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Post-Professional Concentration Announcement Link
April, 2008
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Department of Physical Therapy
Post Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Concentration
The post professional--or transitional--Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) concentration is a non-traditional track leading to the currently approved DPT degree designed for working professionals who are already licensed physical therapists. It serves as a bridge program to allow therapists prepared at the bachelor’s and master’s level to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Admission
The applicant must meet admission requirements for the Graduate School at UTC, found on page seven of the on-line Graduate School catalog. In addition, each applicant must have completed the following: a) must have earned either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in physical therapy from an institution accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, b) must be a currently licensed physical therapist in good standing, c) must have at least 2 years experience working as a licensed physical therapist and d) must have a computer with high speed internet access and specifications adequate to access Blackboard mediated instructional support material.
Click here to download the application for admission to the Post-Professional Concentration (tDPT)
Program Description
The tDPT concentration is a 30 credit hour program consisting of 18 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of electives. Students may apply to transfer the number of semester credit hours approved by current graduate school policy from an accredited institution in a course of study relevant to physical therapy (to include entry-level Master’s in Physical Therapy degree programs) in partial fulfillment of the tDPT concentration requirements. Students may also apply to receive credit by special examination (Proficiency, Challenge / Competency) for the advanced clinical elective courses offered in the tDPT concentration or entry-level DPT concentration for completion of competency-based professional courses designed to enhance the student’s expertise in the field of physical therapy by demonstrating competence gained through study and/or experience primarily independent of the University class activities. Students requesting to receive credit by special examination will bear the responsibility of demonstrating competency in the content being examined to the satisfaction of the Physical Therapy Departmental Committee on Special Examination as outlined in the current on-line Graduate School Catalog in the section pertaining to Credit by Special Examination. A processing fee of $175.00 per credit hour will be assessed for each Graduate credit hour awarded through this process. A minimum of 50% of the tDPT concentration requirements must be completed at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The tDPT courses are delivered using primarily distance education format. A maximum of 15 students are admitted as a cohort each Fall and Spring semester and will be expected to complete the core courses as a cohort. The program is designed for the 18 credit hours of required core courses to be completed in three consecutive semesters.
Cost of the tDPT Program
The 18 hours of core requirements for the tDPT concentration are designed to be completed in three consecutive semesters. The cost for the tDPT program for the 2008-2009 academic year is anticipated to be $2,900 per semester for in-state students and $3,200 for out-of-state students for each of the three semesters during which the student is enrolled in the core courses. The program fee for the first 3 semesters of the program includes all tuition and program fees. Books are not included.
The cost for the 12 hours of required focused elective course work will vary depending on the needs of the individual student. There is no charge for transfer of approved graduate credit hours. Credit hours obtained by enrolling in approved course work in the tDPT program at UTC will be charged current Graduate School tuition and fees for each credit hour awarded. Credit hours obtained through the Credit by Special Examination process during AY 2008-09 will be charged $175.00 per credit hour to cover administrative processing fees.
Post-Professional transition DPT concentration courses
Required Core Courses : 18 credit hours
PHYT 721: Professionalism in a Doctoring Profession (3 credit hours)
PHYT 723: Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy (3 credit hours)
PHYT 731: Pharmacology (2 credit hours)
PHYT 733: Diagnostic Imaging (2 credit hours)
PHYT 737: Health Promotion and Wellness (2 credit hours)
PHYT 743: Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
PHYT 751: Clinical Decision-Making (2 credit hours)
PHYT 754: Leadership and Management in Healthcare (2 credit hours)
Focused Electives.: 12 credit hours required
PHYT 783r: Focused Advanced Clinical Practice (1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 791r: Special Topics in Physical Therapy (1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 797r: Individual Studies (1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 741: Health Policy and Administration (2 credit hours)
Advanced clinical application courses approved as electives for the Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy concentration may be taken as electives in the tDPT concentration.
Students may also apply to transfer up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward fulfillment of the elective requirement. Only 6 hours of entry level masters course work in physical therapy will be considered for transfer credit.
