Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy

The College of St. Scholastica is pleased to offer the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. This program is designed to help bachelor level and master level graduates of physical therapy programs achieve degree parity with entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy practitioners.

Mission:

Consistent with the mission of the College, the School of Health Sciences, and the Department of Physical Therapy, the mission of the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) Program is to offer a quality degree parity educational program to practicing physical therapists whose entry-level degree is not the doctor of physical therapy.

Purpose:

The St. Scholastica tDPT program is a distance learning education program designed for the working clinician. It advances knowledge in content areas that have been added to today's entry-level DPT program but not addressed in bachelor's or master's degree curricula. The courses are designed for and delivered online. They feature the ability to interact with faculty and other learners through on-line discussion board postings, email, and restricted chat rooms. Focus is on gaining theoretical knowledge to advance one's practice, profession, and interaction with other professionals.

Outcomes for the tDPT program:

Upon completion of the tDPT program, the learner will be able to:

• practice in a competent, ethical, and legal manner

• demonstrate the abilities and skills required of autonomous practitioners

• apply leadership skills in relation to the practice of physical therapy

• demonstrate a commitment to professionalism including but not limited to life long learning and advocacy for the profession and health care consumer

• integrate the process of critical inquiry for evidence based practice

• evaluate published studies related to physical therapy practice, research, and policy and integrate the findings into clinical practice

• integrate concepts of diagnostic imaging and pharmacology in the comprehensive management of patients and clients synthesize patient/client signs and symptom for differential diagnosis

• utilize The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice