Doctor of Physical Therapy
Summary of program
- Cohort size: 45 admitted per year
- Total program credits: 111 credits (with option for four additional elective credits)
- Curriculum length: 34 months
- Didactic study: 86 weeks (1708-1806 contact hours)
- Full time clinical study: 42 weeks (1680 contact hours)
- Terminal internships: 36 weeks
Admission
It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Physical Therapy Program that all students who desire admission to the program must meet the requirements and complete the admission process by the posted deadlines. Admission to the program is competitive. All applications will be carefully reviewed, adhering to the procedure detailed below. All applicants, regardless of professional or academic background, must meet the following requirements for admission.
- All required application materials must be submitted to PTCAS by the program's deadline.
- A non-refundable program application fee is required of all applicants.
- Complete an online asynchronous interview process. All interviews are conducted using an online learning platform called Canvas where students record their responses to a series of interview questions for review by the program's Admissions Committee.
- All ten prerequisite courses (listed below) must be completed prior to beginning the program. Students may apply with outstanding courses if they demonstrate a plan to complete those courses before matriculating in the program.
- Submission of official Graduate Review Exam (GRE) scores directly from ETS taken within the last five years. GRE minimums: 143 verbal, 143 quantitative, 3.0 written.
- Achieve an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
- Achieve a GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisites courses (listed below).
- Completed undergraduate degree by the time of entry into the program. Select students may be able to enter the program prior to receiving their undergraduate degree under dual-degree agreements. (At UWL, such agreements exist with the Departments of Physics and Biology.)
Prerequisite requirements
All applicants must successfully complete the following prerequisite courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Biology (Lab) | 4 | |
| Human Anatomy (Lab) | 4 | |
| Human Physiology (Lab) | 4 | |
| Chemistry (Lab) | 8 | |
| Physics (Lab) | 8 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Psychology | 3 | |
| Psychology or Sociology | 3 | |
Admission to the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is based on academic and personal qualifications considered necessary for a successful and competent entry level physical therapist. The UWL Physical Therapy Program grants the privilege of admission to applicants who have met the criteria set by the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee.
Curriculum
Classroom and laboratory learning (listed in order of enrollment)
110 credits (includes internship credits)
Courses are taken at UWL.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PTS 509 | Human Gross Anatomy | 3 |
| PTS 510 | Applied Human Gross Anatomy | 3 |
| PTS 512 | Medical Physiology | 4 |
| PTS 520 | Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice and Evaluation Techniques | 1 |
| PTS 521 | Applied Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice and Evaluation Techniques | 2 |
| PTS 516 | Physiological Regulation of Exertion and Disease | 1 |
| PTS 517 | Applied Physiological Regulation of Exertion and Disease | 1 |
| PTS 527 | Clinical Foundations of the Physical Therapy Examination | 3 |
| PTS 528 | Applied Clinical Foundations of the Physical Therapy Examination | 2 |
| PTS 523 | Physical Agents | 1 |
| PTS 524 | Applied Physical Agents | 1 |
| PTS 525 | Kinesiology and Biomechanics of Normal and Abnormal Movement | 2 |
| PTS 526 | Applied Biomechanics and Kinesiology of Movement | 1 |
| PTS 535 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 2 |
| PTS 536 | Applied Functional Neuroanatomy | 1 |
| PTS 651 | Fieldwork: Introduction to Clinical Learning | 1 |
| PTS 518 | Motor Control, Learning and Development | 1 |
| PTS 519 | Applied Motor Control, Learning, and Development | 1 |
| PTS 545 | Foundations of Clinical Research | 2 |
| PTS 546 | Applied Foundations of Clinical Research | 1 |
