Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program
Physician Assistant Program, HPB 1236, 774-2478

The Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month program designed for full-time students. A new class of students will begin its studies each summer.
 

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Admission, Retention and Termination Standards
The Physician Assistant Program uses CASPA, the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. Please go to www.caspaonline.org to apply. The application deadline is November 1, 2004 for the 2005 entering class. GRE scores must be submitted directly to CMU College of Graduate Studies, Foust Hall 100, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859. Students applying from outside the U.S. should not use CASPA, but rather contact The Herbert H. and Grace A Dow College of Health Professions Admissions Office at 989-774-1730, or e-mail us at chpadmit@cmich.edu. Admission to the program is competitive.

To be eligible for admission, a prospective student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer or paid work in a patient care setting.
2. Complete a bachelor's degree from a college or university with recognized standing. There is no restriction on the applicant's undergraduate field of study. 
3. Complete the prerequisite courses listed below. 
4. Obtain a minimum of 2.8 in all prerequisite courses. 
5. Obtain an overall, undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8. 
6. Submit GRE scores.  
7. Submit a completed application, 3 letters of recommendation, personal statements, and information about relevant professional experiences. 

These application materials are described in more detail in the application packet available from the Graduate Studies Office.

Listed below are the prerequisite courses that must be completed before beginning the Physician Assistant program. Students completing the prerequisites at other universities are encouraged to contact CMU's Undergraduate Academic Services (196 Warriner Hall) to determine if their courses are comparable to the CMU courses listed as satisfying the prerequisites. The final decision regarding whether a course satisfies a prerequisite will be determined by the program director of the Physician Assistant Program.

Prerequisite Courses for Physician Assistant Program
Biology/Health Promotion & Rehabilitation Courses
At CMU this prerequisite is met by:
Anatomy BIO 337 or HSC 214
Physiology BIO 392 or HSC 215
Pathophysiology HSC 411 (which requires HSC 211 as a prerequisite)

Chemistry Courses
General Chemistry CHM 120 and 127 OR
CHM 131 and 132
Organic Chemistry CHM 342
Biochemistry CHM 421
Psychology Courses
Introductory Psychology PSY 100
Developmental Psychology PSY 220

Mathematics Courses
Biostatistics HSC 544 or BIO 500

Like all programs that have competitive admissions, students meeting the admission criteria are not guaranteed admission to the program.

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Curriculum
The curriculum for the professional portion of the program is:

Summer Semester-First Year
HSC 582 (5) Regional Anatomy (3-4)
HSC 650 (3) Analysis and Interpretation of Research and Literature (3-0)
PHA 620 (3) Infectious Diseases (3-0)
PHA 624 (3) Issues in Practice 3(3-0)
PHA 660 (2) History/Physical Exam I 2(1-3)
Total: 16 credit hours

Spring Semester-First Year
PHA 609 (4) Clinical Medicine II (4-0)
PHA 612 (3) Obstetrics/Gynecology (3-0)
PHA 614 (3) Pediatrics (3-0)
PHA 626 (3) Clinical Pharmacology II (3-0)
PHA 641 (3) Clinical Problem Solving II (0-11)
PHA 630 (1) Clinical Procedures I (0-2)
PHA 651 (1) Diagnostic Tests II (1-0)
PHA 662 (2) History/Physical Exam III (1-3)
PHA 672 (2) Applied Ethics for Physician Assistants (2-0)
Total: 22 credit hours

Summer Semester-Second Year
PHA 610 (3) Clinical Medicine III (3-0)
PHA 616 (3) Surgery (3-0)
PHA 618 (3) Emergency Medicine (3-0)
PHA 631 (2) Clinical Procedures II (0-6)
PHA 642 (3) Clinical Problem Solving III 1(0-11)
PHA 652 (1) Diagnostics Tests III (1-0)
PHA 673 (3) Psychiatry (3-0)
Total: 18 credit hours

