The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program begins in the student’s senior year, lasts eight semesters, and is subdivided into two phases, Phase I and Phase II.

During Phase I, course work in physical therapy begins at the 400 level. The 400-level courses present the basic, behavioral, professional and applied science foundations  for the 500-and 600-level courses in Phase II. Bachelor’s degrees are awarded to those individuals satisfying all relevant Carroll undergraduate requirements at the conclusion of the senior year.

Immediately following Commencement, students move into the graduate phase of the program, Phase II, where 500-level (summer, fall and spring terms of year five) and 600- level (summer,  fall and spring terms of year six) courses in physical therapy are offered. Knowledge gained in each course is integrated throughout subsequent courses. The graduates participate in the University’s Commencement ceremony in May.

The physical therapy program admits qualified students regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation,  marital status, national or ethnic origin or handicap that does not interfere with the performance of professional physical therapy practice as provided by law.  Students can enter the physical therapy program in one of three ways:

1)   Direct  admission  -  Individuals with direct admission status matriculate directly from high school into the pre-professional phase of the  program which consists  of the Freshman,  Sophomore  and  Junior years at Carroll. Students who meet admission standards  at the end of the Junior year transition to the professional phase of the DPT program which begins the Senior year at Carroll. Students earn an undergraduate major with a pre-physical therapy emphasis at the conclusion of the Senior year and continue in the professional phase for two years of graduate level study.

2)   Non-direct admission - If a high school senior does not qualify for or choose the direct admission option above and pursues an undergraduate degree at Carroll, the individual can apply, during  his/her junior year, for the professional phase of the program. Preference will be given to students who complete 60 or more undergraduate degree credits at Carroll.

3)   Non-traditional admission - An individual who has completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at another institution or at Carroll can apply for the professional phase of the program.  Applicants must be eligible to return  in good standing  (be free of academic or disciplinary  probation)  to all institutions previously attended.

Applications and credentials for admission to the Physical Therapy program must be submitted for processing to the Carroll University Office of Admission. Decisions are made on applications throughout the year by a selection committee in the program, and applicants are immediately notified of their acceptance status through the Office of Admission. Under certain circumstances, admission to the program on probation status is possible.

Successful participation in the Carroll University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program requires that a candidate possess the ability to meet the requirements  of the program.  Though  the program may modify certain course  requirements  in order  to provide a person with a handicap¹ an equivalent opportunity to achieve results equal to those of a person without a handicap,  there are no substitutes for the following essential skills. The applicant must initially meet the health requirements  and technical standards described below to gain admission to the DPT program, and must also continue  to meet them  throughout participation  in the program.  If a student has a change in health status while enrolled in the DPT program, the student is required to inform their program advisor, submit a physician release, and update the technical standards form.

¹  Handicapped as defined by the federal government pursuant  to SS 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In preparation  for professional roles physical therapy students are expected to demonstrate the ability to meet the demands encountered in a physical therapy career. Certain functional abilities are essential for the delivery of safe and effective care. An applicant  to the DPT Program must meet and maintain  the following technical standards for progression throughout the program. Students unable to meet these technical standards will not be able to complete the program. Students shall notify the program in a timely manner of any change in their ability to meet technical standards.

The technical standards include but are not limited to the following:

General Ability

The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing and smell so that data received by the senses is integrated, analyzed and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. The student is expected to possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature,  position, vibration and movement in order to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations.

Observational Ability

The student must have the ability to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of clinical/laboratory  activities and patient care experiences. The student  must be able to document  these observations accurately.

Communication Ability

The student must communicate effectively verbally and non-verbally to obtain information and explain that information  to others. Each student  must have the ability to read, write, hear, comprehend  and speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, family members and other members of the health care team. The student must be able to document and maintain accurate records, present information in a professional manner and provide patient instruction  to effectively care for patients and their families.