Typical course of study
Students admitted to the tDPT concentration will be expected to register
for six credit hours per semester:
Semester |
Course (credit hours) |
1 |
PHYT 721: Professionalism in a Doctoring Profession (3 hr) PHYT 723: Evidence-Based Practice (3 hr) |
2 |
PHYT 731: Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist(2 hr) PHYT 733: Diagnostic Imaging (2 hr) PHYT 737: Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy (2 hr) |
3 |
PHYT 737: Health Promotion and Wellness (2 hr) PHYT 751: Clinical Decision-Making (2 hr) PHYT 754: Leadership and Management in Healthcare (2 hr) |
4 & 5 |
Focused Electives ( 12 hrs)1 |
1Explanatory notes pertaining to Focused Electives:
Approved elective course options include the following:
- PHYT 783r: Focused Advanced Clinical Practice(1 – 6 credit hours; repeatable course)
- PHYT 791r: Special Topics in Physical Therapy (1 – 6 credit hours, repeatable course)
- PHYT 797r: Individual Studies (1 – 6 credit hours, repeatable course)
- PHYT 741: Health Policy and Administration (2 credit hours)
- tDPT students may also enroll in the advanced clinical electives offered during the final didactic semester of the entry-level DPT concentration to meet the tDPT elective requirement.
Additional options for meeting the 12 credit hour elective requirement include the following:
- Students may transfer up to 12 credit hours of approved graduate level coursework related to the profession of Physical Therapy to meet the elective program requirement. A limit of 6 credit hours may be considered for transfer from an entry-level masters program in physical therapy.
- In addition, students will be eligible to apply for credit by special examination (Proficiency, Challenge/Competency) for Focused Advanced Clinical Practice and Special Topic elective courses for completion of selected approved competency-based professional education and/or certification courses gained through study and/or experience primarily independent of the University class activities. Students seeking proficiency, challenge/competency credit will follow the procedure outlined in the on-line UTC Graduate School Catalog pertaining to Credit by Special Examination and will be required to pay an administrative processing fee per semester hour for each graduate credit hour awarded through this process. Professional credentialing courses that will be considered for proficiency, challenge or competency credit include--but are not limited to--the American Board of Physical Therapy Certified Clinical Specialist designation, Certified Athletic Trainer designation, Certified Hand Therapist designation, Certified Manual Therapist designation, Certified Manual Lymph Drainage and Complete Decongestive Therapy designation, APTA endorsed Advanced Clinical Practice series, or other comparable physical therapy related advanced practice course work requiring peer reviewed competency assessment.
tDPT Concentration Course Descriptions:
PHYT 721: Professionalism in a Doctoring Profession
This course will provide the clinical doctoral student with the opportunity for examination and discussion of the responsibilities, challenges and opportunities inherent in doctoral-level physical therapy practice. A central theme of this course is the development of practitioners who view their doctoral education as a route to engaged professionalism, that is, commitment to the demonstration of attributes which enhance the practice of physical therapy at both individual and societal levels. (3 Credit Hours)
PHYT 723: Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy
This course provides an introduction to the acquisition, analysis, synthesis and presentation of information by physical therapists, with emphasis on technology and the use of computers. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to develop focused clinical questions, conduct systematic evidenced-based literature searches, identify levels of evidence and research design, critique methodology and summarize information, and develop creative means of communication using a variety of active learning techniques. (3 hours)
PHYT 731: Pharmacology
This course will provide the student with the didactic and clinical applications of Pharmacology. The basic principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics will be presented. A study of the most commonly used pharmacologic agents seen in physical therapy practice will be a major emphasis. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between exercise and other interventions provided by physical therapists with drug effects (2 credit hours).PHYT 733: Diagnostic Imaging
This course is designed to provide physical therapy students with the skills needs to interpret and apply data derived a variety of imaging techniques for the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, cardiovascular and integumentary systems. Specific emphasis is placed on the value of the imaging information as a differential diagnosis, prognosis, physical therapy diagnosis and plan of care are developed. The information provided is intended to facilitate professional communication between the physical therapy student and other health care providers. An introduction of surgical procedures used for life support is included. (2 credit hours)
PHYT 743: Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy
