2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Physical Therapy
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Health Professions section in this catalog.
Website: gvsu.edu/pt
Degree Offered
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Telephone: (703) 706-3245; Email: [email protected]; Website: capteonline.org.
Career Description
Physical therapy is the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, including examining clients with physical impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities or other health-related conditions in order to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention; designing, implementing and modifying therapeutic interventions to address impairments and functional limitations; preventing injury, impairments, functional limitations, and disability, including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health, and quality of life in all age groups; and engaging in consultation, education, and research.
Physical therapists provide clients, infants through elderly adults, with services at the preventive, acute, and rehabilitative stages directed toward achieving enhanced functional independence. Physical therapists interact and practice in collaboration with a variety of health professionals. They educate and inform others about the services they offer and their effective and cost-efficient delivery. Physical therapists are required to be licensed by the states in which they practice.
Mission
To prepare exceptional physical therapists who will optimize the health, well-being, and movement ability of individuals and society.
Vision
The GVSU D.P.T. program will develop autonomous, collaborative, and reflective physical therapists who are specialists in assessing, diagnosing, and treating the human movement system using evidence-based practice. Our graduates will be recognized in their communities as the provider of choice to prevent and manage movement related disorders across the lifespan, thereby optimizing health and function at both the individual and community levels. As life-long learners, they will be professional and community leaders who effect change in their organizations and communities to best meet the healthcare needs of a diverse, multicultural society.
The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training upholds the following core values:
- Professional and ethical behavior
- Respect and appreciation for diversity in all forms
- Lifelong learning
- Excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice
- Collegiality and collaboration
- Social responsibility
- Evidence based practice
- Reflective practice
- Advocacy
- Leadership
Undergraduates Interested in Physical Therapy
Incoming freshmen should select a major and work with a faculty advisor in that department, as well as with the College of Health Professions Student Services prephysical therapy academic advisor. Suggested majors include but are not limited to allied health sciences, biology, biomedical science, behavioral neuroscience, exercise science, and athletic training. All of the physical therapy prerequisite curriculum course requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
Reasons to Attend PT at GVSU
- Faculty credentials include 14 with doctoral degrees and 11 with clinical specializations in orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, manual therapy, pediatrics, and sports.
- More than 35 part-time instructors.
- Curriculum includes research experience for all students.
- Five advanced electives (sports PT, spinal manual therapy, neurologic PT, cardiopulmonary PT, and pediatric PT).
- Thirty-eight weeks of full-time clinical internship in five settings across the U.S. International opportunities may also be available.
- State-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
- Four major hospitals close by to provide educational experiences.
- A 98% ultimate pass rate on licensure examination.
Admission
Grand Valley State University's clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program utilizes the Physical Therapist Centralized Application System (PTCAS) for the application process. Please refer to ptcas.org to get general information about the PTCAS process. GVSU's specific information is posted on the PTCAS website. Students may begin applying when the application portal opens in July of each year.
All application and supporting documents for PTCAS and GVSU have a receipt deadline of October 15. It is strongly recommended that applicants submit application materials four to six weeks prior to October 15 to allow for PTCAS processing time.
Admission Eligibility Requirements
University Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (must be completed by the first day of classes).
- Completion of GVSU supplemental form. This form is available through the PTCAS online application (PTCAS Supplemental Form).
- Thirty-dollar application fee payable to GVSU. Application fee is waived for those who have previously applied to GVSU and paid the $30 application fee.
Program Requirements
- PTCAS online application (ptcas.org).
- Completion of prerequisite courses:
The prerequisites must be completed by the first day of classes of the professional program. All of the physical therapy prerequisite curriculum course requirements must be taken for a letter grade. The program does accept AP courses for prerequisites (scores of 3, 4, or 5). For each prerequisite course, a grade of C or better is required.- To view courses from Michigan universities that fulfill GVSU D.P.T. prerequisites, please visit gvsu.edu/pt/guide-list.htm.
| Prerequisite Course Name | GVSU Course Equivalent |
|
Introductory biology (that includes cellular structure and function) with lab |
BIO 120 |
| Anatomy with lab | BMS 208 AND BMS 309, strongly preferred |
| Two chemistry courses with labs | Options include: CHM 109, CHM 115, CHM 116, CHM 230, CHM 231, CHM 232, CHM 241, CHM 242, CHM 461 |
| Physiology with lab | BMS 290 AND BMS 391, strongly preferred |
| Anatomy and Physiology I and II may substitute for the preceding two requirements | BMS 250 AND BMS 251 |
| Exercise physiology | MOV 304 |
| College algebra or trigonometry or calculus | |
| Statistics | STA 215 |
| Two sequential courses in physics with lab | PHY 220 AND PHY 221 |
| Introductory psychology | PSY 101 |
| Lifespan developmental psychology | PSY 364 |
| Introductory sociology or social problems or cultural anthropology |
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Students must have a minimum average GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale in prerequisite course requirements, and a 3.2 overall GPA to be considered for admission.
- Official results from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general and written test.
- Subject tests are not required. GRE scores must be sent directly to PTCAS using GVSU's PTCAS GRE code 0282.
