PHYSICAL THERAPY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Program Description

The program in physical therapy (PTH) is an entry-level professional education program leading to an entry-level doctor of physical therapy degree. The program requires three years (96 semester hours) of prerequisite course work and three years of PTH course work. Students accepted into the program are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree after successful completion of the first year in the program. Second year PTH students are considered graduate students upon successful completion of the first eight-week internship. Second year students complete academic course work in the summer following the first internship, in fall and spring spring semesters, and in June. The third year consists of internships beginning in July and terminating in spring semester; an on-campus capstone course is required prior to graduation from the program in May.

2. Eligibility

a) CSS Applicants: In order to apply as a CSS applicant, the student must be registered as a full-time student at St. Scholastica for two consecutive semesters immediately preceding the application, or must have attended St. Scholastica as a full-time student for six quarters or four semesters within the past ten years, or must hold a BA degree from St. Scholastica.

b) Transfer applicants: Transfer applicants are those who have attended classes elsewhere with or without attainment of a bachelor’s degree, meet or are able to meet the CSS physical therapy admissions criteria, or who have not met the eligibility requirements to be a CSS applicant.

c) All applicants must have completed the Anatomy, Physiology, and Chemistry prerequisites before applying to the program.

d) All applicants must also meet the 3.0 admissions GPA requirement based on all prerequisite coursework and receive a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses.

e) Waivers for admissions requirements are considered on an individual basis. To request a waiver, the student must submit a written request to the Chair of the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee prior to the first meeting of the committee in late October. The student will be notified in writing by the Chair of the committee if the waiver was granted or not.

3. Technical Standards For Admission To And Progression In The Physical Therapy Program

Success in the physical therapy program is dependent on a number of functions deemed essential for the practice of physical therapy. Applicants must meet these essential functions and students must continue to demonstrate compliance with these essential functions throughout the program. Students needing reasonable accommodations to meet these essential functions should notify the Chair of their request.

a) Essential Functions

Critical thinking, problems solving capabilities, sound judgment, emotional stability and

maturity, and ability to learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings

to be able to:

· Develop, monitor and manage individual patient/client plan of care.

· Perform and interpret physical examinations.

· Perform physical therapy procedures.

· Communicate effectively in oral and written formats.

· Direct and supervise support personnel.

· Maintain professional demeanor

· Demonstrate problem solving, critical thinking and sound judgment.

· learn in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings.

· Demonstrate empathy, integrity, flexibility, responsibility and effective stress
management.

b) Critical Demands

Physical – (0-33% = occasionally; 34-66% = frequently; 67-100% = continuously based on an 8 hour work day)

· Firm grip strength – occasionally

· Gross hand coordination – continuously

· Fine hand coordination – continuously

· Sit – occasionally

· Stand – frequently

· Walk – frequently

· Reach – frequently

· Stoop/squat – frequently

· Push/pull – occasionally

· Kneel – occasionally

· Lift up to 50# - occasionally

· Carry – frequently

· Work with variety of therapeutic and adaptive devices including but not limited to wheelchairs, crutches, canes, electric stimulation, etc. – continuously

· Vision – corrected or non corrected.

· Communication

· Listen /hear

· Read English

· Speak English

· Write legibly in English

Students will be required to complete a physical examination and a criminal background check prior to the first internship.

4. Reapplicants

a) Students who were not accepted into the program in previous years are eligible to reapply as long as all admissions criteria are met:

1) All applicants who have previously applied must complete a new application form.

2) Reapplicants may forward previous letters of recommendation.

3) The GRE may be retaken at the applicant's option.

4) The interviews will be repeated

5) Reapplicants must also meet the minimum GPA requirements.

b) CSS reapplicants: Only those applicants who have attended St. Scholastica as a full-time student for six quarters or four semesters over the past ten years or who hold a BA degree from St. Scholastica are eligible to reapply as a St. Scholastica student.

c) Transfer reapplicants. Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements to be a CSS reapplicant must reapply as a transfer student.

5. Application Deadline

Students may apply for admission in one of two categories.

a) CSS applicants: Third year CSS students may apply during their junior year for admission and must apply by November 15.

b) Transfer applicants: Students attending another school, who hold a bachelor’s, degree from another institution, or who are attending CSS but have not fully completed two consecutive semesters must apply by November 15.

c) If the situation arises where application numbers are low and the class is not filled, the application period will remain open until March 1 or the class is filled, whichever comes first

6. Advising Information/Suggestions

a) The program is competitive due to the limited enrollment (up to 36 students per class).

b) Students should explore the profession and observe physical therapy in a variety of practice settings (at least two different clinical settings that address the needs of distinct patient/client populations).

c) Students must take the chemistry sequence appropriate for their alternate major, i.e. Biology, Exercise Physiology or other health or natural science majors.

d) The PTH faculty consider good written and verbal communication skills essential for success in the program and the profession. CSS students should seek help with these skills through the Student Development Center and/or the Writing Center.

e) CSS Students must be making progress toward an undergraduate departmental degree (for example, biology, psychology, exercise physiology). Such plans may help reduce the stress involved in applying to the program . In addition, in the event a student is not accepted into the PT program, the student is able to complete a bachelor’s degree at CSS with a major in another department/program.

