PHYSICAL THERAPY
College of Health and Human Services
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The mission of the Sacramento State Department of Physical Therapy is to educate competent physical therapist generalist practitioners who demonstrate ethical, responsible, professional behavior, who are sensitive to cultural and psycho-social differences, use evidence derived from research as a base for practice, utilize critical thinking and problem solving, practice life long learning, and provide services that contribute to the optimal health and function of the residents of the communities they serve.
Physical Therapy at Sacramento State is one of several professional curricula in the College of Health and Human Services. The program complements others in the College and provides opportunities for research, instructional collaboration, and interaction.
The curriculum of 2½ years, including summers, encompasses didactic instruction, laboratory experience, and clinical education. The clinical component consists of thirty weeks of full-time, off-campus clinical internships leading to a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Physical Therapy.
Special Features
- Following successful completion of both the clinical and regular academic program, students are awarded a Master's in Physical Therapy and will be eligible to take the national licensure examination.
- Computer facilities are available for self-guided and interactive learning experiences.
- The Master's in Physical Therapy at Sacramento State has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education/APTA. The Commission can be contacted for questions at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488, (703) 684-2782.
- Admission is for fall semester only.
- Classes are offered primarily during daytime hours, and full-time study is required.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:- have received (or will receive by the end of the summer semester) a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
- have completed all prerequisite coursework by the January 15th deadline with the exception of four courses. These remaining courses must be completed in the spring and/or summer semester (a maximum of two of these courses may be completed during the summer);
- have a minimum of 2.5 GPA for the last 60 semester units;
- have a minimum of 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite coursework;
- have accumulated and documented a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer or paid experience in at least two physical therapy settings (e.g., acute, rehab, SNF, outpatient orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatric, etc.) under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist;
- have three (3) recommendation forms to be submitted with the MPT application: two (2) recommendation forms must be from licensed physical therapists and one (1) from an academic professional;
- submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (analytical, quantitative, and verbal) by January 15th;
- applicants who do not possess a bachelor's degree from a post secondary institution where English is the principal language must demonstrate competence in English by scoring a minimum of 550 (213 if computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); and
- anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, exercise physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology must have been completed within the last ten (10) years at the time of enrollment to the MPT program.
Admission Procedures
All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470:
- an online application for admission; and
- official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.
Note to International Students:
Review CSU Sacramento international application procedures at http://www.hhs.csus.edu/pt/How_to_Apply.html. International applications are due to the Office of International Admissions by October of the year preceding anticipated enrollment. International students must complete eight units of the prerequisite coursework listed in the MPT Application, at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Office of International Admissions
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6012
(916) 278-7772
http://http://www.hhs.csus.edu/pt/How_to_Apply.html
The MPT application is available as a fill-in downloadable/printable document online at http://www.hhs.csus.edu/pt/. The completed application along with required items, need to be enclosed in a 9” x 12” envelope postmarked or delivered in-person no later than January 15th of the year of anticipated enrollment.
Department of Physical Therapy
Attention: Admissions Committee
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6020
Selection Procedures
Application materials are reviewed by the MPT Admissions Committee and a point system is utilized to assign a score to each applicant. During the first screening, points are given for the prerequisite coursework GPA, recommendation forms from two (2) licensed physical therapist and one (1) academic professional, and additional background criteria. Based on the results of this first screening, the top applicants will be invited for a panel interview and to compose an essay using a word processing system (MS Word) at the time of the interview. The top thirty-two (32) applicants along with alternates will be notified of their status within two weeks of the final interviews.
Additional Information
Health Requirements
Students admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Physical
Therapy are required to have specified immunizations
by the Student Health Center or a private physician prior to beginning
the program. Complete information on health requirements
for Physical Therapy students may be secured from the Department of Physical Therapy
office.
Costs and Fees
In addition to University registration fees, students can be expected
to incur costs of approximately $1,500 per year for books, supplies, malpractice/liability
insurance, and laboratory fees. Students are required to assume responsibility
for transportation and housing costs for clinical internships which may
be anywhere in California.
Health Insurance, Transportation Schedules, CPR Certification, and Background Screens
All students accepted into the graduate program in the Department of Physical
Therapy must provide their own health insurance and transportation to
clinical facilities. Health insurance is mandatory prior to beginning
clinical experiences. CPR certification (Basic Adult and Pediatric) is
required at the time of fall enrollment and recertification must be maintained
according to the requirements of the American Heart Association or American
Red Cross. Malpractice/liability insurance is required prior to any clinical
placement and is purchased through the University. Information on malpractice/liability insurance will be provided upon enrollment. Students will be required to complete (at their own expense) a criminal background check prior to clinical placements. A positive criminal history may preclude student participation in the clinical courses.
Advancement to Candidacy
Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure may begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:
- removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
- successfully completed all first year courses with a minimum of 3.0 overall grade point average in all graduate level coursework;
- successfully completed the first clinical education experience;
- formulated an approved written plan for the required graduate project portfolio; and
- taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.
Requirements - Master of Physical Therapy Degree
A. Required Prerequisite Courses (48-52 units)
Prerequisite coursework must have been completed at an accredited college or university with a minimum grade of "C" or better.
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.
