Physical Therapy in Downers Grove

Fast Facts

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Degree

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

General Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Successful completion of prerequisite courses
• GRE General Test scores
• Completion of first aid course
• Current certification by the American Heart Association in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers

Admissions Acceptance and Matriculation Rates (2006)

• 38% (92/242) of applicants were accepted
• 21% (50/242) of applicants were matriculated into the PT Program

Length of Program

34 months, full-time

Class Size

48

2008 Class Profiles

• Female: 69%
• Male: 31%
• Average Age: 23
• Average Overall GPA: 3.48
• Class Size: 48
• Top Home States: Illinois (71%), Indiana

Graduation Rate (2006, 2007)

Approximately 81%

National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Pass Rate (2004-2007)

Reported by the Federation of State Boards in Physical Therapy for MWU graduates

• 2004-2006: 95.24%
• 2007: 100%

Clinical Education Placements

Community, Urban, Rural, Teaching Hospitals; Geriatrics; Pediatrics; Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Clinics; Schools

Career Opportunities

Evaluation and treatment, screening, education, referral, consultation, wellness promotion and prevention

An April 2007 report in the Chicago Tribune ranked physical therapy 2nd (after clergy) in a poll of job satisfaction.

MWU Career Placement

100% were working within 6 months of beginning their job search

US Employment Projections through 2014

Need for physical therapists predicted to grow much faster than average — more than a 27% increase, compared to other professions — to serve individuals, elderly, those with disability and/or limited function

Mean Salary Range (2005, US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

$65,000

Admission Requirements

TopStudents seeking admission to the Physical Therapy Program must submit the following documented evidence

0. Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
0. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale
0. Completion of prerequisite courses totaling 44 semester/64 quarter credits as listed below from regionally accredited colleges or universities
   • Grades of C or better (grades of C- are NOT acceptable)
0. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores using the Midwestern University institution code of 1769
   • The test must have been taken no earlier than January 1, 2005.
   • For more information about the GRE, contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 866/473-4373 or visit www.gre.org
0. Completion of a first aid course within the past three years
0. Current certification by the American Heart Association in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (enrolled PT students must also maintain CPR certification at the BLS level)
0. Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities
0. Motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences
0. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues
0. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy
0. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check

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Prerequisite Courses

Science Courses	Sem Hrs	Qtr Hrs
Biology with lab	4	6
Vertebrate Anatomy with lab	2	3
Physiology with lab	2	3
General Chemistry with lab	4	6
General Physics with lab	8	12
General Courses	Sem Hrs	Qtr Hrs
Math: college algebra or above	3	4
Statistics: including inferential statistics	3	4
English: must include at least one composition course (oral communication/public speaking recommended	9	13
Social and Behavioral Sciences: including at least one psychology course	9	13

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Program Description

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The Midwestern University Physical Therapy Program leads to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree for qualified students. The full-time, continuous, 34-month, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is open on a competitive admissions basis to applicants holding bachelor's degrees in any field but who have not completed an accredited physical therapy program. Candidate must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.

The MWU Physical Therapy curriculum delivers the academic and clinical education required for the professional role as key members of the health care team and as an integral part of the health care delivery system. The general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development of physical therapists uniquely prepares them to coordinate care related to functional improvement and functional disability.

The Midwestern University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program prepares entry-level, generalist practitioners to provide competent, skilled, professional physical therapy services in large, small, traditional, and nontraditional community and institutional practice settings that require independent judgment, leadership, self-sufficiency, and autonomous practice. The program also provides the foundation for graduates to identify and contribute effective solutions to the major, emergent health issues of our society and contribute to the academic and clinical education of future practitioners. Graduates will be prepared to make valuable, ongoing contributions to society, health care, and the profession through leadership activities and collaborative efforts with others in physical therapy and interdisciplinary education, practice, and research.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program graduates are expected to be able to:

1. Integrate and clinically apply current basic science, applied science, and professional knowledge bases
2. Be self-directed learners, confident clinical decision makers, team players, independent practitioners, managers, and leaders
3. Prevent and reduce the incidence and severity of impairment, functional limitation, and disability
4. Provide high-quality and cost-effective diagnostic and treatment-based physical therapy services
5. Understand, critically evaluate, and apply scientific research
6. Respond sensitively to the diverse health care needs of patients, caregivers, and society
7. Acquire and sustain the confidence of patients, caregivers, colleagues, and community members by demonstrating high levels of competence, accountability, ethical standards, and moral behavior
8. Practice in autonomous, sole-practitioner setting, and interdisciplinary teams
9. Participate in the dynamic evolution of physical therapist roles and responsibilities, including the promotion of health and wellness
10. Provide physical therapy services in traditionally underserved rural and urban communities
    

Objectives are accomplished through:

• An innovative impairment- and disability-based curriculum
• A spiral pattern of learning that permits continual integration at increasingly complex levels of understanding
• A strong content foundation in the physical, clinical, and behavioral sciences
• Problem-based and case-based learning experiences integrating scientific knowledge with clinical expertise
• An emphasis on critical thinking, clinical decision making, outcomes analysis, and evidence-based practice
• An educational environment designed to promote learning
• Opportunities for teamwork, delegation, supervision, and leadership
• Several professional course sequences requiring students to build on prior knowledge and expand their skills
• A sequence of simulated and actual clinical experiences across the curriculum
• Team teaching methods

Program Strengths

Evidence-based practice; health promotion and wellness programs

Mission

The Physical Therapy Program prepares entry-level practitioners to provide physical therapy services at a variety of points along the health care continuum, integrating physical, clinical, and behavioral sciences in an interdisciplinary environment. Services include direct patient care (physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention), consultation, education, critical inquiry, and health promotion. The program provides the foundation for graduates to promote health and maximize human movement, as well as make valuable contributions to society, health care, and the profession through community service, education, and scholarly inquiry.

Accreditation

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The Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1488; 703/684-2782.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602.

Related Links

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Physical Therapy as a Career

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapists

Physical Therapist Online

Physical Therapy magazine

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