Physical Therapy

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Grading System

Grades are recorded as follows:

Philosophy

The program espouses a philosophy in which practitioners are partners in furthering the health and wellness of our clients, their support network, our communities, and society. The contemporary practitioner uses the best available evidence, client values, and clinical expertise as they collaborate with other professionals to assist clients in realizing their potential, modifying their lifestyles, and renewing personal objectives. To prepare students to be contemporary practitioners, faculty remain active in clinical practice, scholarly inquiry, and professional engagement, serving as role models and mentors for students.

Educational Methods and Principles

The program’s educational methods are built on the principles of adult education and established around a belief in the learner as a self-directed adult ready to initiate and assume the responsibility for learning. Faculty members guide learning experiences and provide opportunities for a variety of experiential, interactive, and self-directed learning incorporating innovation and technology. Students and faculty develop sustainable relationships and programs with community partners providing a meaningful context for reciprocal learning and engagement.

Program Values

1. Faculty and program staff establish collegial relationships with students as a method to foster leadership potential and professional responsibility.
2. Students provide an integral part of the learning process, establishing patterns for lifelong acquisition and integration of new knowledge.
3. Faculty emphasize engaged teaching and excellence in clinical practice, both of which are enhanced by scholarly inquiry and professional service.
4. Faculty actively mentor students in ways that foster a commitment to their own professional development and provide positive role models in community and professional engagement.
5. Faculty and students espouse the profession’s core values as a meaningful framework for interactions among and between students, faculty, clients, and our communities.
6. Together, faculty, program staff, and students are committed to making a positive difference in the health and wellness of the communities in which we work, live, and learn.

Mission

The mission of the Institute for Physical Therapy Education of Widener University is to graduate clinically competent physical therapists that demonstrate exemplary character and assume the responsibilities of citizenship. Clinically competent graduates manifest the authentic knowledge and skills of the physical therapy profession engaging in evidence-based practice, life-long learning, and autonomous decision-making. The character traits of our graduates enable them to internalize values that support ethical behavior, compassion, and respect for cultural traditions. Graduates, as responsible citizens, collaborate to enhance health care delivery, to empower clients and families, and to contribute to the profession, community, and society.

Goals and Objectives

The philosophy, goals, and objectives of the program are consistent with the articulated mission for graduate studies as reflected in the mission statement of the School of Human Service Professions. The goals and objectives of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program are also based on the mission of the institute and encompass the tenets of competency, character, and citizenship.

Competency

1. To provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and experiences necessary to be effective general practitioners.

• Objective 1.1: Our graduates will apply scientific knowledge, heuristic values, critical analysis, and a systematic approach in order to provide excellent patient care.

2. To illustrate the importance of engagement in professional development.

• Objective 2.1: Our graduates will make a career commitment to the profession, accepting responsibility for lifelong professional development.

Character

3. To promote insight into the health care needs of individuals and the cultural perspectives represented.

• Objective 3.1: Our graduates will address the cultural, social, psychological, and biological factors that contribute to determinants of health, illness, and disability in populations served by physical therapy.

4. To develop skills in evaluating professional environments to recognize the moral dimension of the health care milieu.

• Objective 4.1: Our graduates will demonstrate compassion and concern for others and value life differences for all consumers of health care.

Citizenship

5. To encourage active participation in the multiple arenas of the health care delivery system, including patient care, public health, wellness and prevention, advocacy, and professional organizations.

• Objective 5.1: Our graduates will participate in the changing social, economic, legal, and political events that impact health care and facilitate system innovation.

6. To instill awareness and enhance the ability to effectively advocate for clients and their families.

• Objective 6.1: Our graduates will participate in activities that ensure access to effective quality patient care services.
• Objective 6.2: Our graduates will involve patients and families in the decision-making process, empower clients with information, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage a sense of responsibility for one’s own health.

7. To foster an investment in the physical therapy profession, the community, and society.

• Objective 7.1: Our graduates will interact with other professionals and community groups to achieve goals in health care.