- Two recommendations, one of which must be completed by a licensed physical therapist with whom you have worked, job shadowed, or volunteered. Submit the names and email addresses of your two references on the PTCAS electronic application. Your references complete and return the electronic form directly to PTCAS. The deadline for receipt is October 15.
- PTCAS application fees.
- Documentation of volunteer/work/job shadow physical therapy hours on the PTCAS application.
- A minimum of 20 hours of observational experience in physical therapy is required at the time of application; the experience may be volunteer or paid. Observational experience in a variety of clinical settings is valued. Examples of clinical settings include in-patient, out-patient, extended care, and school. GVSU does not require students to submit PTCAS verification forms.
- Employment, professional, leadership, scholarly, extracurricular, and volunteer activities are valued and taken into consideration in the admission process. All activities should be documented on the PTCAS application.
- Ability to perform all essential functions of the physical therapy program.
International Student Admission Materials
In addition to the required PTCAS and GVSU admissions materials, the following items must be sent directly to GVSU's Admission's Office:
- Original or certified original transcripts*.
- Official TOEFL test score*.
Minimum score of 610 (paper-based) or 253 (computer-based) or 102 (Internet-based) required - Statement of financial support* (refer to GVSU Physical Therapy Supplemental Form).
- Official credential evaluation* (WES, ECE).
*Test scores and documents must be sent directly to:
Grand Valley State University
Admissions Office
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401-9403
Degree Completion Requirements
Demonstration of completion of the 119 credits in the professional curriculum is required for completion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
General Degree Requirements
General graduate academic policies and regulations can be found in the GVSU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.
Criminal background check, drug screen check, proof of immunizations and antibody titer checks are required prior to participation in full-time clinical experiences. The cost of this evaluation will be the responsibility of the student.
Professional Conduct
The physical therapy faculty values and mentors the following student abilities: commitment to learning, interpersonal skills, communication skills, effective use of time and resources, use of constructive feedback, problem solving, professionalism, responsibility, critical thinking, and stress management. Definitions and criteria provided upon entry into the program.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistants work with physical therapy faculty, administrators, and staff to provide quality education, research, and service. Qualified candidates are selected on the basis of aptitude, interest, and background.
Graduate Outcomes
Students graduate in 36 months. Students may take the national licensing exam during their last semester or after graduation. Ninety percent of students pass the exam on the first attempt. Ninety-eight percent of students pass with subsequent attempts. One hundred percent of graduates are successful finding job placements in Michigan and across the United States.
Progression, Retention, and Termination
A student must achieve passing grades in every course to meet the prerequisite requirement of the next semester's courses. Any course grade that results in probation may result in the student being held back one year. A grade of F always results in the student being held back a year. A graduate GPA less than 3.0 with nine or more hours for which a grade of less than B was earned will result in dismissal from the graduate school.
Grounds for Probation
- A final grade below a 2.7 (B-) in any required course in the D.P.T. program. Note: An instructor, or the D.P.T. faculty at large, is afforded this option at their discretion and is not required to offer remediation.
- A cumulative graduate-level GPA less than 3.0 (B) after completion of nine or more hours of graduate level coursework (i.e., at the end of semester one).
- A GPA below 3.0 for any semester in the D.P.T. program.
- Failure to remediate a specific course requirement at the required level that leads to faculty recommendation for probation.
- A final grade of no credit in PT 636, PT 656, PT 675, PT 677, or PT 681.
- Issuance of three faculty letters of reprimand regarding professional conduct on file.
- Faculty recommendation to withhold student from clinical education experience due to deficient professional behavior.
Clinical Education
Students will not be allowed to participate in clinical experiences if there is a reason to believe they are unprepared for this type of experience. Sufficient reasons include:
- Probationary status.
- Questions about the student's ability to safely manage patients.
- Evidence of unethical or illegal behavior.
- Medical or psychological conditions that could endanger the safety of the student or the patients entrusted to them, or that prevent the student from fully participating in the clinical experience.
- Problems identified with professional behaviors may result in a student being regarded by faculty as unprepared for clinical assignment. With the assistance of faculty, the student must resolve the problem area prior to the clinical assignment.
- Clinical education courses are sequenced (I, II, III, IV, V). If a student does not satisfactorily complete one course, he/she may not progress to the next course without completion of remedial work or repeat of the course.
Grounds for Removal from the PT Program
Any one of the following items may constitute grounds for removal from the program:
- Failure to complete required remedial work at the required level, and in a timely fashion, while on probation.
- Failure to complete items required in a remediation contract at the required level, and in a timely fashion, while on probation.
- Final grades in two semesters that result in probation.
- Failure to demonstrate "continued competency" per VII. B.
- At the time of application to physical therapy, and throughout matriculation as a PT student, failure to report a felony record or arrest for a crime for which criminal charges are pending.
- Evidence of unethical, illegal, or dishonest behavior in academic or community life from the date that GVSU's offer of admission is accepted to the date of graduation.
- See IX for automatic removal.
Program Location
- Semester one takes place in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Health Campus, located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI, and on Grand Valley's main campus in Allendale, MI.
- Semesters two through six and eight take place in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Health Campus, located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.
- Clinical experiences take place in Michigan and other selected states during semesters three, five, seven, and nine.
Program Requirements
The following program is available: