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General Information
and Frequently Asked Questions
When FGCU was founded in the early 1990s, Health Professions
education was identified as a cornerstone of the new
university's initial academic master plan. Founded in
1996, the Department of Physical Therapy was created
with a dedication to innovation in the areas of PT curriculum
and teaching methodologies. When its first class of
Physical Therapy Students in 2001, that early vision
of innovation proved to be an unqualified success. Since
then, the department has expanded beyond its initial
offering of Physical Therapy into the areas of Human
Performance and Athletic Training.
In keeping with the Department's mission, there is
continued growth in the form of electives in fitness
and physical activity that are open to any student at
FGCU.
Program Mission Statement
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 characterizes the program
- skills that aid them in being resourceful scholars
and clinicians.
All students participate in a curriculum that focuses
on the process of effective problem solving and scientific
inquiry. Faculty provide scaffolding for higher learning,
exposing students to the base of knowledge on which
the professions are founded and facilitate student exploration
of the validity of that knowledge base. Coursework requiring
the student to use intellectual inquisitiveness builds
a desire in each student for life long growth and learning.
Psychomotor and decision-making skills are developed
in the context of ethical, competent, compassionate
and holistic client care. An integrated curriculum and
community-based laboratories prepare students for autonomous
practice. Students are encouraged to participate in
a variety of service opportunities.
Self-evaluation and reflection are the cornerstone
of student evaluation. Through this process, students
become proficient in identifying individual areas of
strength and need. This enables each student to bring
a strong foundation in self-assessment of learning and
a repertoire of necessary tools to the process of guided
periodic peer assessment, both formal and informal.
Through collaborative learning and application of the
review and evaluation process, students develop acceptance
of and comfort with the development of the skills essential
for peer assessment and review.
Faculty contribute to the future development of the
profession through teaching, scholarly activities and
community and professional service. Faculty are committed
to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning
strategies and curriculum design, providing an environment
that accommodates a variety of learning styles and fosters
success. Professional and community service are valued
and are modeled by the program faculty.
Graduates of the program reflect the diverse backgrounds,
experiences and interests of the community that the
University serves. Through active participation in interdisciplinary
coursework and community experiences, graduates are
skilled in effective communication, facilitating teamwork
and model leadership within their work environments
and in their communities. All graduates are exposed
to experiences that cultivate cultural awareness and
sensitivity to age, gender and cultural diversity. Skilled,
knowledgeable, self-directed, adaptable, and compassionate
graduates are prepared to meet the needs of patients,
clients, the profession, and the community as autonomous
practitioners.
Program Characteristics
- The program admits a maximum class size of 20 each
fall.
- Students enter the program as a "cohort group",
which moves through the program as a unit from start
to finish.
- The program's acceptance rate is 65% in recent years.
- The program's matriculation rate (the percentage
of students offered admission who actually enroll
in the program) is 50% in recent years.
Student Outcomes
- Graduation rate is 87% in recent years. Some students
have delayed graduation to complete independent studies.
- The employment rate has been 100% in recent years
once students graduate and pass the licensure exam.
Graduates are routinely offered more than one position
both prior to and after graduation.
- The pass rate on the (NPTE) National Physical Therapy
Exam has been 87% in recent years. The Federation
of State Boards of Physical Therapy develops and
administers the NPTE.
Program Costs and Financial Aid
The university has information about costs,
including tuition, fees and refund policies, at the
university's Office of the Bursar's website.
There is information about financial aid at
the university's Financial Aid Office website.
The Graduate Admissions Office has information about
graduate tuition waivers and graduate assistantships
at its website.
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