Curriculum

The curriculum model is best described as a traditional curriculum organized by body systems and by elements of the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. The curriculum sequence builds from general to specific, normal to abnormal function, and simple to complex problem solving with clients across the lifespan. Each course introduces new material and also draws on concepts and knowledge from previous courses and student experiences. Selected material from earlier courses is often highlighted, reinforcing prior knowledge and providing content-layering. The implementation of this layering concept is further enhanced by the fact that faculty members teach in their area of content expertise within and across various curricular themes and threads. Content laying in the didactic curriculum is supported by engagement in clinical experiences and activities throughout the curriculum. The seven curricular themes include Foundation Sciences, Body Systems, Client Management, Lifespan, Evidence-based Inquiry, Professional Roles, and Clinical Experiences. Within each theme runs various content area threads. Those can be viewed in the “Curriculum Overview” section.

Supervised clinical experiences, the community health practicum, and the student-run pro bono clinic offer students an opportunity to devise an expanding base of solutions and plans based on realistic cases and clients. This integration of clinical observation and extensive classroom experiential learning and experiences in the student-run pro bono clinic strengthens students’ analysis and understanding of information.

Students will be exposed to these directed and carefully constructed experiences, which are linked to existing course work throughout the three years of the program. These clinical experiences occur throughout the curriculum in addition to the four existing clinical practice courses. Clinical practice courses provide part- and full-time experiences in clinical education and internship.

The Profession

The Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education (2004) provides a template to guide the practice and education of physical therapists. This template involves the interrelated components of the current/future health care environment, higher education, and the body of knowledge related to physical therapy. In addition, The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice (2014), a consensus document, attempts to provide a standard definition for physical therapy practice for all practitioners.

The definition of physical therapy provided by The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice (3rd edition, 2014) states: “Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.” The services provided by or under the supervision of a physical therapist include (1) diagnosis and management of movement dysfunction; (2) enhancement and restoration of physical function, wellness, and quality of life; and (3) prevention of onset and progression of impairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

Physical Therapy Entry Options

The following information is intended to guide students who are planning to enter the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Widener University. A number of options are available for entry to the program. Each student must select the option that is most appropriate for him or her.

Option One

Undergraduate students from Widener University, as well as students from articulated institutions, may qualify to enter Widener’s graduate program in physical therapy following their third year of study under the 3+3 or 4+3 track. To do this, Widener students must choose a major that offers a pre-physical therapy pathway and take a specially determined sequence of courses. Specific details of the 3+3 or 4+3 curriculum ladders are reviewed in detail in Widener University’s Undergraduate Catalog. A list of articulated colleges and their majors is available from the Institute for Physical Therapy Education upon request.

The 3+3 program enables undergraduate students majoring in an approved pre-physical therapy pathway to complete prerequisite course work and apply for matriculation to Widener’s graduate physical therapy program during their junior year. Because of the intense demands of these curriculum ladders, the 3+3 program is recommended only for students with a record of outstanding academic achievement at the high school level.

Those students accepted into the graduate program through this option begin their physical therapy curriculum in the summer prior to their fourth year of study at the university. Students following these curriculum ladders must meet all requirements of their selected major as described in the Undergraduate Catalog in the sections pertaining to the science division, the social science division, and the humanities division of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students following these curriculum ladders must also satisfy the general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the relevant sections of the Undergraduate Catalog for details. Students who successfully complete the prescribed program of study have a reserved seat in Widener University’s graduate physical therapy program.

To remain in the 3+3 or 4+3 reserved seat program, the student must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 while pursuing one of the pre-physical therapy curriculum ladders. In addition, the student must complete all of the specific courses required for admission to the graduate physical therapy program with a minimum grade of B in each course. By the time of application to matriculate in the graduate DPT program (end of undergraduate fall junior year 3+3, end of undergraduate fall senior year 4+3), students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher to gain entrance. Students who fail to meet these requirements can still apply for admission to the graduate physical therapy program; see the section on alternate admission to the graduate physical therapy program.

