Department of Physical Therapy College of Health and Human Services California State University, Fresno

Entry-Level DPT Program: A path to Success in Physical Therapy

The entry-level DPT Program in Physical Therapy at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), is a 3 year (8 semesters) course of study. Completion of the graduate-level course of study leads to the granting of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This new education standard for physical therapy prepares graduates to practice autonomously in preparation for direct access. The DPT is the required degree to become a licensed physical therapist as of 2015. The DPT program focuses on critical thinking strategies that promote effective analysis and interpretation of data in the formulation of treatment alternatives that can achieve predictable functional outcomes in patient management.

Deep and Thorough Preparation for Physical Therapy

The college's curriculum focuses on concepts of decision analysis, integration of clinical sciences with patient case study, integration of coursework with concomitant clinical experiences, evidence based practice, applied research and concepts of health care delivery and administration of services. The department places strong emphasis on independent study, problem solving, evidence based practice, applied research, sensitivity to diverse sociocultural values, and commitment to lifelong professional development. A mentoring system facilitates the teacher-learner process and provides a strong support system for students. Student involvement in campus and professional organizations is a program expectation.

Clinical education is a major component of the degree program. A total of 30 full-time weeks of clinical experience is integrated with the didactic course of study. In addition, students participate in 2 on-campus clinic settings. The Gait, Balance, and Mobility Research and Education Center was developed to provide services for persons with gait and balance disorders, and for teaching innovative interventions using state-of-the-art equipment. The Musculoskeletal Care Clinic is in the Student Health Center and was developed to provide physical therapy services to students on campus. Through these experiences each student has multiple opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in the clinical setting. Specific clinical assignments require students to bring clinical information back to the academic setting as part of the learning process.

In addition to participation in on-campus clinics, students are required to complete 30 weeks of full-time clinic internships off-campus. These clinical placement opportunities are available throughout the state and some out-of-state.

Physical Therapy Program Faculty

The faculty members in the physical therapy program are diverse in their interests and areas of academic preparation. Students regularly interact with faculty members in the classroom and in individual and group efforts. Such efforts involve research projects, career development, professional activities, community service, and other forms of professional socialization. As active practitioners, faculty members offer students outstanding direction in the integration of principles and theory in the process of learning to become effective clinical decision-makers. Participation by adjunct clinical faculty members who teach clinical courses provides students with opportunities to learn advanced concepts alongside established clinicians.

Facts, Statistics, and Figures of Success

The school does not have outcome data for the new 3 year DPT program, but the average graduation rate for the last 3 years for the 2 year MPT graduate program was 96%. The average first time and overall pass rates on the national licensing exam for the last 3 classes were 87% and 100%, respectively. The average prerequisite GPA for the last 3 classes of students admitted to the program was 3.6. The average composite GRE score was 1100 and the writing score 4.3. The average number of students admitted was 22. Beginning fall 2012, the program plans to admit 32 students to the entry-level 3 year DPT program each year. Employment rates for graduates in the past have been 100%.

Costs and Tuition

Student fees for the new entry-level 3 year DPT are below state-supported University of California and private university doctoral degree programs. Based on program-cost analysis conducted in consultation among the CSU chancellor's office and DPT campuses, the CSU Doctor of Physical Therapy Tuition Fee is set at $8,074 per term ($24,222 per college year). Fresno State's entry-level DPT program will consist of 8 terms for a total of $64,592 for the 3 years.

Because the DPT is a post-baccalaureate-entry degree program and students will not enter from established professional careers, need-based aid will be available to qualifying students. The financial aid set-aside from student fees is 33.3 percent of the academic year fee rate.

Housing and Other Opportunities Nearby

California State University, Fresno offers limited dormitory housing, but all fraternities and sororities offer housing, and there is a plentiful supply of off-campus housing available with a wide range of rental prices. Athletic programs are abundant, including intramural recreation. Fresno, located 60 miles from Yosemite National Park and 45 miles from Sequoia National Park, is within driving distance of the ocean and mountains providing recreational activities that include skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, river rafting, cycling, swimming, and fishing.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapy graduate Master's degree program is currently accredited. The next accreditation site visit by the Commission for Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) will be spring 2015 to seek accreditation of the 3 year DPT program. The doctoral program is fully accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges).

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
  Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 33
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Required
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied14
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• EnrolledNot Reported
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $55
• Application Fee - International $55
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline May 1st May 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline October 1st October 1st Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesGRE General Test, minimum GPA of 3.0
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 1
• Types of financial support availableCareer or Field-Related Internships, Financial Support for Part-time Students, Scholarship and/or loans, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate StudentsNot Reported
• Female PercentageNot Reported
• Male PercentageNot Reported
• Participation
• Total Graduate StudentsNot Reported
• Part-time PercentageNot Reported
• Full-time PercentageNot Reported
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino17%
• Black / African American0%
• White / Caucasian60%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian14%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown9%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty7
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Female Percentage71%
• Male Percentage29%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchDance, occupational health, ethics
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported