obtained by achieving a term grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or greater, maintaining a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.00 or greater, passing all Pass/Fail courses, earning course grades of B- or greater and maintaining appropriate standards of professional behavior. 

 

Doctoral Academic Sanctions 

Academic Probation

• A final Course grade of C or below in two courses or
• Term or Cumulative GPA below a 3.0 in any term

Academic Suspension 
An Academic suspension requires a student to step out of the lock-step curriculum to repeat a course when it is offered in the next year.  The following circumstances may result in an Academic Suspension:

• A student receives a final course grade of C or below in any course or
• A student receives a Fail grade in a P/F course
• The student who is repeating a course and earns a B- or lower grade, may not progress until this course is successfully completed
• The student must complete a Learning Contract and may be encouraged to audit other courses they have already completed in order to engage and remain up-to-date with the other didactic coursework. 

Program Dismissal 
Program dismissal may result from the following circumstances:

• Any student whose term GPA is below 3.00 for two terms, or
• Any students whose CGPA is below 3.00 for two terms, or
• Any student who receives a final course grade of C or below in two courses, or
• Any student who receives a Fail grade in any two Pass/Fail courses, or
• Any student who receives a final course grade of C or below in one course and a Fail grade in any Pass/Fail course, or
• Any student who fails to earn a Pass or a final course grade of B or better in any repeated course. or
• Any student who fails to adhere to the professional standards of the program. 

Academic Status Letter 
At the completion of each term, if academic performance is consistent with the criteria set forth for academic probation, suspension or program dismissal, the Dean will issue a letter notifying the student of their academic status. 

Learning Contract 
A student who is placed on academic probation, academic suspension or program dismissal will be required to proceed under a Learning Contract. The Learning Contract will identify the academic criteria necessary to return to academic good standing. 

Appeals 
Final Course Grade appeal - A student may appeal a final course grade decision from a faculty member to the Program Director.  Grade appeals may be taken to the Department chair as the final appeal. 

Program Dismissal Appeals
If a student wishes to appeal the Program dismissal decision If a student wishes to appeal, the student must contact his/her advisor immediately upon receiving formal notice of unsatisfactory performance and file the appeal to the director of the DPT program within three days of receipt of the Academic Sanction Letter. The advisor will assist the student in developing an appeal describing the unusual circumstances leading to the unsatisfactory performance and actions the student has undertaken/ or plans to strengthen their academic performance. A student may appeal to the Departmental Chair. If a student is not satisfied with the Department Chair a student my appeal the decision to the Dean of the School and the Graduate Academic Standing Committee.

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Curriculum Plan-New Hampshire

Professional Year 1 of NH DPT Program

Term 1 - Graduate Term 1 – Fall

 

Total Credits for Term - 16

 

Term 2 - Graduate Term 2 - Winter

 

Total Credits for Term - 17

 

Term 3 - Graduate Term 3 - Spring

 

Total Credits for Term - 15

 

Term 4 - Graduate Term 4 - Summer

 

Total Credits for Term – 18

 

Professional Year 2 of NH DPT Program

Term 5 - Graduate Term 1 - Fall

     

Total Credits for Term - 8

 

Term 6 - Graduate Term 2 - Winter

 

 

Total Credits for Term – 13-15 (depending on elective credit)

 

 

Term 7 - Graduate Term 3 - Spring

 

 

Total Credits for Term - 13 - 15 (depending on elective credit)

 

 

Term 8 - Graduate Term 4 - Summer

 

Total Credits for Term – 5

 

Professional Year 3 of NH DPT Program

Term 9 – Graduate Term 1 - Fall

 

Total Credits for Term – 5

 

Term 10 - Graduate Term 2 - Winter

 

Total Credits for Term – 5

 

Total Credits by Term for NH DPT Program

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Curriculum Plan-Arizona

Professional Year 1 of AZ DPT Program 

Term 1 - Graduate Term 1 - Fall 

 

Term 2 - Graduate Term 2 - Spring 

 

Term 3- Graduate Term 3 - Spring 

 

Term 4 - Graduate Term 4 - Summer

 

Professional Year 2 of AZ DPT Program 

Term 5 - Graduate Term 1 - Fall 

 

Term 6 - Graduate Term 2 - Winter 

Term 7 and 8: Graduate Terms 3 and 4, Spring and Summer