SHP Catalog

Program Director: Shaw
Faculty: Bickel, Clark, Christy, Clelland, Fidopiastis, Ford, Graham, Lein, Lowman, McCarthy, Morris, Murphy, Ogard, Perez, Peel, Shaw

Physical therapists provide services to patient/clients who have impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease, and other causes. Physical Therapists also address risk and provide prevention services and promote health, wellness, and fitness. Physical therapists interact and practice in collaboration with a variety of professionals. Finally, physical therapists also function in consultative, educator, administrative and supervisory roles in many different types of practice, research, and education settings.

Accreditation: The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.

Credentials Conferred: Diploma ­ The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is awarded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

License: Graduates are eligible for the physical therapist licensure examination. Note that state law regulates the practice of Physical Therapy; contact a specific state's Board of Licensure for Physical Therapy to obtain information on that state's eligibility requirements. The UAB PT graduate licensure pass rate may be accessed at the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy web site  under the list of Physical Therapy Programs categorized by state.

Length of Study: Eight semesters.

Program Entrance Date: Spring semester.

Application Procedure:This program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Please consult link for more information regarding specific PTCAS application requirements, procedures and fees. The PTCAS application needs to be completed by December 15, 2010 for the class beginning January, 2012. Applicants should send all application materials except official GRE scores directly to PTCAS. PTCAS will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program. Applicants should make arrangements to send official GRE scores directly to the UAB Graduate School.

The GRE code is 1856...

Requirements for Admission: The applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university within the United States in a field other than physical therapy. Acceptance will be based on the student's academic ability and aptitude for a career as a physical therapist. The candidate is expected to satisfy the following requirements : 

• Complete the PTCAS application by December 15.
• All prerequisites do not have to be completed at the time of application.
• Complete at least 40 hours of documented observation of physical therapy. Various settings are recommended. Documentation should be submitted to PTCAS.
• Complete the GRE and have scores sent to the graduate school. Must have a minimum of 3.5 on the analytical writing score.
• Have a minimum 3.0 (A = 4.0) overall, prerequisite and last 60 semester hours grade point average. For prerequisite courses, no grade lower than a C will be accepted.
• If invited, complete a personal interview with the Department of Physical Therapy faculty.

Competitive GRE and GPA scores...

Students who are accepted into the UAB Doctor of Physical Therapy program must:

• Complete the UAB Graduate School application to include the graduate school fee.
• Complete the UAB medical history questionnaire and physical.
• Provide proof of required immunizations, and receive satisfactory screening by the UAB Medical Center Student Health Service.
• Send all official transcripts to the UAB Graduate School.
• Provide documentation of current certification of Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers.
• Complete a criminal background check before the first semester as specified by the Department of Physical Therapy in order to participate in clinical education.

Variations in these requirements are considered. In instances where applicants do not meet the principle requirements for admission, they may be considered for admission on a probationary status. Such students must establish themselves in good standing by achieving not less than a B average by the end of the first semester of enrollment.

State law regulates the practice of Physical Therapy. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to review the non-academic eligibility requirements for licensure to practice physical therapy upon completion of the program. These may be obtained from each individual state's Board of Licensure for Physical Therapy.

Program Prerequisites - UAB Equivalents
(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)

Arts and Humanities
English Composition - EH 101, 102 (6)

Social and Behavioral Sciences
Psychology (9)

Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Precalculus with Trigonometry - MA 106 (3)
Statistics (must be taken in Math, Psychology, or Sociology) - MA 180, PY 214, or SOC 110 (3-4)
Physics* - PH 201/211 lab, 202/212 lab or PH 221/231 lab, 222/232 lab** (8)
General Chemistry for science majors with labs* - CH 115/116 lab, 117/118 lab (8)
Biology including Human or Mammalian Physiology* - BY 116 or 309 (16)
Medical Terminology - AHS 350 (2-3), may be taken online

Current certification in CPR for Health Providers

*For these prerequisite courses, credit older than ten years from the application deadline must be validated by examination or other appropriate mechanism.

**The physics course sequence must be designed for science majors and include laboratory sessions. A minimum of 8 semester hours is required. The following topics must be studied: mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, wave motion and sound, and light.

It is strongly recommended that applicants take the following courses: practical reasoning or logic course, biomechanics or kinesiology and upper level biology (physiology). 

Typical Program
(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)

First Year
Spring
PT 700 Human Gross Anatomy I (4)
PT 702 Functional Anatomy (3)
PT 730 Essentials in Human Physiology (3)
PT 711 PT Examination I (2)
PT 713 PT Intervention (3)
PT 760 PT Professional Practice (2)
PT 790 Scientific Inquiry I (1)
Summer
PT 701 Human Gross Anatomy II (2)
PT 706 Neuroscience I (4)
PT 712 PT Examination II (3)
PT 720 Pathology & Pharmacology for Movement Disorder I (3)
PT 731 Human Performance Physiology (3)
PT 770 Clinical Education I (1)
PT 791 Scientific Inquiry II (1)
Fall
PT 707 Neuroscience II (3)
PT 704 Analysis of Human Movement (3)
PT 714 PT Intervention II (2)
PT 715 PT Intervention III (3)
PT 721 Pathology & Pharmacology for Movement Disorder II (3)
PT 771 Clinical Education II (2)
PT 792 Scientific Inquiry III (1)

Second Year
Spring
PT 705 Human Movement Dysfunction (4)
PT 740 PT Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I (5)
PT 743 PT Management of Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction (3)
PT 761 PT Professional Practice II (3)
PT 772 Clinical Education III (2)
PT 798/799 Scholarly Activity Project (1-3)
Fall
PT 741 PT Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II (5)
PT 744 PT Management of Neuromuscular Dysfunction I (4)
PT 762 PT Professional Practice III (3)
PT 798/799 Scholarly Activity Project (1-3)

Third Year
Spring
PT 746 PT Management of Neuromuscular Dysfunction II (4)
PT 763 PT Professional Practice IV (2)
PT 793 Scientific Inquiry IV (1)
PT 773 Clinical Education IV (8)
PT 798/799 Scholarly Activity Project (1-3)
Summer
PT 764 Professional Practice V: Capstone Experience (2)
PT 774 Clinical Education V (9)
Fall
PT 775 Clinical Education VI (9)

Total Credit Hours for Program: 119-121