Department of Physical Therapy & Human Performance
Central to the mission of the Program in Physical Therapy is the mission and goals of Florida Gulf Coast University and the College of Health Professions. Reflective of this, the academic program is designed to meet the diverse needs of the college students of today and of the future. The program prepares students to enter contemporary practice in the field of physical therapy. Students become proficient in employing current sources of information as they relate to learning and evidence-based practice. Students develop into self-directed learners through the active learning format that chacterizes the program - skills that aid them in being resourceful scholars and clinicians.
Program Accreditation
The Physical Therapy program has been granted Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Program Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the Fall of each year. For priority consideration, all application materials must be received by January 15th of the year in which entry is sought. Application materials received after January 15th will be considered on a space available basis. Admissions decisions are made based on materials and coursework completed at the time of the application.
The Department of Physical Therapy and Human Performance conducts a competitive admissions process. The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the entry-level physical therapy program. (Please note that meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapy program.) All applicants must have:
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants may complete a baccalaureate degree in any field. The following undergraduate majors at FGCU may be the most congruent with the required physical therapy prerequisite courses: BS in Athletic Training; BS in Human Performance; BS in Health Science; BS in Biology with pre-physical therapy elective options
Achieved a GPA calculated for all prerequisite courses (for courses completed at the time of application) of at least 3.20 (on a 0 to 4 scale)
Achieved a GPA for all upper division coursework (for courses completed at the time of application) of at least 3.00 (on a 0 to 4 scale)
A minimum score of 4.0 on the Analytical portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a minimum total Quantitative-Verbal GRE score of 1000, with a minimum score of 400 on both the Quantitative and Verbal portions of the GRE
Completion of Interview (after program application).
Submission of supplemental department application, including validation of two physical therapist shadowing experiences of five hours each
Complete the following prerequisite courses or the equivalent with a grade of C or better (a grade of C- or less is not acceptable).
BSC 2010C General Biology I w/Lab (4)
BSC 1085C Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab (3) or BSC 2011C General Biology II w/Lab (4)
BSC 1086C Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab (4) Or PCB 2XXX Human Physiology (3)
CHM 1045C General Chemistry I w/Lab (4)
CHM 1046C General Chemistry II w/Lab (4)
PHY 2053C College Physics I w/Lab (4)
PHY 2054C College Physics II w/Lab (4)
PSY 2012 General Psychology (3)
DEP 2004 Principles of Development (3)
STA 2023 Statistical Methods (3) or STA 2037 Statistics with Calculus (3)
Conditional Admissions If the program does not fill the entering class with fully qualified applicants, the program will consider at its discretion a limited number of "conditional admissions". Such conditional admissions are offered to select students whose total admissions information falls slightly below the "fully qualified" standards. Students admitted under this status MUST earn a letter grade of B or better in the first semester of enrollment to remain in the program.
Transfer Applicants from other Physical Therapy Programs The program will accept transfer students on a space-available basis. Decisions about coursework accepted as transfer credits are made on a case-by-case basis after review and evaluation of the originating program's coursework by the FGCU PT Admissions Committee Faculty.
Criminal Background Check A student may encounter potential problems with clinical education placement and/or employment as a physical therapist if he or she has a criminal record. For specific information, contact the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice through its website. If a student has a criminal record, it is the responsibility of the student to inquire with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice as to whether a criminal record may limit the student's ability to attain licensure as a physical therapist or practice in certain settings.
Admissions Decision Appeals A student may appeal admissions decisions by contacting the Office of the Dean in the College of Health Professions at 239-590-7451. Through the Dean's Office, the student brings an appeal to the CHP Student Appeals Committee. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this process, he or she may bring the appeal to the University Ombudsman (www.fgcu.edu/ombudsman).
Program Requirements
Required courses (105 hrs)
PHT 5109C Movement Science Foundations I (8)
PHT 6393C Movement Science Foundations II (8)
PHT 6395C Movement Science Foundations III (5)
PHT 5353 Medical Diagnostics and Pharmacology I- Introduction to Pharmacology and Imaging (2)
PHT 6009 Medical Diagnostics and Pharmacology II- Diagnostic Testing (3)
PHT 7352 Medical Diagnostics and Pharmacology III- Pharmacology (3)
PHT 7070 Medical Diagnostics and Pharmacology IV- Diagnostic Imaging (3)
PHT 5205C Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice (2)
PHT 6394C Physical Therapy Practice I (4)
PHT 6396C Physical Therapy Practice II (5)
PHT 6397C Physical Therapy Practice III (5)
PHT 6398C Physical Therapy Practice IV (7)
PHT 7390C Physical Therapy Practice V (7)
PHT 7399C Physical Therapy Practice VI (2)
PHT 6026 Professional Development Seminar I: Intro to Physical Therapy (2)
PHT 6412 Professional Development Seminar II: Teaching and Learning (3)
PHT 6413 Professional Development Seminar III: Sociocultural Influences (3)
PHT 6527 Professional Development Seminar IV: Management, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship in Health Care (3)
PHT 6507 Professional Development Seminar V: Medical Spanish for Physical Therapists (1)
PHT 7528 Professional Development Seminar VI: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Health Care Policy and Practice (3)
PHT 7529 Professional Development Seminar VII: Preparation for Entering & Growing in the Profession (2)
PHT 5860 Introductory Clinical Experience (1)
PHT 6822 Clinical Education I (3)
PHT 6941 Clinical Education II (3)
PHT 6942 Clinical Education III (3)
PHT 7946 Clinical Education IV (6)
PHT 5016 Professional Writing and Literature Review (2)
