University of New England

Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

College: Health Professions

Department: Physical Therapy

Contact:  University of New England, Graduate Admissions Office, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME  04103, 207-221-4225 or 800-477-4863

Overview 
The Post Professional or Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program culminates in the DPT degree and is “conferred upon completion of a structured post professional educational experience that results in the augmentation of knowledge, skills, and behaviors to a level consistent with the current professional (entry-level) DPT standards.  The t-DPT degree enables the US-licensed physical therapist to attain degree parity with therapists who hold the professional DPT by ‘filling in’ any gaps between their professional baccalaureate or master's degree PT education and the current professional DPT degree education.”¹ The post professional (DPT-P) program at UNE is a logical extension of curricular offerings from the Physical Therapy Department serving the needs of our program graduates as well as graduates from other accredited baccalaureate or master’s degree programs.

¹  Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree Frequently Asked Questions.

Mission Statement
To advance the profession of physical therapy by educating physical therapy graduate students for contemporary practice and by contributing to research, interdisciplinary collaboration, community and professional service, and clinical practice. We are committed to evidence-based, interdisciplinary, and life-span care for the diagnosis, prevention, and intervention of movement impairments, functional limitations and disabilities.

Program Goals
The DPT-P program at the University of New England is designed to:

• Offer physical therapists with a previously obtained baccalaureate or master’s degree the opportunity to update their knowledge base in areas within the profession that have been augmented over the past five to 10 years as reflected in the current DPT degree curriculum.
• Support physical therapists who wish to better position themselves as autonomous health care providers by enhancing their current knowledge base in a variety of areas, including evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making, management sciences, prevention and wellness, and health care policy.
• Provide an interactive and flexible distance education environment to meet the learning needs of today’s busy clinician.

Accreditation
The University of New England is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 

Requirements
All applicants to the DPT-P program must have a baccalaureate or master's degree in physical therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Procedures and Policies
Applications for admissions to the DPT-P program are reviewed twice per year.  The application deadline for the Fall start date is August 15.  The application deadline for the Spring start date is December 31.

Transfer Credit
Transfer credit for up to one course requirement may be granted by demonstration of course equivalency.  Criterion for course equivalency is successful completion (B- or higher grade) of an equivalent graduate level course that addresses the educational outcomes of the program course.  All requests for transfer credit will be reviewed by the Department Admissions Committee.

Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing is not applicable to this program.

The DPT-P program is an on-line educational experience, requiring the successful completion of six courses totaling 18 credit hours.  Courses may be completed in any sequence with the exception of the Capstone course, which must be taken after successful completion of all other courses.

Curriculum subject areas and credit hours are listed below:

The educational outcomes of the DPT-P program are based on many of the consensus-based competencies for the post-professional DPT graduate published by the APTA.

The University of New England (UNE) Student Handbook contains policies and procedures, including the University Conduct Code that applies to all students at the University.   Students are also expected to abide by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Guide for Professional Conduct  and the APTA’s Code of Ethics.  You will note that many of the policies described in the UNE Student Handbook are congruent with the APTA’s Guide for Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics.  

Students will be expected to abide by additional course policies established by individual faculty members.  Failure to abide by the conduct code described above, course policies or Department policies may result in disciplinary action.  

              
Grading
In addition to those policies and procedures described in the above documents, students must complete, with a grade of “B-” or higher, all academic courses in the DPT-P curriculum.  Students who earn a grade of “C+” or lower in any of these courses must re-take the course and receive a “B-“ or better.  If the student does not receive a “B-“ or better in re-taking the course, the student will be dismissed from the DPT-P program.
 
Registration/Add/Drop
Registration for courses will be on a first-come, first-serve basis until maximum enrollment is met.  Students will be able to register for classes only after matriculation into the program.

Completion
The DPT-P curriculum must be completed within three years of starting the program.

Tuition and Fees
For information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog. Payment for classes will be due at the time of registration.  Students registered in classes that are cancelled because of insufficient enrollment will receive full reimbursement of the course fee.

Equipment
All students are required to have access to high-speed internet service. It is recommended that students have their own laptop computers with the capability of utilizing Web CT or similar on-line education format.

Books
Textbooks as assigned by faculty.

Financial Aid
Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office at the University Campus. Call 207-602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.

Conferring of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is contingent upon successful completion of the 18 credits of academic coursework in the DPT-P curriculum

For more information on faculty members, please visit the program website.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2006-2007 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of date of publication August 1, 2006.

The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.