Course Descriptions
DPT 710 Selected Topics in Physical Therapy (1 Credit)
Forum to disseminate information to students on current and professional issues in physical therapy . Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 711 Medical Terminology (1 Credit)
Introduction to medical terminology for the healthcare professional. Students will be expand their medical vocabulary via immersion in medical content and subjects from a broad spectrum of body systems. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 720 Professional Development (2 Credits)
Theories and experiences designed to develop skills to accurately, sensitively and assertively communicate with patients, families, and colleagues are stressed. Principles of written and oral communication discussed. Professional issues of changes in healthcare, state and local laws, standards of practice, code of ethics, quality assessment and quality assurance provided. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 721 Advanced Topics in Physical Therapy (2 Credits)
A forum to disseminate information on advanced aspects of clinical practice, ethics, and professional conduct related to physical therapy. Prerequisites: PTS 710.
DPT 722 Issues in Rural Health (1 Credit)
The unique needs of frontier and rural populations are addressed. Emphasis placed on the eclectic nature of rural physical therapy, the importance of networking with other disciplines, functional rehabilitation, time management, travel considerations, dealing with life threatening emergencies on the frontier, and involving family members in planning treatment goals. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 725 Evidenced Based Clinical Practice (2 Credits)
Synthesis of didactic material and critical review of the literature combined for effective treatment applications. Complex patient assessment and treatment across all areas emphasizing multifaceted evidence-based rational for all treatment approaches Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 730 Foundations of Observation and Assessment (4 Credits)
Basic patient assessment skills with an introduction to posture and gait evaluation through observation. Patient history and review of the medical record. Documentation in S.O.A.P. note and functional outcome formats. Assessment skills emphasized include: anthropometric measures, reflex and sensation testing, goniometry, manual muscle testing, vital signs, and surface palpation. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 732 Therapeutic Exercise and Functional Training (3 Credits)
Holistic approach to evaluation and management of patients with various orthopaedic pathologies and dysfunctions. Emphasis placed on theoretical basis of specific functional skills interrelated with clinical decision-making methodology leading to safety awareness and proper body mechanics. Exposure to community/work reintegration and home exercise program instruction. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 735 Functional Training (2 Credits)
Performance and application of positioning skills, transfers techniques, and assistive devices. Advancement to clinical decision-making skills and incorporation of learned materials into therapy interventions. Clinical reasoning and critical analysis skills in assessment, treatment design and intervention, goal development and discharge planning for patient’s with spinal cord injuries. Prerequisites: DPT 744, DPT 745, DPT 730
DPT 741 Orthopaedic Principles (3 Credits)
Principles of orthopaedic physical therapy including biomechanics, applied anatomy, and osteokinematic and arthrokinematic concepts examined. Musculoskeletal system investigated from histological, structural, and functional perspectives. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 742 Clinical and Pathological Physiology (5 Credits)
Fundamentals of physiology and pathology related to diseases causing abnormal movement patterns or capabilities. Processes and diseases most frequently encountered in physical therapy practice emphasized. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 744 Gross Human Anatomy I (3 Credits)
The study of gross human anatomy as it applies to physical therapy. Materials to be covered include: muscle, tendon, ligament and nerve innervation of the trunk and upper extremity, structural identification and function of the spine, heart, lungs, abdominopelvic organs, circulatory and sensory systems. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 745 Gross Human Anatomy II (3 Credits)
The study of gross human anatomy as it applies to physical therapy. Materials to be covered include: muscle, tendon, ligament and nerve innervation of the head, neck, and lower extremity, structural identification and function of the corresponding circulatory and sensory systems. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 746 Neuroanatomy (4 Credits)
High level immersion into the anatomy of the nervous system, emphasizing structure and functional relationships. Coursework will also relate the structural relationships of the central and peripheral nervous systems to brain dysfunction and pathology. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 748 Pharmacology in Physical Therapy (2 Credits)
Actions and effects of pharmaceutical agents commonly encountered in the physical therapy clinical practice. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 749 Applied Exercise Physiology (3 Credits)
Over-view of the physiologic responses to the human body to acute bouts of exercise and how exercise training leads to chronic adaptations of selected systems. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 750 Prosthetics and Orthotics (2 Credits)
Evaluation of medical, surgical and prosthetic management of amputations. Design, fabrication and fitting of prosthetic devices as well as general orthotic principles will be examined. Basic clinical problem solving skills integrated in the context of prosthetic and orthotic management of these patients. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 751 Women’s Health in Physical Therapy (2 Credits)
Overview of the anatomical, physiological, nutritional, psychological, and sociological influences throughout the woman’s life span including: adolescence, the reproductive years, the middle years, and older age. Discussion of physical therapy management of musculoskeletal, integumentary, cardiopulmonary, and visceral pathologies common to women. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 752 Physical Agents (2 Credits)
Biological processes of injury and repair, clinical application of soft tissue techniques, thermal agents, intermittent compression, continuous motion, and mechanical traction. Advancement to clinical decision-making skills and incorporation of physical agents in therapy interventions stressed. Prerequisites: DPT 742.
DPT 753 Electrotherapy (2 Credits)
Principles of electrophysics and neurophysiology as they pertain to the use of therapeutic electrical stimulation. Application techniques of various electrical stimulation devices are also presented Prerequisites: DPT 742, DPT 752, DPT 730, DPT 732 .
DPT 754 Orthopaedic Assessment in Physical Therapy(4 Credits)
Evaluation and assessment of upper and lower extremity orthopaedic problems. Functional anatomy, biomechanics, and evaluative manual therapy skills used to functionally diagnose orthopaedic pathologies and disorders. Prerequisites: DPT 730, DPT 741, and DPT 744.