Also by the time of application to matriculate, he or she must complete all required volunteer work in physical therapy practice sites. The student must also submit by November 15 that year a complete set of supplemental materials required by the graduate physical therapy program, including one letter of recommendation from a physical therapist, the transcript analysis form, and confirmation/documentation of at least 40 observation hours in physical therapy. The letter of recommendation and documentation of observation hours must meet the existing standards for all applicants to the physical therapy program.

The courses that the 3+3 students take during the first year of the physical therapy program count toward requirements for the baccalaureate degree and toward requirements for the graduate physical therapy degree. The baccalaureate degree in the major of undergraduate study is conferred upon completion of the first year of graduate study. Students pursuing these pre-physical therapy curriculum ladders should consult with the advisors in the physical therapy program in the School of Human Service Professions, in addition to their science, social science, or humanities faculty advisor.

Option Two

Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from this or another university may apply to the program under the entry-level DPT track. Students entering under this option usually include recent graduates and students seeking a career change. Students are encouraged to contact the program early to assess the need for completion of prerequisite course work. Courses taken in preparation for entry may be completed at Widener University or at another university or college. Students holding the bachelor’s degree from this or another university or college may apply to the program in the regular admissions cycle via the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), www.ptcas.org. This applies to all applicants with the exception of students in the 3+3 and 4+3 guaranteed programs. The soft deadline for completing applications via PTCAS is November 15 of each year, with a firm deadline of January 15 of each year. Applicants will receive notification of the receipt of application materials from PTCAS and will be kept apprised of the status of any outstanding materials. The review of applications takes place from November to April. Applicants will be notified when the decisions are made.

The program requires students to obtain criminal and child abuse clearances in each year of enrollment. A prior felony conviction may make a student ineligible for physical therapy licensure and, therefore, ineligible for admission to the program. Prospective students who have had felony or other convictions should consult the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners in Harrisburg (or other relevant licensure state boards) for licensure specifics.

Option Three

Students who have completed a course of study in a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, earning an associate’s degree from an accredited university or college, may enter the Center for Continuing Studies to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health. Advanced standing will be offered for the professional courses from the PTA school (up to 30 credits). Additional courses that fulfill the prerequisites for the physical therapy curriculum will also be counted in the student’s advanced standing. Therefore, students may earn up to 60 credits in advanced standing prior to admission to Continuing Studies. Students who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of undergraduate course work in the Center for Continuing  Studies are eligible to apply for admission to the physical therapy program if their plan for completion of prerequisites demonstrates an ability to complete all course work by the following May. Applicants are required to submit GRE scores as part of the application process and follow all application procedures.

Physical Therapist Assistant students accepted into the program will also be offered the opportunity to sit for challenge exams for specific course content. These areas of study are to be determined by the faculty. Processes regarding specific challenge
exams will be made available by the faculty to the student upon request. In addition, the PTA student may elect to have certain laboratory experiences waived. The labs available for waiver opportunities will be determined by the faculty as needed.

Students who have studied in health-related programs other than PTA programs may use the Continuing Studies option for completion of prerequisites and to earn a bachelor’s degree. Challenge exams may be open to these students based on faculty decision, but the waiver of laboratory experiences is closed.

Admission Guidelines

Admission guidelines are established by the faculty in compliance with university standards for graduate programs. Admission to a graduate program of study will be restricted to students who demonstrate the capacity for graduate-level studies through performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a satisfactory grade point average (GPA). Students with reserved seats have the GRE requirement waived. A prerequisite GPA is recomputed for all applicants. The science portion of the recomputed GPA is expected to be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). GRE scores at or near the 50th percentile for each component are expected for admission to the program. These are minimum requirements. Students offered acceptance into the program often exceed these minimums.

The following prerequisite courses are required for all domestic applicants:
 

* Anatomy and Physiology I and II are also accepted.

