Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program
Physician Assistant Program, 101 FOUST, 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.

Admission to the program is competitive. For information about the program, prospective students should contact the Physician Assistant program office. Applications are available through the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions Admissions office.

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.

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
134 Pearce Hall, 774-2347

NOTE:  The Doctor of Physical Therapy will be offered beginning May, 2004, and will replace the M.S. in Physical Therapy.

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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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.
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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 3.0 in all coursework.  

6. Completion of their undergraduate degree.  

7. Students must submit scores on GRE.
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The application deadline is December 1.
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.

The curriculum for the Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy is:

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 (16-17 credit hours)
PTH 624 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology IV
PTH 662 (1) 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.

Master of Science in Physical Therapy

NOTE:  The Master of Science in Physical Therapy program is being replaced by the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  Students will not be admitted to the M.S. program after Fall, 2003.

The Program
The professional graduate portion of the curriculum is three years in length. Students are eligible to apply for admission to the graduate portion following the completion of a minimum of three years of undergraduate coursework. Students must complete both the requirements for their undergraduate major and the physical therapy prerequisites before entering the program. The length of time required to complete both segments of the program will vary depending on the undergraduate major that is chosen. At the completion of the professional portion of the program, the student will receive a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy (M.S. in 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 biology, psychology, child development, and therapeutic recreation. Students may also pursue undergraduate majors in health fitness in preventive and rehabilitation programs, sports medicine or business, but these would necessitate an additional year of undergraduate work. 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 the first three years of their undergraduate program a series of prerequisite courses needed to prepare them for the graduate physical therapy program.

Students who begin the physical therapy program during the senior year of their undergraduate program at CMU will be classified as follows: while the student is completing the requirements for the bachelor's degree, the student will register as an undergraduate student and pay undergraduate physical therapy tuition plus all course fees. As an undergraduate student, he/she will not be eligible for a graduate fellowship or graduate assistantship. After completing the requirements for the bachelor's degree, the student must register as a graduate student and pay the graduate physical therapy tuition plus all course fees. A student will not be allowed to continue in the program unless he/she has been awarded the bachelor's degree prior to beginning the second year of the program.

Prerequisite Courses for Physical Therapy

Biology/Health Science: 9 credits are required, including courses in anatomy (recommended courses at CMU include HSC 214 OR BIO 337) and physiology (recommended courses at CMU include HSC 215 OR BIO 392). Laboratories required for both anatomy and physiology.

Chemistry: 8 credits are required. Recommended sequences at CMU include CHM 131 and 132 OR CHM 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 strongly recommended.

Physics: 8-10 credits are required, including a laboratory experience. Suggested course sequences at CMU include 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).

NOTE: The recommended prerequisite courses have been chosen to provide students with the appropriate background to be successful in the professional curriculum. For students transferring from other institutions, the specific courses taken may vary and the equivalency of the content in those courses to meet the prerequisite requirements will be determined by the faculty of the physical therapy program.

Under special circumstances, students may be admitted who have not completed the exact series of recommended prerequisites, but can demonstrate that they possess an academic background that provides them an equivalent preparation. In those cases, the faculty of the program will determine 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 during the second semester of their junior year or senior year depending on their undergraduate major. 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 (as described above).
4. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses with no grades below a C (2.0).
5. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in all coursework.
6. Have a clear plan for completion of their undergraduate degree by the end of the first year of the professional portion of the physical therapy curricula. The requirements for the student's undergraduate major should be completed before entering the physical therapy program.
7. Students applying from universities other than CMU must have their undergraduate degree completed before entering the program.
   
   The application deadline is January 15.
   
   Admission into the professional portion of the physical therapy program is competitive and students should contact their advisor for specific information on this process. Meeting the above criteria does not guarantee admission into the physical therapy program.

The curriculum for the professional portion of the program is:

First Year - Fall (16 credit hours)
HSC 582 (5) Regional Human Anatomy
PTH 525 (1) Clinical Measurement in Physical Therapy
PTH 617 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology I
PTH 618 (2) Human Physical Development
PTH 645 (5) Patient Care I
PTH 665 (1) Physical Therapy Seminar I

First Year - Spring (16 credit hours)
PTH 622 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology II
PTH 626 (3) Neuroanatomy in Physical Therapy
PTH 633 (3) Clinical Education I
PTH 646 (5) Patient Care II
PTH 666 (1) Physical Therapy Seminar II
PTH 672 (4) Clinical Anatomy and Kinesiology of Human Joints

First Year - Summer (9 credit hours)
PTH 634 (6) Clinical Education II 
HSC 670 (3) Research Methods for Health, Physical Education and Sport

Second Year - Fall (14 credits)
PTH 623 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology III 
PTH 655 (2) Teaching & Learning in Physical Therapy 
PTH 732 (3) Clinical Education III 
PTH 745 (5) Patient Care III 
PTH 765 (1) Physical Therapy Seminars III 
PTH 690 (2) Motor Learning in Neurorehabilitation

Second Year - Spring (16 credit hours)
HSC 832 (4) Physiology of Exercise 
PTH 624 (1) Clinical Pathophysiology IV 
PTH 661 (1) Manual Therapy I 
PTH 695 (3) Ethics in Physical Therapy 
PTH 746 (4) Patient Care IV 
PTH 766 (1) Physical Therapy Seminars IV 
PTH 692 (2) Clinical Biomechanics

Second Year - Summer (7 credit hours)
PTH 710 (3) Principles in Clinical Management
PTH 620 (2) Clinical Management of Geriatric Patients
PTH 621 (2) Clinical Pediatrics
PTH 670 (1) Critical Analysis and Interpretation of Research

Electives:
PTH 662 (2) Manual Therapy II
PTH 663 (2) Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Third Year - Fall (16 credit hours)
PTH 832 (12) Clinical Education IV (16 weeks)
PTH 790 (4) Clinical Research I
   OR PTH 798 (1-6) Thesis

Third Year - Spring (16 credit hours)
PTH 932 (12) Clinical Education V (16 weeks)
PTH 890 (4) Clinical Research II
   OR PTH 798 (1-6) Thesis

Total: 110 credit hours

Additional Program Requirements
Plan A:
Students must complete a thesis following guidelines established by the department and university. Students are required to complete 6 credit hours of thesis research (PTH 798).

Plan B:
Students must complete 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 collaborative 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 Masters of Science Degree in Physical Therapy.
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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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