DPT 755 Geriatric and Pediatric Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
Examination of the factors affecting normal and pathologic systems from birth into aging. Issues include normal developmental sequences and common pathologies across the life span. Evaluation, wellness and leisure activities, and how basic rehabilitation procedures can be modified for the elderly will be studied. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy .
DPT 756 Neurophysiology (4 Credits)
High level immersion into the function of the human central and peripheral nervous systems based on current research and theory. Topics will include normal human motor and sensory neurophysiology, cognitive and learning neurophysiology, neuropathophysiology, neuroplasticity, neurodiagnostics and neurologic treatment options. Prerequisite: DPT 746 .
DPT 757 Wound Care (2 Credits)
Clinical practice of wound care including physiology of tissue healing, wound assessment tools, dressings and treatment approaches. Processes and diseases most frequently encountered in physical therapy practice specializing in wound care. Prerequisite: DPT 742, DPT 752 .
DPT 758 Diagnostic Testing and Imaging (2 Credits)
Presentation of diagnostic tests used by disciplines and specialties within and outside of the profession of physical therapy. Discussion of blood studies, nuclear medicine studies, and radiologic/X-ray studies. Interpretation of test results as it applies to physical therapy evaluation, intervention planning and treatment. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy .
DPT 761 Supervised Clinical Education I (3 Credits)
The first clinical affiliation is a supervised full time extended clinical learning experience 6 weeks in duration. The primary purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to actively engage in experiential learning in order to develop introductory clinical competence in the delivery of services to persons with movement dysfunction. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 762 Supervised Clinical Education II (5 Credits)
The second clinical affiliation is a supervised, full time extended clinical learning experience 11 weeks in duration. The primary purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to actively engage in experiential learning in order to advance clinical competence in the delivery of services to persons with movement dysfunction. Prerequisite: DPT 761.
DPT 763 Supervised Clinical Education III (5 Credits)
The third clinical affiliation is 10 ½ weeks and is a supervised full time extended clinical learning experience. The primary purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to actively engage in experiential learning in order to advance clinical competence in the delivery of services to persons with movement dysfunction. Prerequisite: DPT 762.
DPT 764 Supervised Clinical Education IV (6 Credits)
The fourth clinical affiliation is 12 weeks and is a supervised full time extended clinical learning experience. The primary purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to actively engage in experiential learning in order to advance clinical competence in the delivery of services to persons with movement dysfunction. Prerequisite: DPT 763.
DPT 765 Clinical Education V (4 Credits)
This 9 week clinical affiliation is an extended learning experience for students completing the transitional physical therapy doctorate. The primary purpose is to provide students the opportunity to advance clinical competence in the delivery of physical therapy services to persons with movement dysfunction. Prerequisite: DPT 764.
DPT 770 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (2 Credits)
Evaluation and treatment of patients with acute and chronic cardiopulmonary disease and dysfunction. Emphasis is placed on regulation of cardiac, circulatory and pulmonary functions at rest and the responses of these systems to differing modes, intensities, and durations. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 772 Physical Therapy Administration (2 Credits)
General principles of organization and administration that impact the ethical and legal aspects of physical therapy practice. Topics such as budget development, cost accounting, supervision, communication skills, evaluative techniques, and methods of management and quality assurance are included. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy .
DPT 774 Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy (2 Credits)
Social and psychological issues, which arise during illness will be examined and discussed in an open class discussion format. Emphasis will be placed on self-awareness as well as awareness of others with respect to cultural differences, religious beliefs, addictions, and coping strategies during stress. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy .
DPT 785 Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
Manual therapy and therapeutic exercise techniques for the extremities with emphasis on specifically integrating these techniques into treatment regimes for specific orthopaedic pathologies and disorders. Students will review, integrate, and enhance knowledge from previous course work as it pertains to appropriate entry-level manual skill application. Prerequisites: DPT 732, DPT 741, DPT 754.
DPT 786 Neurological Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
Course fosters clinical reasoning and critical analysis skills in assessment, treatment design and intervention, goal development and discharge planning for neurologically impaired individuals. Students are exposed to theoretical applications of neurological function and treatment and are expected to incorporate professional behavior, scientific and clinical knowledge. Prerequisites: DPT 744, DPT 745, DPT 746, DPT 756, DPT 732, DPT 730 .
DPT 787 Integrated Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
Assessment and treatment of advanced orthopedics, advanced neurological, and spinal cord injured patients utilizing comprehensive techniques for spinal cord injury ( SCI), orthopedics, and neurological treatment. Through dynamic patient case problems, students will be able to evaluate, plan, and implement a course of treatment. Prerequisites: DPT 786, DPT 785 .
DPT 788 Spine Examination and Treatment (3 Credits)
Review of spine examination including biomechanics, observation, range of motion, muscle synergy, muscle strength, joint play and special tests. Inclusion of examination schema and differential diagnosis of commonly seen spine pathology. Emphasis on hands-on examination, assessment, and treatment of spine dysfunction. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 790 Clinical Research in Physical Therapy (3 Credits)
Introduction to the principles and concepts of clinical research in physical therapy. It will cover the development of the research question, measurement issues, statistical analysis, literature review, and writing of results. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 791 Applied Research Statistics (3 Credits)
Review of foundations, concepts of measurement, and design in clinical research. Emphasis on hands-on data analysis of clinically relevant physical therapy research designs including descriptive statistics, statistical inference, analysis of differences, and analysis of relationships. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 795 Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Course allows students to pursue a topic related to physical therapy beyond that covered in the curriculum. Satisfactory completion will be accomplished through individualized, self directed study. Topics based on student preferences and faculty approval. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical therapy.
DPT 798 Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
The students will gain experience in critical inquiry by participating in new or ongoing research with faculty who serve as project advisors. Students summarize research by a written report and present each project orally to the faculty and area clinicians. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: DPT 790.