Pre-PT students from Widener and other institutions with articulation agreements should consult their undergraduate catalog for prerequisites. In addition, students are expected to submit GRE scores and provide evidence of observation (paid or volunteer) in physical therapy. Three letters of recommendation are required. One of the letters must be from a physical therapist, and another must be from a professor. Submission of health requirements, clearances, and successful completion of Professional Rescuer CPR and First Aid will be required prior to the start of the fall semester of the first year. Prior to matriculation, those admitted to the program must attest to their ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform all essential functions described in the institute’s Essential Functions Document.

International Students

International students should consult the International Student Services web page at www.widener.edu for international graduate student guidelines or contact the Office of International Student Services at Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; phone: 610-499-4499.

Academic Policies and Standards in Physical Therapy

In addition to those policies and standards noted previously, the following are required in Widener’s physical therapy program:

• A maximum of three core courses may be waived without replacement for graduate courses of equivalent quality and content taken elsewhere. Additional courses may be waived with replacement by permission of the associate dean.
• Any student who earns a semester GPA below a 3.0 will automatically be put on academic probation and will be required to meet with the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. The committee will discuss performance issues and make recommendations, and may place the student on a contract. Repeated semesters on probation may result in an inability to move forward in the program. This decision is made after careful consideration of the student’s overall performance in the program.
• If a student fails a course, that course may be repeated only once with permission of the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. The student may also be prohibited from moving forward in the lock-step program until those courses in which the student received a failing grade are repeated successfully. Successful completion of any repeated course requires a grade of B or better. After the student successfully repeats a failed course, both grades are recorded on the transcript but only the most recent grade is used in calculating the GPA. However, when a student is convicted under Widener’s academic fraud policies, that student is prohibited from exercising the repeat-of-course option to remove the F grade (given as a result of fraud) from the GPA calculation. To graduate, students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 on a standard 4.0 system. No student will graduate from the physical therapy program with an incomplete grade.
• If a student fails to meet the degree requirements in a timely manner, the school may dismiss the student. Once a student has been dismissed, he/she may no longer enroll in graduate programs of the university and may not apply for admission into another division of the university.
• If a student repeatedly fails courses, the school may dismiss the student. A student will be dismissed from the program when his/her cumulative average is below 3.0 and when a grade of C is received in a second course in the same semester. The student may petition the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee for reinstatement. The committee may require the student to repeat those and other courses. Successful completion of a repeated course will require the student to achieve a grade of no less than a B. Failure to achieve a grade of B will result in dismissal from the program.
• Conduct inconsistent with the ethical and professional standards of the discipline, whether it occurs before or after matriculation, is grounds for dismissal from the program.
• The code of responsible conduct for graduate students requires that each student maintain academic integrity and act according to this code in all academic matters. Students are asked to read and sign the policy on academic integrity upon entering the program. They are also expected to abide by the code of ethics and uphold the standards of practice for physical therapy as published by the American Physical Therapy Association. Clinical integrity should model academic integrity. Students should refer to standards for clinical behavior published in the program’s clinical education manual. Scientific misconduct is defined in the document Honor in Science published by Sigma Xi Research Society.
• After acceptance and prior to enrollment in the program, all students will receive the “Essential Functions Document” to review and sign. This document outlines the essential functions of a physical therapy student in the program at Widener University. Students will attest to their ability to perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. If the student needs accommodation, more information about reasonable accommodations can be obtained by contacting Disabilities Services at 610-499-1266. The office is located at 520 E. 14th St. The Office of Disability Services is an advocate for students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and psychological disabilities.
• Misconduct outside the program that results in a felony conviction may make a student ineligible for licensure as a physical therapist; hence, students who are convicted of a felony may be dismissed.

