University of Alabama at Birmingham, The

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION (2011-12)

Betsy Coleman
Department of Physical Therapy
SHPB 333. 1530 3rd Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35294
Phone: 205-934-4363
Phone (alternate number):
Email: becol@uab.edu
Website: http://www.uab.edu/pt

APPLICATION DEADLINE for 2013 ENTERING CLASS

PTCAS Application Deadline	December 15, 2011
Deadline Type	FIRM Deadline
Application Close Date (for soft deadlines only)
Program Has Rolling Admissions Process?	NO
Important Dates (if any):

EARLY DECISION

Program participates in the PTCAS Early Decision Applicants MUST apply and submit all materials to PTCAS by AUGUST 15.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

If supplemental materials are required, send items directly to the PT program.

Supplemental APPLICATION required?	YES - For selected applicants only
Supplemental MATERIALS required?	YES - For selected applicants only
If yes, list of items	If accepted to the UAB DPT program, the applicant must complete a graduate school application. The applicant must also send original transcripts, original documentation of GRE scores and the graduate school fee. The fee is currently $45 but is subject to change.
Supplemental FEE required?	YES - for selected applicants only
If yes, amount	$45 (subject to change)
Supplemental deadline(s) DD-MM-YYYY	30-Apr-2012
Link to supplemental forms or instructions
Custom (program-specific) questions on the PTCAS application
Consider your most challenging undergraduate course. Why was this course so challenging and what specific steps did you take to overcome the challenge?
If physical therapy was not a career option, what career would you choose and why?
Cultural diversity is important to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Please provide one example of how you plan to contribute to cultural diversity as a UAB DPT student.
Applicants to the UAB DPT program are all passionate about the human body and desire to help people overcome physical challenges. Other than these areas, what specifically will set you apart from other applicants to this program?

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites

Must applicants earn a Bachelor's degree prior to enrolling into the PT program? YES
Link to program’s prerequisite web page:

#	COURSE SUBJECT	COURSE LEVEL	4-YR *	LAB **	SEM HRS	ACCEPTABLE COURSES	COURSE DESCRIPTION
1	Biology I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Biology: GENERAL Biology: Zoology	Biology prerequisite must be for science majors
2	Biology II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Biology: GENERAL Biology: Zoology	Biology prerequisite must be for science majors
3	Biology / Biological Science	General or College	NO	NO	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Comparative A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: Vertebrate Biology: Cell Biology: Embryology Biology: Genetics Biology: Histology Biology: Immunology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology	Biology prerequisite must be for science majors
4	Physiology	General or College	NO	REQ	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Human
5	Chemistry I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic	Chemistry prerequisites must be for science majors
6	Chemistry II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic	Chemistry prerequisites must be for science majors
7	English Composition / Writing	General or College	NO	N/A	6	.
8	Math	General or College	NO	NO	3	Math: Calculus Math: Trigonometry	We will accept pre-calculus with trigonometry
9	Medical Terminology	General or College	NO	N/A	2-3	.	The medical terminology course may be an online course.
10	Physics I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	.	Physics prerequisites must be for science majors
11	Physics II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	.	Physics prerequisites must be for science majors
12	Psychology	General or College	NO	N/A	9	Psychology: Abnormal Psychology: Adolescent Psychology: Child Psychology: Death & Dying Psychology: Developmental Psychology: GENERAL Psychology: Human Behavior Psychology: Growth & Dev. Psychology: Life Span Dev.
13	Statistics	General or College	NO	N/A	3	Biology: Biostatistics Math: Statistics Psychology: Statistics

* YES=course must be completed in a 4-year college/university and NOT in a community college.
** REQ=required lab; Rec=recommended lab; NO=lab not required; N/A=not applicable

Additional information about program’s course requirements:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

For 2011-12 Cycle: Due to changes in the GRE, programs may require or prefer that you take the exam early and before the "GRE® revised General Test" is introduced on August 1. Early Decision candidates in PTCAS must take the GRE and request scores to be sent by no later than July 31.

GRE General Test = Testing on or before July 31, 2011
GRE REVISED General Test = Testing on or after August 1, 2011

Is the GRE required?	Required
Program’s GRE College Code for 2011-12 Cycle	7801 (new)
GRE Accepted by Program for 2011-12 Cycle	GRE® General Test and GRE® REVISED General Test accepted
Last acceptable GRE test date – DD-MM-YYYY (if applicable)
Oldest GRE score considered – DD-MM-YYYY (if applicable)	15-Dec-2006

GRE table below may contain blank fields if program data is not available or applicable.

GRE Section	Minimum GRE Score	Average GRE Score for Accepted Students
Verbal
Verbal Percentile
Quantitative
Quantitative Percentile
Analytical Writing
Analytical Writing Percentile
Additional information about program’s GRE requirements	GRE scores must be submitted to PTCAS by the December 15 deadline. To be eligible for an interview you must have the following minimum scores on the GRE: > 1000 overall AND > 400 on any one section (verbal or quantitative) AND > 3.5 analytical writing score. Please note that beginning August 1, 2011 the GRE will use the revised format and result reporting will be delayed by several months. We will not accept late GRE scores so please plan accordingly. The website for the score reporting schedule is: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general_institutions

References

Number of references required by program: 3 References

EVALUATOR TYPE	Applicant must send one reference from this SPECIFIC type of evaluator	Applicant must send a reference from one or more evaluators in this category to fulfill program's requirements	Evaluator Type ACCEPTED	Evaluator Type NOT Accepted
Physical Therapist-1	X
Physical Therapist-2		X
Professor in Major	X
Professor				X
Academic				X
Supervisor/Employer		X
Teaching Assistant				X
PTA				X
Pre-PT Advisor				X
Politician/Elected Official				X
Health Care Professional		X
Friend				X
Family Member				X
Co-worker				X
Clergy				X
OTHER

Additional information about program’s reference requirements:

PT Observation Hours

Enter your PT observation hours on your PTCAS application. Print the PT Observation Hours form from the PTCAS application or use online PT Hours signature process, if the program requires you to have your hours verified by a physical therapist. Send signed forms to PTCAS.