Total year: 72 credit hours

Fall Semester-Second Year
PHA 690 Clinical Education I (16 week rotation)
Total: 16 credit hours

Spring Semester-Second Year
PHA 691 Clinical Education II (16 week rotation)
Total: 16 credit hours

Summer Semester
PHA 692 Clinical Education III (16 week rotation )
Total: 16 credit hours

Total year: 48 credit hours

TOTAL PROFESSIONAL: 120 credit hours
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Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Herm Triezenberg, Director
HPB 1232, 774-2347

The Program
The professional curriculum in physical therapy is three years in length. Students are eligible to apply for admission to the Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy following the completion of undergraduate coursework. Students must complete both the requirements for their undergraduate major and the physical therapy prerequisite courses before entering the program. At the completion of the professional program, the student will receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.). In the undergraduate preparation phase, the student can enroll in one of a number of appropriate undergraduate majors. Some suggested undergraduate majors include health fitness in preventive and rehabilitation programs, athletic training, health administration, biology, psychology, child development, and therapeutic recreation. Students must contact an advisor from their chosen undergraduate major during their first semester to identify the coursework that is needed for their undergraduate degree. Students also need to incorporate into their undergraduate program a series of prerequisite courses that are required to prepare them for the coursework in the graduate program in physical therapy.

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Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards

Prerequisite Courses for Physical Therapy
Biology/Health Science: 12 credits are required including courses in anatomy (recommended courses at CMU include HSC 214 OR BIO 337), physiology (recommended courses at CMU include HSC 215 OR BIO 392), and genetics (recommended courses at CMU include BIO 315 OR 326). Laboratories required for both anatomy and physiology.

Chemistry: 8 credits are required. Recommended sequences at CMU include CHM 131 and 132 OR 120, 127 and 342. Laboratory experience required for all courses.

Psychology: 9 credits are required including a course in developmental psychology. A course in rehabilitation or health psychology is strongly recommended.

Physics: 8-10 credits are required including a laboratory experience. Recommended course sequences at CMU include either PHY 130, 170, 131, 171 OR PHY 145, 146, 175, 176.

Mathematics: A background in algebra and trigonometry sufficient for success in chosen physics sequence. (MTH 106 is a prerequisite for PHY 130 at CMU).

Statistics: An introductory course in statistics is required. Recommended courses at CMU include BIO 500, PSY 211, or HSC 514.

NOTE: The recommended prerequisite courses have been chosen to provide students with the appropriate background to be successful in the professional DPT curriculum. For students transferring from other institutions, the specific courses may vary. The equivalency of the content in those courses to meet prerequisite requirements will be determined by the faculty of the Physical Therapy Program. Under special circumstances students may be admitted who have not completed all of the recommended prerequisites but who can demonstrate that they possess an academic background that provides them an equivalent preparation. The faculty of the physical therapy program determines whether a student has received an equivalent preparation.

Admission to the Professional Curriculum
The professional physical therapy curriculum is three years in length. To gain admittance into the professional portion of the program students need to complete a secondary application. To be eligible for admission students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete secondary application form as described in application packet. Application packet is available in the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions Admissions office.  

2. Complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer/career exploration or paid work in a physical therapy clinic; experience in more than one clinical setting is required.  

3. Complete all prerequisite courses before semester of admittance into the graduate program.  

4. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses with no grades below a C (2.0).  

5. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 in all coursework.  

6. Completion of their undergraduate degree.  

7. Students must submit scores on GRE.

Review of applications will begin December 1. Applications that are postmarked after that date will be considered only if positions remain unfilled.

Admission into the professional doctoral program in physical therapy is competitive and students should contact The Office of Admissions for The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions or Physical Therapy Office for specific information on this process.

Retention and Dismissal
Students will be placed on probation for:

1. Any grade below a C (2.0) or NC (NC) in any course required in the PT professional curriculum will result in a student being placed on probation.
2. A semester GPA below 3.0 for courses required in the PT curriculum will result in a student being placed on probation.
3. A cumulative GPA below 3.0 for any semester will result in a student being placed on probation.