Psychomotor Ability

The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to provide complete safe effective care for patients. The student is expected to have psychomotor skills necessary to safely perform examination  procedures and treatment  interventions,  including CPR if necessary. Examples of examination procedures include, but are not limited to, cognitive assessment, range of motion, manual muscle testing, sensation, balance, functional abilities, pain, cardiopulmonary status, percussion, palpation,  and anthropometrics. Treatment  interventions  include, but are not limited to, patient  education,  manual therapy,  functional training  (transfers, bed mobility, activity of daily living training, etc.), application of therapeutic physical agents such as electrotherapy,  radiation, heat, and cold, and wound care.

The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination  as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing,  moving and physical exertion required for safe patient care. Students must be able to bend, squat, reach, kneel or balance. The DPT curriculum may require students  to carry and lift loads from the floor, from 12 inches from the floor, to shoulder height and overhead. The student must be able to occasionally lift 50 pounds, frequently lift 25 pounds and constantly lift 10 pounds. The student is expected to be able to maintain consciousness and equilibrium and have the physical strength and stamina to perform satisfactorily in clinical settings.

Intellectual/Cognitive Ability

The student must have the ability to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential to professional physical therapy practice. Problem solving skills include the ability to measure, calculate reason, analyze, synthesize, and judge objective and subjective data, and to make decisions in a timely manner that reflects thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment.  The student must demonstrate  application of these skills and possess the ability to comprehend, retain, retrieve and incorporate prior knowledge with new information from multiple sources including, but not limited to self, peers, instructors  and related literature to formulate sound judgment for competent  patient/client management, practice management, and functions required for clinical scholarship.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

The student is expected to have the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, complete assessment and intervention activities. Compassion, integrity, motivation and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the DPT program. The student must fully utilize intellectual capacities that facilitate prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings; the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationship  with patients and other members of the  healthcare  team. The student  must  have the  ability to establish rapport and maintain respectful interpersonal relationships  with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. Each student must be able to adapt to changing environments;  display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive  criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; and effectively collaborate with others. Students must continuously  self-assess to improve as a professional.

Ability to Manage Stressful Situations

The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively in relation to stressful situations encountered in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations.  Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the DPT program, and must effectively manage these stressors throughout entire workdays. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer and/or pro- gram related.

Evaluation

An applicant/candidate with a handicap shall not, on the basis of his or her handicap, except those which would preclude the essential skills outlined  above, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, nor be subjected to discrimination in the program. Carroll University may require that the applicant/student undergo a physical examination and/or an occupational skills evaluation.

All DPT students must be able to perform the essential functions of a student physical therapist. Reasonable accommodations will be afforded to students with disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A student who can no longer perform the essential functions of a student physical therapist must report this to their program advisor. If reasonable accommodations cannot be made, the student will not be able to remain in the DPT program.

The Physical Therapy program may require that an applicant/student undergo a physical examination.  An applicant/student who is handicapped shall not, on the basis of his or her handicap (except those which would preclude the essential skills outlined above), be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, nor be subjected to discrimination in the physical therapy program.

Students in the Physical Therapy program are required to complete the Carroll University Physical Therapy Intern Medical Information Form upon entrance into the program. This form documents information about the student’s health insurance carrier, physician,  medical conditions, vaccination history  and completion  of health  risk training.  A copy of the original documents  remain on file in the program.  Students carry a copy to each full-time clinical internship.  It is the student’s responsibility to update the information on this form on a yearly basis, or more frequently if necessary. Any medical treatment needed by a physical therapy student during academic preparation or clinical education experience is the responsibility of the student.

On October 1, 1998, the State of Wisconsin, Department of Health and Family Services mandated that all persons who seek to be employed and/or licensed in the caregiver industry must fulfill the Caregiver and Background Check requirements in Section 50.065 of the Wisconsin statute. Entry-level Physical Therapy students are required, on the first day of class of the program, to complete a background and criminal history check.

Health: Pre-professional and professional students are required to have medical insurance. Those who are covered by a family or personal policy must provide the insuring company’s name and the policy number on a waiver form that is sent to the student by the University’s  Business Office. For students without their own coverage, a group insurance policy is available through the University. Students are also required to have a personal health history form completed and on file at the University’s health center.
 
Clinical facilities may require proof of immunizations or X-rays. The student is responsible for the cost of any laboratory and X-ray studies.