7. Applying to the PTH Program

The PTH Admissions Committee recognizes that entrance of under-represented ethnic minorities to the profession of PTH is a priority. Therefore, the Committee, while ensuring that all applicants possess the qualifications necessary for success in the program and the profession, will carefully consider the admissions application materials of ethnic minority applicants.

a) Criteria for Selection.

The following are the major criteria used by the PTH Admissions Committee members in determining a candidate's suitability for admission. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their academic record, their performance in an interview with two committee members, their GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and evidence of their exposure to the profession. Admission files are property of The College of St. Scholastica. Once materials are submitted, applicants are not granted access to the file unless admitted to the program. Questions regarding the admission process may be directed to the Chair of the PTH Admissions Committee, the Graduate Studies Office, or the Chair of the PTH Department.

1) Academic record.

(1) Overall GPA: PTH Admissions GPA is a minimum of 3.0 and is based on all PTH prerequisite courses plus the most recent course work to equal 80 semester credits.

(2) CSS Applicants: Grades for fall semester of the year of application are included in the calculations.

2) Interviews. Applicants will have two individual interviews with members of the PTH Admissions Committee. The interview will provide the applicant an opportunity to demonstrate interpersonal skills, knowledge of the profession, and global awareness.

3) GRE. Applicants are required to complete the GRE and to have scores forwarded to PTH Admissions on or before the deadline date. Preferred scores are 500 each for the verbal and quantitative sections and a preferred minimum of 3.5 for the written analytical section.

4) Recommendations/References: The applicant is responsible to solicit two recommendations/references for the file, one of whom must be a physical therapist. Only materials received by the application deadline will be included in the file. Applicants may have additional recommendations/references from therapists, friends, faculty, employers, etc., if they wish. The recommendation/reference form found in the application material must be completed by each person the student asks. A letter may accompany this completed form if the reference so chooses. Applicants should use this method to demonstrate their exposure to the profession, academic promise, character, and maturity. CSS applicants are encouraged to have their advisor or an instructor complete a recommendation/reference form.

5) Professional exploration. Applicants are required to demonstrate an awareness of the diversity and specificity of the profession by performing volunteer hours, by conducting observations, or by working in physical therapy settings. Exposure to physical therapy in a variety of settings is required (at least two different clinical settings that address the needs of distinct patient/client populations). While the PTH Admissions Committee does not specify a set number of volunteer hours, applicants will be asked to verify the amount of volunteer work done. This awareness will be demonstrated by the recommendations/references, on the application form, and/or during the interview process.

b) Steps in the Selection Process.

1) Apply: The applicant must turn in a completed application to the program along with all supporting materials (i.e., transcripts, application fee) on or before the November 15 deadline. Applicants must have made arrangements to have recommendation/reference forms and GRE scores sent to the CSS Office of Graduate Studies by the deadline for application. Late applications or incomplete application files (i.e. missing information such as GRE scores or letters of reference) will not be considered. If the class is not filled, applicant files received or completed after the deadline will be reviewed. The above named documents are available from the Graduate Studies Office or www.css.edu/depts/grad/gradpt.htm. There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee.

2) Interview Letter: After the application deadline, applicants will be notified by letter of the procedures regarding scheduling of interviews.

3) Interviews: Schedule and attend both interviews using information provided in the interview letter.

4) Committee Meets: Decisions on acceptance and alternate lists are made.

5) Notification. Applicants are notified of the decision of the Committee by mail in late January. The first 24 CSS students and 6 transfer students will be accepted (A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 transfer students will be accepted.). The next six students will be chosen based on the overall score and strength of the application file. Ten students will be placed on an alternate list with the first five positions ranked.

6) Conditions of acceptance. To reserve a position in the program, accepted candidates must make payment of a $250 nonrefundable fall tuition deposit by the date stated in the letter of acceptance. The applicant must be able to complete the following by July 1 of the year of entry:

(1) All applicants must be able to complete all of the remaining prerequisite courses with at least a C (2.00) grade while maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of admission.

(2) CSS applicants must be able to complete remaining credits to meet the 96 semester credit requirement for CSS Applicants which must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office by July 1 of the year of entry.

(3) If the transfer applicant does not have a bachelor’s degree, the College’s general education program requirements must be met (see College Catalog). To meet these requirements, transfer students must have completed the 96 total semester-credit requirement with 10 upper division (junior-senior level) semester credits before beginning the program.

7) Enrollment in a PTH Program other than that at The College of St. Scholastica invalidates acceptance into the program at The College of St. Scholastica.

8) Deferment requests for enrollment into the program after acceptance will be considered on a case by case basis

2/03; rev. 5/04