(4) |
Introductory Human Anatomy (BIO 1, BIO 2, BIO 10, or BIO 20) OR |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology I AND |
||
Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 25 or instructor permission) |
||
(4) |
Systemic Physiology (BIO 1, BIO 2, BIO 10, BIO 20, or BIO 22 and one year of college chemistry) OR |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology I AND |
||
Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 25 or instructor permission) |
||
(5) |
General Chemistry I (High school chemistry and college algebra; sufficient performance on the college algebra diagnostic test, or equivalent) OR |
|
Introduction to General Chemistry (One year high school algebra; high school chemistry recommended) |
||
(5) |
General Chemistry II (CHEM 1A with a passing grade of C or better) OR |
|
Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or a high school chemistry course and passing a qualifying exam given in the first laboratory period) |
||
(3) |
Introduction to Public Speaking |
|
(3) |
Kinesiology (BIO 22 or equivalent) |
|
(3) |
Physiology of Exercise (BIO 131 or equivalent) |
|
(2) |
Pharmacology (BIO 131 or equivalent) |
|
(2) |
Pathophysiology (BIO 22 or equivalent, BIO 131 or equivalent) |
|
(4) |
General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound (Recently completed three years of high school algebra and geometry; and a college course in algebra and trigonometry [MATH 9 recommended] for those having an inadequate mathematics background) |
|
(4) |
General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics (PHYS 5A or instructor permission) |
|
(3) |
Introductory Psychology |
|
(3) Select one of the following: |
||
|
Child Psychology (PSYC 2) |
|
Psychological Aspects of Aging (PSYC 2) |
||
Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying |
||
Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 2) |
||
(3) |
Introduction to Statistics (MATH 9 or three years of high school mathematics which includes two years of algebra and one year of geometry; completion of ELM requirement and the Intermediate Algebra Diagnostic Test) OR |
|
Statistics and Research for Social Workers |
||
B. Required Professional Courses (77 units)Note: Please see department for course corequisites and prerequisites. Coursework is sequenced; therefore, students cannot progress from one semester to the next without successfully completing all courses in a given semester with a grade of "C" or better. Students can repeat a course in which they received less than a "C" grade one time only, but cannot do so until the course is offered the following year. Students must pass the PT 300 course prior to beginning second-year courses. |
||
(2) |
Review of Human Gross Anatomy (BIO 22 and BIO 122 or a course in gross anatomy using a regional approach) |
|
(5) |
Pathokinesiology |
|
(2) |
Research Methods in Physical Therapy I |
|
(2) |
Principles of Human Movement |
|
(4) |
Therapeutic Measurements and Techniques |
|
(2) |
PT/Patient Professional Interactions |
|
(3) |
Therapeutic Exercise I |
|
(1) |
Research Methods in Physical Therapy II |
|
(4) |
Neurological Evaluation and Treatment I |
|
(4) |
Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment I |
|
(3) |
Clinical Agents |
|
(1) |
Physical Therapy Educator |
|
(3) |
Therapeutic Exercise II |
|
(4) |
Neurological Evaluation and Treatment II |
|
(4) |
Musculoskeletal Evaluation and Treatment II |
|
(2) |
Special Topics in Physical Therapy I |
|
(2) |
Health Care Delivery in Physical Therapy I |
|
(1) |
Graduate PT Seminar IA (BIO 233, PT 200, PT 202, PT 204, PT 206, PT 208, PT 220, PT 222, PT 224, PT 225, PT 226, PT 300, and if taken in the spring: PT 227, PT 240, PT 244, PT 245, PT 246, PT 248) AND/OR |
|
(1) |
Graduate PT Seminar IB (BIO 233, PT 200, PT 202, PT 204, PT 206, PT 208, PT 220, PT 222, PT 224, PT 225, PT 226, PT 227, PT 240, PT 244, PT 245, PT 246, PT 248, PT 300) |
|
(3) |
Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy |
|
(2) |
Neuropediatric Evaluation and Treatment (BIO 233, PT 200, PT 202, PT 204, PT 206, PT 208, PT 220, PT 222, PT 224, PT 225, PT 227, PT 240, PT 244, PT 245, PT 246, PT 248, PT 300; Corequisite: PT 260A, PT 262, PT 266, PT 268, PT 269, PT 500) |
|
(2) |
Special Topics in Physical Therapy II |
|
(2) |
Health Care Delivery in Physical Therapy II |
|
(1) |
Psychosocial Issues in Physical Therapy |
|
(1) |
Graduate PT Seminar II |
|
(3) |
Clinical Practicum I |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum II |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum III |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum IV |
|
(2) |
Culminating Experience |
|
Requirements - Certificate - Clinical Competency
The Certificate of Clinical Competency requires the completion of a total of 30 weeks of full-time clinical experiences assigned by the physical therapy curriculum, under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed physical therapist, in a facility with a signed clinical contract with Sacramento State. The first clinical affiliation of 6 weeks occurs between the first and second year of the Master's physical therapy curriculum and is open to those students who have successfully completed the first year in the curriculum. The second part of the clinical certification requirement involves affiliations totaling 24 weeks of full-time experience following the successful completion of the second year in the physical therapy Master's curriculum. The certificate will be awarded following documentation by clinical faculty of students' consistent demonstration of safe, entry-level competencies in a prescribed number of clinical areas, as determined by the ACCE, the program Director, faculty, and the national accrediting body.
Required Certificate Courses (15 units) |
||
(3) |
Clinical Practicum I |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum II |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum III |
|
(4) |
Clinical Practicum IV |
|
Career Possibilities
Hospitals · Ambulatory Care Centers · Private Practice · Sports Medicine Centers · Rehabilitation Centers · Industries · Extended Care Facilities · Home Health Care · Schools · University Teaching and Research · Consulting
Faculty
Ed Barakatt PT, PhD, Bryan Coleman-Salgado PT, DPT, Rafael Escamilla PT, PhD, Clare Lewis PT, PsyD, Susan McGinty PT, EdD, Michael McKeough PT, EdD, Brad Stockert PT, PhD
Contact Information
Susan McGinty, Director
Jasajo Green McDaniel, Administrative Support Coordinator
Solano Hall 4000
(916) 278-6426
www.hhs.csus.edu/PT
COMPLETE COURSE LISTING | RETURN TO TOP |