Professional Liability: Professional students are required to purchase on a yearly basis professional liability insurance through a university endorsed company.

All entry-level  Physical Therapy program requirements must be completed in 33 months unless permission is otherwise granted by the director of the Physical Therapy program. The academic progress of students in the Physical Therapy program is evaluated at the end of each semester. Progression standards are subject to change based on regulatory, licensing, and/or certification needs. Satisfactory progress is contingent upon satisfying the following academic requirements:

      1)   A grade of C or better is required in all physical therapy courses. A letter grade of D, F or U in physical therapy courses requires the student to repeat the course before progressing to subsequent courses for which the failed course is a prerequisite.  When repeating a physical therapy  course, a student  may be required to successfully complete ancillary learning experiences or clinical competencies/practicums that validate theoretical knowledge. If a student is unable to take further courses in the next occurring semester as a result of this policy, the student  is placed on academic suspension and repeats the course during the next appropriate semester. A course may be repeated only one time. A student receiving a D, F or U in the same physical therapy course twice or in two physical therapy courses is dismissed from the program.

      2)   A student must obtain a grade point average of 3.00 or better each semester. If a student earns a semester grade point average between 2.00 to 2.99, he/she is placed on academic probation. To meet academic standards for progression, the student must earn a grade point average of 3.00 or better in the following semester. If a clinical internship  course is scheduled during the next semester, the student must earn a satisfactory (S) grade in the clinical internship  course and a semester grade point average of 3.00 or better in the semester following the clinical internship  to be removed from academic probation. If a student is on academic probation the last semester of the program, the student must earn a grade of S in the clinical internship  and PTH 612: Clinical Research II to graduate. If a student  is placed on academic probation  a second time during his or her tenure  in the program, he or she will be dismissed from the program. If a student fails to meet the criteria for removal from academic probation, he/she will be dismissed from the program. If a student earns a semester grade point average of 1.99 or less, he/she will be dismissed from the program.

The policy on reapplication defines the process by which students may seek readmission to the program following dismissal of the student from the program for failing to maintain good academic standing. Readmission candidates may apply for readmission to the program no sooner than one year and no later than three years from the date of dismissal. Readmission candidates may exercise their reapplication option only once. Readmission candidates applying to the program must submit the materials required of all applicants for admission. In addition, they must provide transcripts relating to any education experiences completed since leaving the program.  A letter indicating why the readmission candidate believes s/he will succeed academically and technically in the program must accompany the application materials. Upon review of the materials, the program’s admissions selection committee may render the following decisions: 1) Approval of the request for readmission to the program with the academic condition that the readmission applicant repeat the entire academic program or 2) denial of the request for readmission to the program.

Clinical education in the physical therapy program consists of patient experiences in courses, integrated teaching laboratory practice courses, and 35 weeks of full-time supervised clinical internship courses. Clinical education  experiences occur off campus, and thus a student must secure appropriate  transportation.

Learning experiences involving clients begin in the classroom through course experiences both at the University and at clinical practice settings where students observe and have planned practical experiences. The classroom experiences are expanded into a series of three integrated teaching laboratory practice courses where students participate in campus-community service learning wellness and prevention initiatives with healthy individuals  and individuals with pathology and disability across the life span. In addition, students participate in five seven-week full-time (40 hours/week) internships with patients/clients  in a variety of environments  that include rural, inpatient, outpatient, and specialty facilities and that are representative of contemporary physical therapy practice and patient/client differences.

During the Professional Phase I of the Physical Therapy Program, tuition and other fees apply to all students.  A professional program fee of $285 per semester is assessed for course related supplies and equipment,  liability insurance, and assistance with membership dues in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Carroll University students in their senior year are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree are eligible for undergraduate Federal Subsidized Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

Graduate (Phase II) tuition is $665 per credit, and students enrolled in Phase II are not eligible for Carroll University financial aid grants. Students in Phase II are eligible for graduate Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

Information regarding any clinical facility scholarships and how to make applications for them is available.

Students are responsible for determining the requirements of and securing the application from the state in which they expect to be licensed.