Mar 28, 2024  
2004-2005 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2004-2005 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Physical Therapy Home Page

Physical Therapy



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(bachelor’s degree in pre-physical therapy, followed by a master of science degree in physical therapy) Requirements are subject to change.

The program in physical therapy is an entry-level master’s degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. Coursework in physical therapy enables students to develop advanced problem-solving skills in examination, program planning, and treatment of those who need physical therapy services. Graduates possess a broad knowledge in the science and practice of physical therapy, as well as a basic understanding of administration and research. In addition, students have the opportunity for advanced study in selected areas of physical therapy. The program integrates the humanics philosophy in total patient care, including the intellectual, physical, and spiritual aspects of treating the whole person within a social, political, and economic context.

The program in physical therapy requires five and one-half years for completion. Students enter as first-year students and immediately begin a two-year, preprofessional component. This is followed by three and one-half years of professional preparation. After four years, the student earns a bachelor of science degree in pre-physical therapy and continues with the professional component. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, the graduate is awarded a master of science degree in physical therapy and is eligible to apply for state licensure.

The preprofessional courses include preparation in the basic sciences, social sciences, and liberal arts. The professional component includes courses in anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, clinical sciences, organization and delivery of healthcare, research methodology, and statistics, as well as full-time clinical experiences in approved clinical education facilities. The preprofessional and professional components are subject to modification to ensure a comprehensive, integrated sequence of experiences leading to a physical therapy education of the highest possible quality.

Admission to the Program
Candidates applying for admission to the physical therapy program are required to have a rigorous background in the sciences and mathematics along with exposure to physical therapy practice in a healthcare setting. December 1 is the admissions deadline for all admissions materials for physical therapy applicants. Further details about the application procedure are available from the Admissions Office. Students already enrolled at Springfield College may transfer into physical therapy as undergraduates following an application and review by the department. Applicants from other colleges and universities are considered for admission into the professional component of the program on a space-available basis only; such applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree and satisfied all program prerequisites.

For more information about the physical therapy major, contact Dr. David Miller, chair of the Physical Therapy Department at (413) 748-3369 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.


Download a Physical Therapy Program Checksheet


I. General Education Program


To integrate the humanics philosophy into their lives, Springfield College students engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values through a variety of courses in the sciences and humanities. In addition to those General Education courses, students must complete 6 s.h. of Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) courses. For more information see the General Education Program and WAC courses. In the major requirements listed below, selected courses which fulfill General Education categories are marked with an asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked with a “W”.

III. Professional Component Requirements


In addition, students must select one of the following courses:


IV. Program Standards


Students are required to follow the policies and procedures of the Department of Physical Therapy as presented in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook. Students are admitted to the physical therapy program as first-year students and are required to maintain a 3.000 cumulative grade point average to be eligible to continue into the final three and one-half years of the professional program. A grade of C- or better is required in all courses. The academic records of the students are reviewed by the Physical Therapy Review and Evaluation Committee at the end of the second year to determine if the students have satisfied the requirements to continue. This is not meant to be a secondary application process, but rather a reasonably accurate indication of success in completing a rigorous professional program.

Clinical Education Courses
Students are required to successfully complete all clinical education courses. Clinical education sites have been established throughout the Northeast; Pennsylvania; Virginia; Washington, D.C.; North Carolina; and Florida. Selected sites are established in other areas of the United States. Physical therapy students are responsible for additional costs incurred during the clinical affiliations. These costs include travel, living expenses, uniforms, and professional liability insurance.

Program Essential Functions and Technical Standards
Each student admitted to the program is required to complete the essential functions of the program with or without reasonable accommodation. Program essential functions include participation in classroom, laboratory, and clinical functions, as well as performance of professional functions such as examination, treatment, and education of individuals in a timely and safe manner. Minimum academic standards and technical standards necessary for completion of the program essential functions must be met for continuation in and graduation from the program. Technical standards define the individual physical, sensory,cognitive, behavioral, and social attributes or outcomes necessary to complete the program essential functions. More information on the program technical standards is available from the Office of Admissions and can be found in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook.

V. Sample Program By Year


The program listed below is a sample—courses are not guaranteed to be offered during the semester or year listed. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that all requirements are met on a timely basis and that needed prerequisite courses are completed before taking upper-level requirements; therefore, they should consult carefully with an advisor when planning their program. Students should seek to complete 18 s.h. each semester for the first three years.

In addition to the courses identified below, the following General Education categories need to be fulfilled for this major: Computer Science, Health, Physical Education, Literature, Second Language/Culture, Visual and Performing Arts, History, Social Science, Philosophy, and Religion.

Courses marked with an * fulfill or partially fulfill a General Education category. Courses marked with a w may fulfill a WAC requirement, depending on the year taken.

A. First Year - Fall Semester


First Year - Spring Semester


Second Year - Fall or Spring Semesters


C. Third Year - Fall Semester


Fourth Year - Winter Session


Fifth Year - Fall Semester


and select one of the following courses:


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