Physical Therapy Degree News

Walsh University to Offer Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT)

Walsh University received approval March 7, 2007 from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission to offer the professional doctorate in physical therapy degree program.Walsh’s physical therapist educational program started a comprehensive planning process in 2002 to change the degree offered from a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (six-semester program) to a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (eight-semester program).After completing the university proposal review process, Walsh University sought and received approval from the Ohio Board of Regents in May 2006 to offer the DPT degree.

Class of 2006 Graduates Excel!

All graduates from the Class of 2006 passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) on their first attempt!Even better, as of November 10, 2006 all graduates obtained positions of their choice and began their careers as licensed physical therapists.The graduates took positions in a variety of settings (acute care, out patient, rehabilitation) in a number of States (e.g., Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina).

Physical Therapy Program Achieves Accreditation

Walsh University’s physical therapy program was recently granted full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association. The Walsh program, which received an initial 5-year accreditation in 2000, met all requirements for compliance, granting it full and unconditional accreditation for another 10 years.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our physical therapy program and its instructors,” said Dr. Laurence Bove, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of College. “We are honored to have been accredited by CAPTE and know that current and potential students will value this esteemed approval from an internationally recognized accrediting organization.”

Over the course of 2005, Walsh University conducted a rigorous process of self-examination of the entire physical therapy program and prepared a self-evaluation report for CAPTE. All program materials were sent for review to nationally recognized subject specialists chosen by CAPTE. A team of national evaluators then traveled to the Walsh campus and conducted an onsite review that included financial audits, student services and review of all procedures. Based on this entire process and the teams’ report to the Commission, the Wash physical therapist educational program was granted continued accreditation.

“This decision is yet another validation that Walsh University’s physical therapy program offers a quality educational opportunity to students,” said Bove.

With the change to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program it will continue to hold full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) through December 2015. The DPT degree program adds six academic courses, adds to the depth of current MSPT courses, and increases the professional clinical experience time from 26 weeks to 36 weeks.These changes result in the addition of 17 credit hours and two semesters to the program—moving from 6 to 8 semesters.The physical therapy division will add 3 full-time faculty members over the next two years (for a total of 9 full-time faculty members) to meet the increased content and depth of the curriculum.

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