Curriculum

Curriculum in the DPT program is built around the Motor Control Framework (MCF), developed by Northwestern faculty, which enables students to diagnose and treat movement dysfunction. Students develop skills in observing and describing movement based on the movement continuum.

Students integrate knowledge about the person, task and environment to generate hypotheses that direct the examination and plan of care. Evidence-based practice principles are embedded throughout the entire process.

Explore the Motor Control Framework

Clinical Education is a formal supervised experiential learning designed for students to gain substantial, relevant clinical experience and skills, engage in contemporary practice, and demonstrate competence before beginning independent practice. These courses are an integral and substantial part of the DPT curriculum and include formal student assessment. The DPT curriculum has four full-time clinical education experiences to allow them to attain and apply professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist:

• Clinical Experience I: July - August (6 weeks, end of first year)
• Clinical Experience II: April - June (6 weeks, middle of second year)
• Clinical Experience III: September - November (13 weeks, third year)
• Clinical Experience IV: January - April (13 weeks, third year)

Part-time integrated clinical education experiences begin the fall term of the first year and continue in subsequent terms during didactic training. Curricular emphasis is on developing patient physical therapy skills across the lifespan and in various practice settings, with additional interprofessional experiences such as research, teaching, supervision, and administration.

Clinical Education Mission and Vision

Vision Statement: Preparing physical therapists to improve the future of healthcare for all.

Mission Statement: Collaborating to develop a community of responsive, flexible clinicians who promote excellence in practice and education.

It is the professional duty of a physical therapist to provide compassionate care that all patients and clients deserve. NUPTHMS values the opportunity to serve patients in all communities.

International Student Opportunities

We offer international clinical education experiences for DPT students consistent with the department’s mission of producing global leaders. The relationships with our international host partners are intended to be sustainable and to mutually benefit the students and host sites. We currently have two international partners and are continually seeking new global health opportunities for students and faculty members.

• Hillside Health Care International — Punta Gorda, Belize
  Students complete four-week rotations in a rural multidisciplinary clinic providing rehabilitation services for pediatric and adult outpatients with a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Students also educate children in elementary schools about the value of accepting people with disabilities into their communities. The Hillside Health Care International rehabilitation director, our faculty members or affiliated physical therapists provide direct supervision for the DPT students.
• University of San Sebastian — Concepcion, Chile
  Students are involved in a total immersion experience of the Chilean culture and language as they practice in intensive care units and comprehensive rehabilitation units under the supervision of local therapists and University of San Sebastian faculty members for six to eight weeks. Students also participate in formal coursework with local PT students.

The purpose of technical standards is to delineate the skills deemed essential for our DPT program. Technical standards are necessary to identify and communicate our expectations for student performance in the academic and clinical environments.

Reflected in the standards are those behaviors, knowledge and skills that degree candidates must possess to engage safely and competently in required learning activities and in clinical practice to ensure the well-being of the patient/client, self and others.

Behavior, Social Skills and Professionalism

• Practice in a manner that ensures the safety of the patient/client, self and others.
• Practice in an ethical, legal and responsible manner.
• Identify, acknowledge and accept responsibility for actions and report errors.
• Establish professional relationships, based on mutual trust, with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ages and needs.
• Recognize the psychosocial impact of dysfunction and disability and integrate the needs, including cultural needs, of the patient/client, family, significant other and caregiver into the plan of care.
• Self-assess performance and implement plans for professional growth and development.
• Consistently demonstrate professional behaviors in interactions with patients/clients, families, caregivers, healthcare providers, students, faculty, consumers and payers.
• Demonstrate the ability to cope and adjust to recurrent stresses, which are inherent in clinical practice.

Communication

• Demonstrate expressive and receptive communication skills (verbal, nonverbal and written) that meet the needs of the target audience (students, faculty, patients/clients, families, caregivers, practitioners, community members, payers and policymakers).
• Appropriately document the delivery of physical therapy services.

Cognitive/Integrative Abilities

• Demonstrate the ability to problem solve, analyze and synthesize information and apply principles of logic and scientific inquiry to the practice of physical therapy.
• Select appropriate physical therapy examination procedures and synthesize findings to formulate an appropriate physical therapy evaluation.
• Establish a working physical therapy diagnosis, formulate a prognosis and select appropriate interventions for individuals with an actual or potential movement dysfunction to achieve desired outcomes.
• Recognize and respond appropriately in emergency situations.

Psychomotor

• Accurately perform physical therapy examination techniques.
• Demonstrate the strength, mobility, balance, fine motor coordination, endurance, perceptual and sensory capabilities sufficient to provide physical therapy to any adult or pediatric patient/client, including heavy or immobile patients/clients. If a student has a documented disability and is unable to directly provide safe and effective care, they must demonstrate the ability to manage patient/client care with the assistance of approved reasonable accommodations.

It is university policy to ensure that no qualified student with a disability is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any university program or activity. If any student needs assistance with regards to any disability, the student must register with AccessibleNU to seek the appropriate accommodations. 

The Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences partners with the Havey Institute for Global Health to expand knowledge, capacity, and equity in global health through clinical education partnerships both domestically and internationally. We prioritize global health experiences within the DPT program through faculty research, local social responsibility efforts, global opportunities for students and awareness of the many issues that affect the field of physical therapy worldwide. Browse the resources and topics below to learn more about our work. 

Local Student Opportunities

• PACE
  In the Professional Advancement & Community Engagement (PACE) requirement, students spend at least 20 hours volunteering with local organization focusing on professional development and social responsibility as a healthcare professional. Students identify areas of personal and professional growth, set goals to improve in these areas and are able to select an organization and opportunity that will help them achieve their goals.  
• "Out of the Loop"
  An annual bus tour for students and faculty to meet people improving the health of people in Chicago’s medically underserved communities. The aim is to meet neighborhood residents and community organization staff, listen to their stories about local healthcare and learn about how neighborhood environment and other social factors contribute to health.
• Global PT Day of Service
  Global PT Day of Service brings together over 8,000 physical therapists and students from over 42 countries. The event brings clinicians, students and associated staff of the physical therapy profession to volunteer in different communities around the world on one day.
• World Physical Therapy Day
  World Physical Therapy Day is an opportunity for physical therapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution the profession makes to keep people well, mobile and independent. We celebrate this day by hosting a luncheon for incoming students.