| PTS 611 | Pathophysiology and Differential Diagnosis | 3 |
| PTS 619 | Early Intervention and Acute Care Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTS 620 | Applied Early Intervention and Acute Care Physical Therapy | 1 |
| PTS 627 | Therapeutic Exercise and Manual Therapy | 1 |
| PTS 628 | Applied Therapeutic Exercise and Manual Therapy | 1 |
| PTS 625 | Physical Therapy Management of the Cardiovascular/Pulmonary System | 3 |
| PTS 626 | Applied Physical Therapy Management of the Cardiovascular/Pulmonary System | 1 |
| PTS 631 | Professionalism and the Ethos of Care | 2 |
| PTS 542 | Research and Applied Statistics | 3 |
| PTS 543 | Instrumentation for Human Movement | 1 |
| PTS 544 | Applied Instrumentation for Human Movement | 1 |
| PTS 623 | Integument System | 1 |
| PTS 624 | Applied Integument System | 1 |
| PTS 728 | Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment: Spine | 2 |
| PTS 729 | Applied Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment: Spine | 1 |
| PTS 751 | Fieldwork: General Practice | 2 |
| PTS 701 | Applied Adult Clinical Practice (required in two semesters) | 2 |
| PTS 709 | Health and Wellness in Physical Therapy Practice | 1 |
| PTS 711 | Pharmacology | 2 |
| PTS 712 | Clinical Radiology | 1 |
| PTS 715 | Musculoskeletal Examination and Intervention: Lower Extremity | 2 |
| PTS 716 | Applied Musculoskeletal Examination and Interventions: Lower Extremity | 1 |
| PTS 717 | Clinical Teaching | 1 |
| PTS 718 | Applied Clinical Teaching | 1 |
| PTS 735 | Adult Neurorehabilitative Physical Therapy I | 2 |
| PTS 736 | Applied Adult Neurorehabilitative Physical Therapy I | 1 |
| PTS 739 | Adult Neurorehabilitative Physical Therapy II | 1 |
| PTS 740 | Applied Adult Neurorehabilitative Physical Therapy II | 1 |
| PTS 741 | Evidenced Based Practice in Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTS 742 | Research Practicum | 1 |
| PTS 710 | Applied Health and Wellness in Physical Therapy Practice | 1 |
| PTS 737 | Musculoskeletal Examination and Intervention: Upper Extremity | 2 |
| PTS 738 | Applied Musculoskeletal Examination and Interventions: Upper Extremity | 1 |
| PTS 730 | Physical Therapy for Children | 3 |
| PTS 731 | Applied Physical Therapy for Children | 1 |
| PTS 733 | Health Administration | 3 |
| PTS 742 | Research Practicum | 1 |
| PTS 702 | Contemporary Practice in Neuromusculoskeletal Physical Therapy | 1 |
| Total Credits | 92 | |
Internships (taken off campus)
19 credits
Focus of internship may occur in different order per student.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PTS 851 | Clinical Education Experience I | 6 |
| PTS 831 | Clinical Decision Making | 1 |
| PTS 852 | Clinical Education Experience II | 6 |
| PTS 853 | Clinical Education Experience III | 6 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Elective courses (optional)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PTS 700 | Selected Topics in Physical Therapy | 1-3 |
| PTS 703 | Clinical Anatomy Review | 1 |
| PTS 798 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| PTS 854 | Capstone Project | 1 |
University graduate degree requirements
After being admitted to the program of one's choice, candidates for a graduate degree must:
- Complete any preliminary course work and deficiencies.
- Complete all courses and other program requirements, including residence requirements prescribed for the degree desired in the respective school or college within a seven-year period from the date of initial enrollment, with the exception of students enrolled in the Student Affairs Administration and Leadership Ed.D. (SAA Ed.D.) graduate program. SAA Ed.D. students must complete all degree requirements within ten years from the time of initial enrollment in the graduate program.
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits for a master's degree; 54 credits for a doctorate or post-master's degree. Earn at least one-half of the minimum number of credits required in the program in graduate-only level courses (700, 800, 900, and non-slash 600 level courses). Some UWL graduate programs require more than 30 graduate credits. Please review the individual program requirements listed in the catalog for the exact number of credits required.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00.