This course is designed to provide physical therapy students with the tools necessary to screen patients for the presence of disease processes that are beyond the scope of practice for physical therapists. This information, combined with their knowledge and skills for the management of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary system dysfunction will provide the student with a more comprehensive examination scheme. The information provided should also facilitate professional communication between the physical therapy student and other health care providers. (2 credit hours)
PHYT 737: Health Promotion and Wellness
Primary prevention and health promotion are central concepts in current practice of Physical Therapy. Routine endurance activities have been shown to reduce many of the acute or chronic conditions affecting persons in the United States. Healthy lifestyle behaviors will be discussed along with the ideals and tenets relative to disease prevention and promotion of wellness for general and specific populations. Topics will include practice setting specific management principles and therapeutic techniques as they relate to individuals from young adulthood to the elderly. Case scenarios will integrate principles. Evidence based practice will be emphasized along with numerous objective tests and risk factor screens for many disease states. (2 credit hours)
PHYT 751Clinical Decision Making
This course will examine theory and practice related to applied clinical decision making in the Physical Therapy profession. Students will examine the contribution to current clinical practice standards of commonly referenced conceptual models including hypothesis generation and refinement applied within the organizing context of the five essential elements of patient/client management as described by the Guide to PT Practice and the framework of the International Classification of Function (ICF) model. Through peer reviews of case reports and the development of an original case report, the clinical doctoral learner will gain experience identifying and utilizing organized and systematic clinical reasoning frameworks to improve clinical decision making expertise. (2 credit hours)
PHYT 754: Leadership and Management in Healthcare
This course provides an overview of the principles and theories of leadership and management within organizations in the environment of healthcare. The content is designed to examine the attributes and behaviors of leaders, the relationship aspect of leadership and the leader as social architect within the framework of the evolving healthcare organization. Students will develop personalized leadership development profiles to enhance their personal and professional development. Topics covered include: personal ethical beliefs, emotional intelligence, change management, motivation of followers, power and influence, leading teams, and life-long learning. (2 credit hours)
PHYT 783r: Focused Advanced Clinical Practice
This course permits the tDPT student to engage in an individually designed investigation of a focused advanced clinical practice topic. Course requirements may include mentored advanced clinical practicum activities, evidenced-based review of literature or participation in approved competency-based post-professional education programs designed to advance clinical expertise such as achieving professional certification as a Board Certified Specialist in Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialty examiners. Formal assessment of learning outcomes will be an integral component of each advanced clinical practice contract.
(1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 791r: Special Topics in Physical Therapy
Special topics addressed in this course will vary according to the professional interests and clinical expertise of the participants of each cohort. Advanced clinical application topics will review best practice recommendations for conditions of the neurologic, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary or integumentary systems managed by physical therapists within the scope of physical therapy practice. The latest evidence for planning, implementing effective interventions and assessing outcomes will be explored.
(1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 797r: Individual Studies
Individual studies designed to enable students to study a selected topic in depth. Requires a individual studies contract describing the specific responsibilities and/or learning objectives of the student, and the criteria to be used in evaluation and grading.
(1 – 6 credit hours)
PHYT 741: Health Policy and Administration
Enhances the appreciation of health policy, business, and management practices needed to succeed within the current healthcare environment. The study of applying general business principles to physical therapy practice will include the areas of finance, productivity, reimbursement, business planning, marketing, human resources, leadership, flexibility, and corporate compliance. Analyzing reimbursement of current billing, accounts receivable, collection procedures and use of proper coding will be covered as well as documentation, coding, review of current payer’s contracts, and billing audits necessary to succeed in today’s healthcare landscape. (2 credit hours)
Please feel free to contact Cathie Smith, PT, PhD, PCS, Post-Professional Concentration Program Director at Cathie-Smith@utc.edu if you have any questions about the Transitional DPT program at UTC.
Physical Therapy Department (#3253)
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Phone: (423) 425-5259 or 425-4747
Fax: (423) 425-2215
