Mission of Jefferson Department of Physical Therapy

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy, which is congruent with the missions of the College and University, guide the strategic plan and faculty goals in the Department. The mission and goals of the Department of Physical Therapy bring an interprofessional emphasis to education, research, health care delivery, and service to the community and profession.

Educational Mission: To graduate highly competent self-reflective physical therapists who practice evidence-based physical therapy, who are patient advocates, leaders in the community and the profession, who are prepared to treat a culturally diverse population of clients and pursue professional development opportunities.

Educational Goals

Our graduates will be:

1. competent physical therapists
2. reflective physical therapists
3. evidence based practitioners
4. patient advocates
5. leaders in community and profession
6. culturally competent
7. pursue professional development
8. actively participate as part of an interprofessional health care team

Research Mission: To add to the body of knowledge in physical therapy by conducting and disseminating research along a continuum from basic sciences to application

Research Goals

1. Develop and maintain a departmental infrastructure to support collaborative and interdisciplinary research efforts among faculty members.
2. Each core faculty member will have a research agenda and will disseminate at least one peer reviewed scholarly product every 2 years.

Service Mission: To utilize physical therapy knowledge and skills to benefit the community and the profession

Service Goals:

1. Provide health related services   to different populations, including underserved populations
2. Improve health care indirectly through work with  professional/service organizations (e.g., educating other health care providers, critically evaluating health related products, developing health related guidelines)

The Latest Trends

As of September 2008, 192 of 212 professional entry-level  programs are accredited as or developing an entry-level DPT program. JSHP graduated its first DPT class in 2007.

Program Options

There are three pathways to earning the clinical doctorate of Physical Therapy at Jefferson.

3+3 Program for High school students interested in the DPT
Through partnerships with select institutions, physical therapy students can earn a BS and DPT in six years after graduation from high school.
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Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT)
Post-baccalaureate degree program comprised of three years of didactic work interspersed with four full-time clinical affiliations for a total of 38 weeks of clinical experience.
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Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (tDPT)
US-licensed physical therapists with a BSPT or MSPT can attain degree parity with therapists who hold the professional DPT . The hybrid program has been designed for students who work full time.  Courses combine online and one or two weekend days per course.
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Licensure Exams

Graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination and students must pass this examination in order to practice.