Doctor of Physical Therapy

Advanced Standing Program

The department has a limited program of advanced standing for qualified clinicians who wish to acquire the D.P.T. Applicants should hold the master's degree in physical therapy, have at least four to five years of clinical experience and demonstrate high academic achievement in prior studies. The program has a short list of courses open only to students in this program, but most courses in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs are available with faculty advisement. Individual programs of study are planned for each applicant upon review of credentials and consultation with the faculty.

Available courses
PT 570	Technology in Teaching and Use of Multimedia	1-5
PT 573	Physical Examination and Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Medical Disorders	2
PT 585	Physical Examination and Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Neurological Disorders	2
PT 591	Physical Examination and Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Orthopedic Disorders	2
PT 595abcd	Residency in Advanced Clinical Physical Therapy	3-3-3-3
PT 605	Orthopedic Radiology	2
PT 607	Clinical Scanning	2
PT 608	Pharmacotherapeutics	2
PT 610	Movement: From Molecules to Behavior	3

Professional Entry-Level Program

This program, for persons who are not physical therapists, comprises six semesters and two summers for completion of the required 120 units. All courses are in sequence and only in rare circumstances, or in a department-approved flex program, is the sequence altered.

Admission Requirements (Entry-Level)

Applicants are required to complete a baccalaureate degree (a minimum of four years or 120 semester hours of academic work) at an accredited college or university prior to matriculation. The prerequisite course work must include: four courses in the biological sciences (human anatomy and human physiology as separate courses are required as is cell or molecular biology); one year of college physics; a minimum of one year of college chemistry (organic chemistry and/or biochemistry is preferred); cell biology, kinesiology and exercise physiology all are highly recommended; one semester of college mathematics (calculus preferred); two courses in psychology. Other studies must include: one course in composition and writing; one course in literature or one course in history. A cross-cultural course in sociology is recommended. All science courses must include laboratories. Candidates should be computer literate and a notebook computer is recommended.

Students from foreign countries must have taken at least one year of study in the United States prior to application. Credits from foreign institutions must be approved by the USC Office of International Admissions.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

The GRE is required of all applicants. In general, a score of 500 is a minimum on each of the components of the aptitude test.

Applications

Applications are available in September for the class entering in September of the following year. The deadline for receipt of applications is December 15 of each year. Only one class is admitted each year.

The Admissions Committee reviews all information submitted. Applicants may be requested to appear for a personal interview. It is highly recommended that all applicants make an appointment to visit the department's office located on the Health Sciences Campus and talk with students and members of the faculty.

Notice of Acceptance

Notice of acceptance will be sent to successful candidates no earlier than late January and continually thereafter until the class is filled. In no case will an acceptance be offered earlier than one year before anticipated enrollment.

Candidates should reply to an offer of acceptance within three weeks enclosing a $300 deposit (nonrefundable) which is credited to tuition at the time of registration. A letter of withdrawal is required if applicants wish to relinquish their place in the class; release is granted automatically upon receipt of the letter.

Degree Requirements (Entry-Level)

This degree is awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students also should refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

The USC Graduate School awards the D.P.T. to enrolled students who have completed satisfactorily the three-year curriculum of 120/122 credits (depending on electives chosen). The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 120. The minimum GPA required for graduation is 2.75. Clinical experience (clerkship) is part of the curriculum during all three years.

The Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy uses a system of student evaluation and grading that is designed to encourage self-reliance, to stimulate the student's independent quest for knowledge and to promote excellence in clinical and academic achievement.

Faculty of the program are responsible for establishing evaluation criteria appropriate to the objectives of each course and for specifying the manner in which evaluative information is to be gathered. For clinical evaluation, descriptive comments based on the student's performance are submitted by faculty and clinical instructors to the student's permanent file.

Required courses		Units
PT 507	Professional Behavior	2
PT 509	Cellular and Systems Physiology	3
PT 514L	Gross Anatomy	4
PT 516	Principles of Disease	2
PT 521L	Basics of Patient Management	4
PT 529	Life Span Motor Control	3
PT 534L	Neuroanatomy	3
PT 536	Pathology of Cardiopulmonary Disease and General Medical Conditions	3
PT 539	Clinical Pharmacology	1
PT 546	Neuropathology	3
PT 547	Health Care in the United States	2
PT 549L	Clinical Exercise Physiology	4
PT 551L	Therapeutic Modification of Body Internal Environment	2
PT 554L	Analytical Anatomy	3
PT 557	Provision of Physical Therapy Services	3
PT 566	Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System	3
PT 569	Fundamentals of Neuroscience	4
PT 571L	Clinical Management of Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction	5
PT 574L	Clinical Biomechanics	3
PT 577	Critical Evaluation of Research	4
PT 581L	Clinical Management of the Patient with Neurological Dysfunction	5
PT 583L	Clinical Electrophysiology	3
PT 600abcdez	Clinical Clerkship	1-1-1-2-2-0
PT 606	Clinical Imaging	3
PT 621L	Clinical Management of the Patient with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction	5
PT 626	Management of Geriatric Conditions, or
PT 627	Management of Pediatric Conditions	3
PT 642ab	Clinical Judgment Seminar	2-2
PT 646L	Pathokinesiology of Gait	3
PT 681ab	Physical Therapy Management of the Orthopedic Patient	6-6
PT 691ab	Physical Therapy Management of the Neurology Patient	6-6
PT 693	Physical Therapy Management of the Medical Patient	5

Doctoral research is also available as an elective.

Third Year Clinical Experience

The last year of the three-year program will largely be devoted to clinical assignments in out-patient and in-patient facilities. This continuum of clinical rotations will be designed for each individual student.

Required clinical rotations are:

General Orthopedics: PT 681ab (out-patient, in-patient)
General Neurology: PT 691ab (out-patient, in-patient)
General Medicine: PT 693 (out-patient, in-patient)

Elective Rotations

Electives are numerous to accommodate individual interests and professional tracks. Time in each elective will vary depending on the content and scope planned by a tutor.

Research

While a D.P.T.-Ph.D. track is not currently available, students may request a leave from the third year clinical rotation plan for varying periods of time to pursue research with a faculty mentor. Such leave will not substitute for clinical work.

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