Students may be dismissed from the program for:

1. Two consecutive semesters of probation.
2. Failure to satisfactorily complete remedial work required to be taken off probation.
3. Failure to satisfactorily complete a repeated course at a level of CR (credit) or C or above.
4. Student shows multiple academic or clinical deficits to a degree that makes it unlikely the student will be able to succeed in the remainder of the curriculum.
5. A cumulative GPA below 3.0 (graduate) in the professional portion of the physical therapy curriculum for two semesters.
6. Failure (N/C) of clinical affiliation/internship courses.
7. Students who display a lack of professional conduct and/or any behavior patterns that may jeopardize the safety or well-being of patients or others; this includes students who do not demonstrate satisfactory performance or progress in Generic Abilities in academic or clinical courses.
8. Students who participate in unethical or illegal activity including, but not limited to, academic dishonesty or violations of the APTA Code of Ethics and Guide for Professional Conduct.

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Physical Therapy Doctoral Program Curriculum: First Year - Summer (8 credit hours)
HSC 582 (5) Regional Human Anatomy
PTH 615 (1) Principles of Pharmacology
PTH 618 (2) Human Development

First Year - Fall (16 credit hours)
HSC 631 (4) Physiology of Exercise
PTH 617 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology I
PTH 635 (2) Examination and Diagnosis I
PTH 645 (5) Patient Care I
PTH 665 (1) PT Seminar I
PTH 626 (3) Neuroanatomy in Physical Therapy

First Year - Spring (16 credit hours)
PTH 622 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology II
PTH 633 (3) Clinical Education I
PTH 646 (5) Patient Care II
PTH 666 (1) PT Seminar II
PTH 672 (4) Clinical Anatomy and Kinesiology of Human Joints
PTH 636 (2) Examination & Diagnosis II

Second Year - Summer (12 credit hours)
HSC 670 (3) Research Methods for Health, Phys Ed & Sport
PTH 634 (6) Clinical Education II
PTH 655 (2) Teaching and Learning in PT
PTH 661 (1) Manual Therapy I

Second Year - Fall (16 credit hours)
PTH 623 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology III
PTH 690 (2) Motor Learning Theory
PTH 732 (3) Clinical Education III
PTH 745 (5) Patient Care III
PTH 765 (1) PT Seminar III
PTH 735 (2) Examination & Diagnoses III
PTH 621 (2) Clinical Pediatric

Second Year - Spring (17-18 credit hours)
PTH 624 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology IV
PTH 662 (2) Manual Therapy II
PTH 695 (3) Ethics in PT
PTH 620 (2) Clinical Management of Geriatric Patients
PTH 746 (4) Patient Care IV
PTH 766 (1) PT Seminar IV
PTH 736 (2) Examination & Diagnoses IV
PTH (2-3) Elective

Third Year - Summer (14 credit hours)
PTH 850 (2) Research Evidence Based Practice
PTH 710 (3) Principles in Clinical Management
PTH 860 (2) Health Informatics for Physical Therapists
PTH 870 (3) Rehabilitation Care Management
PTH 825 (2) Health Promotion in Physical Therapy Practice
PTH (2) Elective

Third Year - Fall (16 credit hours)
PTH 832 (12) Clinical Education IV
PTH 790 (4) Clinical Research I

Third Year - Spring (16 credit hours)
PTH 932 (12) Clinical Education V
PTH 890 (4) Clinical Research II

TOTAL PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM: 130-131 credit hours

Additional Program Requirements:

Doctoral Research Project: Students must complete a Doctoral Research Project in Clinical Research I and II (PTH 790 and 890).

To fulfill the requirements for PTH 790 and 890 the student must complete either (a) a prospective research project or (b) clinical case report. Students must submit final manuscripts in publication form according to program guidelines.

At the completion of the professional curriculum, students will receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
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Accreditation
The physical therapy program at Central Michigan University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.
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