Clinical Education Standards

• A student will be allowed to participate in clinical practice courses when all prerequisite course work has been successfully completed. A student whose prior semester GPA is less than a 3.0 in the physical therapy curriculum and/or has failed three or more practicals must meet with the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. The Student Recruitment and Retention Committee will (1) determine if the student can participate in the clinical practice phase of the curriculum and (2) review the student’s performance in the curriculum to determine if continuation in the program is possible. If a grade of I (Incomplete) has been issued for any prerequisite course(s), entry in clinical education experiences is at the discretion and mutual consensus of the associate dean and the director of clinical education (DCE). A plan for course completion and resolution of the Incomplete must be approved by the professor(s) of the course. The current grade in the course must also meet “Academic Policies and Standards in Physical Therapy,” described above.
• At the midterm and final evaluation, the student will also rate his/her individual performance using the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI). This self-evaluation is also discussed during the formal feedback session as a way to enhance the student’s ability to evaluate his or her own performance. Experience with self-evaluation is critical for students to assist them with their future development of professional goals.
• Once the final evaluation using the CPI is completed and signed by the student and the CI, the CI or CCCE will submit the evaluation to the DCE.
• Students will also be asked to evaluate the clinical education experience using a “Site Evaluation” form. These evaluations will provide helpful information regarding the site, the clinical instructor to the DCE, and the clinical facility.
• Based upon the ratings and comments provided by the CI, and possibly the CCCE, the DCE will assign a final grade for each experience completed by an individual student. The grades will be recorded as Pass or No Pass.
• If a No Pass grade is received, the DCE will determine if a student is entitled to remediate by completing another clinical experience, or, if, through the assistance of the respective clinical faculty, further time at that particular facility will meet the needs of the student. If the student is required to complete an additional clinical experience, the DCE will determine when and where the student will repeat the clinical experience.
• If a student has a total of two No Pass grades in any of the clinical practice courses, including repeated attempts, that student will be dismissed from the program.
• If a student is unable to successfully complete a scheduled clinical practice course, progression in the curriculum will be allowed so long as the student is no more than one professional practice course behind the class. The reasons for such a situation may be, but are not limited to, an Incomplete or No Pass grade in a clinical practice course or personal reasons.

Matriculation

A matriculated student is one who meets all entrance requirements and is pursuing an approved program that leads to a graduate degree.

Attendance

Students enrolled in graduate courses are considered to be mature students. For this reason, there is no general policy for attendance in graduate courses. However, with certain courses, it is appropriate for the instructor to make regular class attendance mandatory. Such policies will be announced during the first class meeting and included in the course syllabus.

Grading in Physical Therapy

Graduate students in the physical therapy program are expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward their graduate degree. The graduate record for a student begins with the first course in which he/she enrolls and includes all subsequent courses.

Grading Scale:

Note: For specific information on grades, see “Grading System ” in the “School of Human Professions Information” section.

Pass/No Pass—Almost all graduate courses in physical therapy will give standard letter grades. The special nature of some courses will require that they be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Students who elect to withdraw from a required physical therapy course may not continue with the program unless permission is granted following review by the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee.

Graduation

Students can officially graduate at the end of the fall, spring, and summer terms. Only one graduation ceremony is held each year. Commencement is in May following the spring semester. Students planning to graduate must file a petition. (For more information, see sections titled “Goals and Objectives” and “Degree Requirements .”)

Accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association accredits physical therapy education programs in the United States. The program received its initial accreditation in May 1996, when it offered the Master of Science in Physical Therapy. In May 2000, the program was granted accreditation to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Contact information for CAPTE and accreditation status of the program can be optioned on the program’s website at www.widener.edu/ipte, click on “Accreditations and Outcomes.”

Advisory Board—Chester Community Physical Therapy Clinic and DPT Program

Jill Black*

Ellen Boyda*

Wayne Burkholtz

Robin Dole*

Regina Goodrich

Rev. Harrell, FBC**

Fallon Heddings

Jon Herting

Mary Lazar*

Joe Matassino

Mike McDevitt

Gretchen Mielke

Kerstin Palombaro*

Daria Porretta

Scott Voshell*

Bob Young**

Joyce Rasin

Student Representation: Presidents of the current second-and third-year entry-level DPT classes

* Faculty members.
** Chester Community partners/clergy.

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