Admissions Information

Prerequisites
For a listing of prerequisites, click here.

FAQs
For FAQs about this program, click here.

Application checklist

1. Complete university application
2. Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
3. References  (2 references required)
4. Volunteer Experience and Evaluation  (a minimum of 40 hours volunteer/observation in a physical therapy setting)
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results
6. Completed prerequisite courses taken form
7. Plans for coursework for the remaining year form (as applicable)
8. A signed minimal skills form

NOTE: All above information must be received before an admission decision can be made.

Application deadlines
Early: October 15
Regular: January 15
Regular deadline may be extended based on space availability

Acceptances offered
Early: December
Regular: February - March

Contact Information
Susan Johnson
Student Services Coordinator
Division of Physical Therapy
Phone: (843) 792-2961
Fax: (843) 792-0710
E-mail: johnsoss@musc.edu

Ashley Stuckey
Admissions Coordinator
MUSC Office of Enrollment Services
Phone: (843) 792-8712
Fax: (843) 792-3764
E-mail: stuckey@musc.edu

Dr. Peter Bowman, Director
Rehabilitation Sciences Recruitment
Phone: (843) 792-3942
Fax: (843) 792-0710
E-mail: bowmanpj@musc.edu

The Profession

The physical therapist is an expert in restoring and improving motion and function in peoples' lives. Physical therapy focuses primarily on those individuals who have disturbed function or impairment related to the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary (skin) systems. It also focuses on methods of evaluating the functions of these systems and on the selection and application of appropriate therapeutic interventions to alleviate pain; to maintain, improve, or restore function; to prevent dysfunction; and to maintain health.

Physical therapists are specialists in evaluating and treating disorders of the human body primarily by physical means. They are responsible for examining the patient or client; evaluating the results; establishing a diagnosis; determining goals; and planning, implementing and evaluating a physical therapy program for intervention and prevention, including educating and instructing patients and their families. In addition, physical therapists supervise PT assistants, PT aides, students, and others in accordance to state practice laws and regulations.  They physical therapist consults and works closely with physicians, surgeons and other healthcare practitioners in establishing treatment objectives which are realistic and consistent with the patient's needs.

The physical therapist provides services aimed at preventing the onset and/or slowing the progression of conditions resulting from injury, disease and other causes. The physical therapist provides these services to people of all ages who have pain or functional limitations resulting from a multitude of diseases and injuries, as well as congenital and hereditary disorders.

Career Options 
 Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, which include:

• hospitals
• outpatient clinics
• rehabilitation centers
• nursing homes
• schools
• home health
• hospice facilities
• research centers
• athletic facilities
• industrial clinics
• academic centers as educators, researchers, or administrators

Skills Needed

• Good manual, observation, critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills
• Must be capable of rigorous physical activity and enjoy working with people.

Licensure
All states and territores in the U.S. require a license to practice. Each state requires the National Board Examination (NPTE) but some states may have additional criteria for obtaining licensure. In South Carolina, licensing information can be obtained by contacting:

S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
PO Box 11329
Columbia, S.C. 29211
Phone:(803) 896-4655
Web: www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/physical therapy

The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) administers the national licensing examination.  The web site for the FSBPT is: http://www.fsbpt.org.

Curriculum
For a complete curriculum, click here.

Course Descriptions
For course descriptions, click here.

Clinical education
Clinical education provides opportunities for the integration of didactic knowledge, psychomotor skills, clinical reasoning, time-management, professional behaviors, and patient education principles within the confines of the current health care system and under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. One goal is to provide the best clinical education experience possible. For this to occur, we rely on feedback from students, as well as the clinical and academic faculty.

• acute care facilities
• outpatient facilities
• rehabilitation centers
• home health care organizations
• pediatric facilities and schools
• geriatric facilities

A wide variety of clinical sites are located throughout the United States.

Clinical rotations

• Students are assigned to one 6-week and three 8-week full-time clinical practicums.
• The 6-week clinical practicum occurs during the second year of academic course work.
• The final three clinical practicums occur at the successful completion of all academic coursework and professional development requirements. These clinical rotations occur across a variety of settings.
• Students are required to complete at least one practicum in an acute care setting, or a setting that provides opportunities to work with an underserved or rural population.
• Individual clinical experiences should reflect a breadth of experiences and spectrum of patient age ranges.
• Requirements for clinical practicums are at the personal expense of student physical therapists. MUSC does not guarantee housing or stipends while on clinical rotations. The student must consider these expenses prior to applying to the DPT program.

Accreditation

The DPT program at MUSC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) through 2010. The DPT program is scheduled for an accreditation site visit in 2011. For questions or concerns about the program's accreditation or to make any reports to CAPTE, please contact CAPTE at accreditation@apta.org.

Useful links
American Physical Therapy Association