Central Michigan University

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION (2011-12)

Barb McIntyre
Administrative Assistant
Central Michigan University
College of Health Professions Graduate Admissions Office
HPB 1212
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859
Phone: 989-774-1730          
Email: mcint1bm@cmich.edu
Website: http://www.cmich.edu/chp/x1383.xml

APPLICATION DEADLINE for 2012 ENTERING CLASS

EARLY DECISION

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

If supplemental materials are required, send items directly to the PT 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:  http://www.cmich.edu/chp/x16746.xml

REQ=required lab; Rec=recommended lab; NO=lab not required; N/A=not applicable

Additional information about program’s course requirements:

CMU CREDIT HOUR REQUIREMENTS

• 12 semester credit hours of biology or health science (must include anatomy with lecture and lab, physiology with lecture and lab, and genetics)
• 8 semester credit hours of chemistry
• 8-10 semester credit hours of physics
• 9 semester credit hours of psychology (must include developmental psychology)

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

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

References

Number of references required by program:  2 References

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.

GPA Requirement

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

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 INFORMATION

Profile of Most Recent Entering Class

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Central Michigan University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum follows a case oriented educational model that places the multiple dimensions of patient care at the center of instruction.  Clinical cases are used throughout the curriculum to focus instruction on situations and cases that arise in physical therapy practice.  These cases provide the contextual background for understanding and applying theoretical, scientific and clinical concepts. 

Students are challenged throughout the program to think critically, master clinical skills and engage in reflection on what they are learning.  The development of professional behaviors, ethical thought and action, generic abilities and core values is emphasized across all areas of the program.  The faculty and staff are committed to helping students in the program successfully make the transition from the classroom to becoming knowledgeable, competent, ethical and caring healthcare professionals.

The Physical Therapy Program is housed in the Health Professions Building on the CMU campus.  The Health Professions Building contains state-of-the-art technology and outstanding facilities for education, research and clinical practice.  The many innovative features and high level of technology of this facility provide our students and faculty with many exciting opportunities.  Space within the building available to, and used by, physical therapy students and faculty include: The Dell Virtual Reality Laboratory, the Physical Therapy Biomechanics and Research Lab, a Human Performance Laboratory, a Physical Therapy Clinic in the Carls Center for Clinical Care and Education, the Fall and Balance Center affiliated with the Bridges Center for Healthy Life Transitions, the Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratories, the Health Innovation and Simulation Laboratory, a Global Telepresence Facility  and a hydrotherapy area with exercise pool. 

Students within the physical therapy program are also involved in our “Hands for Health” Pro Bono Clinic.  Students in the first two years of the physical therapy program work with faculty supervisors to evaluate and treat individuals in need of physical therapy services who are uninsured or underinsured.  This unique clinic provides a valuable service to the community, as well as an avenue for students to further develop and maintain their clinical skills while they are on campus completing academic coursework.

Another highly regarded aspect of the CMU Physical Therapy Program is its clinical education program.  Unique features of our clinical education model include: integrated clinical experiences during the first two years of the curriculum; a full academic year of clinical experiences (two semester-length internships) at the conclusion of the curriculum; and the use of a team of clinical coordinators (a Director of Clinical Education and three Regional Clinical Coordinators) to support and extend student learning during the internship year through the use of face-to face and virtual discussion groups with fellow student colleagues in defined geographic regions.  The CMU Physical Therapy Program has more that 300 affiliated clinical agencies to support student learning experiences in a variety of settings in Michigan, the Midwest and the United States.

The research component of the CMU physical therapy curriculum provides students with two options for completion of their doctoral project.  One option is to participate in a prospective collaborative research project working with the guidance and supervision of a faculty member.  The prospective research project will be connected with the current research agenda of the faculty supervisor.  There is a wide array of research expertise and areas of interest among the Physical Therapy Program faculty and the approaches to inquiry employed by faculty span quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods designs.  A second option is to complete a clinical case report working with the guidance and supervision of either the Director of Clinical Education or one of the Regional Clinical Coordinators during the final internship year.  Both options require the student to produce a final manuscript in publishable form and to present their project and findings at an annual Research and Case Report Colloquium.  Students are encouraged to, and often do, present their papers at state, national and international meetings.