Physical Therapy

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In 2005, The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved Maryville to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.). The D.P.T. program is a six and-one-half-year, freshman entry program. The last students to graduate with a Master of Physical Therapy (M.P.T.) will be in 2009.

Through academic and clinical education, students learn the basic and applied sciences and gain competence in skills required for the professional physical therapist.

Upon completion of the academic program, students are in the clinic for 40 weeks for the D.P.T. program. Students are full time on clinical rotations and are expected to accept responsibility in the examination and treatment of patients/clients in a variety of clinical settings under the supervision of a qualified physical therapist. Successful completion of the program does not guarantee that an individual will pass the licensure exam and practice as a physical therapist.

Candidates must pass a state-administered national exam after graduation. Other requirements for physical therapy practice vary from state-to-state according to physical therapy practice acts or state regulations governing physical therapy. A state board may refuse to issue a license for specific reasons related to moral turpitude, intemperate use of alcohol or drugs, or conviction of a crime.

Maryville’s Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), located at 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488.

Admissions Requirements

Before students can be admitted to the program, they must meet certain entrance requirements. For specifics on these requirements, refer to the Physical Therapy Requirements section under Policies and Information .

Health Requirements

Prior to participation in clinicals, students must provide proof of the following information:

• health insurance
• physical examination
• certification in CPR for adult, infant and child
• annual PPD 2-step Mantaux Tuberculin Test
• Flu Vaccine recommended
• immunizations which include:
  • Measels/Rubeola, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Polio
  • Varicella or documentation of a positive Varicella titer
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis vaccination
  • Hepatitis B Vaccine Series or Declination
    (Students may not be able to go to certain clinical sites if they do not receive the vaccine)

All students must undergo background checks and urine drug screening. Possible checks to be conducted include the Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Background Check, Illinois State Police Criminal Background Check, Other State Criminal Background Checks, FBI Background Check, Family Care Safety Registry, Division of Family Services Disqualification List, Office of Inspector General Disqualification List, Social Security Number Verification, and Address Verification.

Progression in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) A student in the Physical Therapy program is expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each semester. When a student’s semester GPA and/or cumulative GPA is below 3.0, he/she will be on Physical Therapy program academic probation the following semester. At the end of one semester on probation, if the student earns a semester and/or cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, the probation will be removed. If the student earns less than 3.0 on the GPA(s) in question, he/she will be dismissed from the Physical Therapy program.

Students on probation will be required to meet with the director of the Academic Success Center and/or the personal counselor to assist them with their academic program. A student who is on academic probation during two sequential or non-sequential academic semesters during the six-and-one-half years of the program must meet with the program director to draft an appropriate academic contract. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 while on academic contract, they will be dismissed from the program.

Grades in Physical Therapy Courses (PHTH prefix)
Refer to Student Handbook.

Grades in Non-Physical Therapy Program Required Courses
Refer to Student Handbook.

Fees for the D.P.T. Program

Students also can expect to pay some additional expenses associated with the clinical experiential portion of the program such as coats or uniforms, lab fees for selected courses, required insurance coverage, health tests, background checks, immunizations, and travel/living expenses during their clinical experience. Other expenses include APTA membership and textbooks, many of which are used across the program and as professional references once in the field.

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