Graduate Curriculum - Direct Entry
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Physical therapists, or PTs, are health care professionals who evaluate and treat people with health problems resulting from injury or disease. PTs assess joint motion, muscle strength and endurance, function of heart and lungs, and performance of activities required in daily living, among other responsibilities. Treatments include therapeutic exercise, cardiovascular endurance training, and training in activities of daily living.
Physical therapists administer, interpret and evaluate test and measurements of bodily functions and structures. They also plan and modify treatment and instruction, making use of physical measures, activities and devices for prevention and therapeutic purposes. The physical therapist also provides consultative, educational and advisory services.
The Program of Study
The Division of Physical Therapy of the School of Health Sciences confers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree that reflects the scope and depth of the practice of physical therapy in today's health care system. The three-year professional phase encompasses academic, clinical and research experiences for a total of 117 credits. Students are accepted into the professional phase of the DPT Program with a 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in science and math. Students are required to complete 20 hours of clinical observation at multiple physical therapy facilities. Clinical internships are performed nationwide.
Students with a bachelor's degree in any field may apply directly to the Graduate Physical Therapy Program. Students must have completed the prerequisite math and science courses of the undergraduate curriculum. In many cases, students with a bachelor's degree may enroll for a year of undergraduate courses to complete these prerequisites.
Course Delivery
In concert with the mission of the college, the Program in Physical Therapy facilitates a teaching-learning environment through interactive and collaborative learning experiences. This allows the student to demonstrate cognitive knowledge, psychomotor, and professional skills that will enable them to assume diverse life-long roles of health care practitioner, which includes clinician, advocate, manager, teacher, learner, and researcher.
The Courniotes Hall houses the Division of Physical Therapy. This spacious site includes 3 large teaching laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, a computer lab, an amphitheater with extensive multi-media capabilities, a student lounge and multiple classrooms. Due to its step-lock curriculum, students are allowed into the program through fall-entry, only, with classes commencing in August. We will make every effort to see to it that qualified students commence the graduate phase of the program in the shortest time possible.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (C.A.P.T.E.) of the American Physical Therapy Association. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure to practice physical therapy in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information regarding the program, please contact Edward Swanson, Ph.D., Director of Physical Therapy Division, at 413.205.3320, or via email, at edward.swanson@aic.edu. For information regarding the admissions process, please contact Barbara Benoit, Director of Graduate Admissions, at 413.205.3700 or via email, at barbara.benoit@aic.edu.
American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
(800) 242-3142
inquiry@aic.edu