PT HOURS	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Description of Program’s PT Hours Requirement	PT hours are required - a licensed PT must verify hours with signed form
Total Number of PT Hours REQUIRED	40
Total Number of PT Hours RECOMMENDED
DEADLINE for Completion of All PT Hours DD-MM-YYYY	15-Dec-2011
PAID Experience	Accepted
VOLUNTEER Experience	Accepted
INPATIENT Experience	Accepted
OUTPATIENT Experience	Accepted
Additional information about program’s PT hours requirement	We encourage experiences in multiple physical therapy settings (e.g. acute care, outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, pediatric, geriatric, sports medicine). Documentation of observation hours must be submitted to PTCAS by the December 15 deadline.

GPA Requirement

GPAs will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

GPA	Minimum GPA	Average GPA for Accepted Students
Overall Undergraduate Cumulative	3.00	3.68
Program-specific Prerequisite	3.00	3.62
Additional information about program’s GPA requirements (if any)	The average GPA for accepted students is based on the mean GPA of classes accepted for 2010, 2011 and 2012. If a course is repeated, the average of the attempts will be used for the calculation of the overall GPA. For calculation of the prerequisite GPA, we will use the higher of the 2 grades if taken twice.

FOREIGN APPLICANTS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The program’s foreign (international) transcript policies do NOT apply to study abroad coursework that is itemized on a U.S. college or university transcript. Study abroad is processed in the same way as U.S. coursework.

Program’s citizenship requirements (individuals listed may be eligible for admission)	U.S. citizens U.S. permanent residents Canadian citizens
Program requires non-native speakers to submit TOEFL scores?
Program policy for submission of non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework	Do not send any foreign documentation. PT program only considers U.S. courses.
Program policy for CANADIAN coursework	Send original CANADIAN transcript to PTCAS.
Additional information about program’s policy on foreign coursework	Foreign applicants who have undergraduate degrees from regionally accredited universities in the United States may be eligible. Please contact the UAB Department of Physical Therapy directly for more information.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

PT Degree Offered	Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
PT Program Start Date(s) For Entering Class DD-MM-YYYY	09-Jan-2013
Dual-degree programs offered in conjunction with the PT degree (if any)
Institution's religious affiliation (if any)

Profile of Most Recent Entering Class

Items will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

Size of Most Recent Entering Class	50
Anticipated Size of Next Entering Class	50
Percent of IN-STATE applicants accepted	80%
Percent of WICHE applicants accepted (if applicable)
Percent of OUT-OF-STATE (non-resident) applicants accepted	20%
Percent of CANADIAN applicants accepted
Percent of INTERNATIONAL (non-U.S/non-Canadian) applicants accepted
Additional information about the class profile

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham will prepare physical therapists as applied scientists. Graduates of our program have the entry-level skills, knowledge, and behaviors to function effectively in clinical practice, consultation, education, critical inquiry, and administration. Graduates are eligible for the physical therapist licensure examination. Satisfactory performance in the experiences provided in the UAB DPT program prepares the graduate to:

1. Integrate the biological, physical, social, and behavioral sciences in providing physical therapy.

2. Critically evaluate scientific literature and other resources to be an informed practitioner, while applying principles of evidence-based practice to patient/client management.

3. Examine, evaluate, diagnose, establish prognosis and apply intervention for the management of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions of the cardiovascular/pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and integumentary systems.

4. Recognize when a problem is outside the scope of practice of physical therapy and when referral to other resources is appropriate.

5. Demonstrate a personal value system that reflects appreciation of the worth of an individual, recognition of the rights of others, and acknowledgement of responsibility for individual actions.

6. Demonstrate professional competence that embodies professional ethics and accountability.

7. Identify, organize, and utilize appropriate resources to effectively develop and efficiently provide services under the scope of physical therapy practice.

8. Apply the scientific approach to problem solving in carrying out professional responsibilities.

9. Identify the physical therapy and related health care needs of a community; develop and implement programs that address those needs.

10. Communicate efficiently and effectively.

11. Interact with other health care practitioners and service providers in a manner that reflects an understanding of complementary roles and that maximizes potential contributions of other providers toward the common goal of optimal patient care and health promotion.

12. Apply appropriate teaching/learning theories in health care, academic, and community environments.

13. Continue self-development, personally and professionally, based on self-assessment of individual needs and on recognition of own strengths and limitations.

14. Maintain identity as a physical therapist and promote the development of the profession of physical therapy through service and scholarly activity.

15. Demonstrate basic skills and knowledge necessary for clinical research in Physical Therapy.

(Page last updated 5/17/2011)