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The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Department of Physical & Occupational Therapy has implemented a program for physical therapists that have completed a master's degree and wish to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is described below (It is not an advanced degree): The approximate total cost for the program will be $7,300 for Idaho residents and $9,300 for non residents.

tDPT Program Application

1. Is three consecutive semesters in length, commencing in the spring (January) semester and concluding in December of the same year. The second class is expected to enroll in January 2007:

Tier 1: January 8 - May 11

PTOT 681 Theories and Resources to Guide Clinical Decision Making in Physical Therapy (3 credits)
PTOT 682 Promoting Behavioral Change in Physical Therapist Practice (2 credits)

Tier 2: May 14 - August 11

PTOT 696 Patient Case Seminar (2 credits)
PTOT 695 Neurological: May 23-June 24 (2 credits)
PTOT 693 Musculoskeletal: July 11 - August 12 (2 credits)

Tier 3: August 20 - December 14

PTOT 694 Cardiopulmonary: August 28 - September 29 (2 credits)
PTOT 701 Multi-systems: October 2 - November 2 (2 credits)
PTOT 705 Clinical Case Management August 21 - December 15 (3 credits)

2. Consists of 18 credits of distance-based instruction; students only have to come to campus during their final semester to present and defend their case project;

3. The program is described as a "transitional" program, which is simply a description to help differentiate the program from our existing entry-level professional degree. Candidates completing the transitional program will be awarded the same diploma as our current program graduates, the Doctor of Physical Therapy.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is only available to physical therapists that have completed a master's degree. The degree could be either an entry-level master's degree in physical therapy, or a master's degree in a related field following completion of a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. In the latter case, individuals with a bachelor's degree may be required to take additional coursework and/or provide evidence of sufficient credits to satisfy the University's requirements for total credits associated with a doctoral degree, depending on the review of the application by the admissions committee. A more complete description of the program follows:

The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is proposed to:

1. Encourage registered/licensed physical therapists to enhance their knowledge base through an affordable, distance-learning program
2. Bridge the gap between the Bachelor and Master of Physical Therapy education and the current Doctor of Physical Therapy education
3. Facilitate the earning of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree by practicing physical therapists
4. Promote the goals of the American Physical Therapy Association by facilitating an elevation of entry-level physical therapy education and independent physical therapist practice

The Transitional DPT curriculum is proposed as a three-tiered program. The modules within each tier should be taught with cases and materials used in current entry-level DPT classes. We believe this will also assist in improving current curriculum cohesion.

Tier 1

The first tier is designed to acquaint/remind practicing physical therapists of the current direction in which our profession is going, through two distance-learning courses over the entire spring semester. The courses are comprised of these core modules, which are integrated into subsequent system modules. The core modules are:

1. Differential diagnosis and clinical decision-making
2. Ethical and legal consideration in Physical Therapy
3. Using the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice
4. Incorporating evidenced-based medicine into clinical practice
5. Prevention and wellness
6. Psychosocial issues in Physical Therapy, including, but not limited to, learning, compliance and behavior modification

Tier 2

The second tier is designed to challenge the practicing physical therapist to consider the total patient in evaluation, intervention and prevention. The transitional DPT student will participate in integrated modules including Neurological and Musculoskeletal Systems Management courses in sequential blocks. These modules will emphasize applied principles of contemporary patient care, research and practice issues and, as applicable, patient cases across the lifespan. The patient cases include topics addressing, but not limited to, PT examination, diagnosis, intervention, prevention and referral. They also promote investigation into pharmacology, diagnostic imaging and nutrition, as necessary. During this time period the student will choose a topic for an individualized professional case presentation, which will be completed in the third tier.

Tier 3

The final tier is designed as a continuation, then culmination of the previous levels. The student will participate in a Cardiopulmonary systems management module and a Multi-Systems Management module, in sequential blocks. The student will also complete the patient case presentation during this semester. The parameters of the patient case presentation will be decided by the student and primary advisor. The case presentation will be presented and defended by the transitional DPT student at the conclusion of the semester.