- Satisfy dissertation, thesis, seminar paper, terminal/graduate projects and internships, or comprehensive examination, where applicable. A dissertation or thesis approved by the committee must be submitted to Graduate & Extended Learning for editorial review and approval by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. The recommended initial submission date for review is two weeks before commencement. Ordinarily, a seminar paper or project report does not have to be approved by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. However, if the seminar paper or project report is to be archived in Murphy Library, the student must follow the same rules as they apply to the dissertation/thesis requiring approval from the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. For further research/dissertation/thesis guidelines, see Graduate & Extended Learning.
- File a completed "Intent to Graduate" form online via the WINGS Student Center immediately following registration for the final semester or summer term in residence. December graduates and winter intersession should file by May 1. May and summer graduates should file by December 1.
- Pay the graduation fee and remove all other indebtedness to the university. Payment of graduation fees does not imply readiness for graduation and does not take the place of applying for graduation.
- Complete all requirements within 30 days after the official ending date of a term in order for a degree to be awarded for that term. (See #5 above for separate deadline for written capstone experience.)
Classroom and laboratory learning
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| (10 weeks) | (14 weeks) | Intersession (2 weeks) | (14 weeks) | ||||
| PTS 509 | 3 | PTS 516 | 1 | PTS 651 | 1 | PTS 518 | 1 |
| PTS 510 | 3 | PTS 517 | 1 | PTS 519 | 1 | ||
| PTS 512 | 4 | PTS 523 | 1 | PTS 535 | 2 | ||
| PTS 520 | 1 | PTS 524 | 1 | PTS 536 | 1 | ||
| PTS 521 | 2 | PTS 525 | 2 | PTS 545 | 2 | ||
| PTS 526 | 1 | PTS 546 | 1 | ||||
| PTS 527 | 3 | PTS 619 | 2 | ||||
| PTS 528 | 2 | PTS 620 | 1 | ||||
| PTS 611 | 3 | PTS 625 | 3 | ||||
| PTS 626 | 1 | ||||||
| PTS 627 | 1 | ||||||
| PTS 628 | 1 | ||||||
| 13 | 15 | 1 | 17 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Summer | Credits | Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| (8 weeks): | (14 weeks) | (14 weeks) | |||||
| PTS 542 | 3 | PTS 701 | 1 | PTS 701 | 1 | ||
| PTS 543 | 1 | PTS 709 | 1 | PTS 702 | 1 | ||
| PTS 544 | 1 | PTS 631 | 2 | PTS 710 | 1 | ||
| PTS 623 | 1 | PTS 712 | 1 | PTS 711 | 2 | ||
| PTS 624 | 1 | PTS 715 | 2 | PTS 730 | 3 | ||
| PTS 728 | 2 | PTS 716 | 1 | PTS 731 | 1 | ||
| PTS 729 | 1 | PTS 717 | 1 | PTS 733 | 3 | ||
| August (4 weeks): | PTS 718 | 1 | PTS 737 | 2 | |||
| PTS 751 | 2 | PTS 735 | 2 | PTS 738 | 1 | ||
| PTS 736 | 1 | PTS 739 | 1 | ||||
| PTS 741 | 2 | PTS 740 | 1 | ||||
| PTS 742 | 1 | PTS 742 | 1 | ||||
| 12 | 16 | 18 | |||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Summer | Credits | Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| (12 weeks) | (14 weeks) | (14 weeks) | |||||
| PTS 8511 | 6 | PTS 831 | 1 | PTS 853 (12 weeks)1 | 6 | ||
| PTS 852 (12 weeks)1 | 6 | ||||||
| 6 | 7 | 6 | |||||
| Total Credits: 111 | |||||||
- 1
Internship I, II, III: Inpatient, Outpatient, and Autonomous Practice. However, focus of internship may occur in different order per student.