Tell me about the DPT Program at Northwestern?

In 2001, NUPT began offering Doctor of Physical Therapy as first professional degree. The goal of the DPT curriculum is to produce a physical therapist who can respond to complex patient/client needs quickly and scientifically with a high level of independence shortly following graduation and licensure.  A high level of performance is expected of students. With the conversion to the DPT degree, the curriculum was increased by 8 weeks, including lengthening the full time terminal clinical experiences by 5 weeks.  The schedule was reorganized to allow an additional clinical week during Clinical Experience II.  These additional weeks were contained within the then existing 7 trimester timeframe. Additional content in differential diagnosis including imaging, health promotion and disease, injury and secondary disability prevention was added.

Curriculum revisions were again implemented with the class entering in the fall of 2009.  These changes included:

• A reduction in the number of hours per day of scheduled classroom activities
• The addition of an 8th trimester, increasng the overall length of the curriculum to 32 months
• Concurrent education in basic and clinical science courses
• An increase in the frequency of  part-time clinical experiences
• An increase in the length, and resequencing, of each full-time clinical experience
  

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What about the curriculum?
Both basic science and clinical courses are offered within a movement sciences framework.  Students will understand the interaction of the physiologic, neurologic, biomechanical, and behavioral factors that contribute to normal and abnormal movement. There is a strong emphasis on decision-making based on scientific principles and clinical evidence. Learning is both active and interactive and a high level of performance expected from students. There is significant involvement of students and faculty with patients in a variety of patient care environments during course work. The curriculum is organized into 8 trimesters spanning 32 months. Clinical education is interspersed with academic content…refer to clinical education FAQ.

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What kind of facilities are available to the students?
Classes are held primarily on the 7^th floor at 645 N. Michigan Avenue, where we have extensive lecture and lab space. Students have access to the building 24/7, which allows students to come in to practice with clinic equipment at their convenience. Anatomy labs are held in the Medical School’s Tarry Building, a few blocks away. Click for a full listing of resources.

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What is PTHMS's relationship with McGaw Medical Center Facilities?

The McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University is a consortium of urban, suburban, specialized, and general hospitals and the University. The hospitals include Northwestern Memorial Hospital (which includes the Stone Institute of Psychiatry and Prentice Women's Hospital and Maternity Center); Evanston, Glenbrook, Children’s Memorial, and Highland Park Hospitals; The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Each hospital in the McGaw Medical Center has a separate administration and Board of Directors.  We work closely with the hospitals, but the nature of the association changes from year to year and hospital to hospital. We have a formal agreement with Northwestern Memorial Hospital for exchange of clinical and teaching services. All students will experience labs on aquatic therapy and advanced wheelchair activities at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

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What are students who are accepted to the program like academically?
The academic profile of accepted and enrolled students from the most recent class is below.

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