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College of Health Professionals
The School of Physical Therapy
Mission & Vision
The mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Anderson University is to prepare physical therapists who are clinical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of movement dysfunction, advocates for healthy living and physical wellness, and scholar-practitioners who advance the practice of physical therapy. This mission is accomplished by engaging graduate students in learning and service activities that are grounded in Christian principles, guided by professional values and ethics, focused on quality outcomes, and driven by innovative thinking.
AU Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Pledge
We pledge to: accept responsibility, act with integrity, and aspire to excellence, as we acquire the knowledge and skills needed to alleviate movement dysfunction, advance practice through research and service, advocate for the health care needs of society, and adapt to an ever-changing world.
Accreditation and Approval
We are accredited through the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). If you would like additional information on our DPT program, or if you wish to support the program in some way, please contact ckindel@andersonuniversity.edu.
If you want to share something about Anderson University’s School of Physical Therapy program, faculty or staff, please submit your comments here. We’d love to hear from you.
Steps to Enrollment
The application cycle for the next available cohort (Beginning summer 2024) will be open July 15, 2023 – October 1, 2023.
The School of Physical Therapy at Anderson University participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Early submissions are encouraged as it can take up to a month for them to be fully processed by PTCAS.
To lean more about PTCAS, visit ptcas.org. We admit 28-30 students per year, lower than the average physical therapy class size of 45. This is a reflection of AU’s more personalized educational experience. We are unable to accept applications from international students at this time.
Prerequisite Courses
Completion of the following prerequisites are required. You can have no more than 12 hours of prerequisites remaining at the time of application. We will not consider science courses that are more than 10 years old. For repeated courses, the higher grade is calculated into your prerequisite GPA, but the two grades are averaged when calculating your overall GPA.
2 biology courses, one lower level and one upper level (7-8 semester hours), with at least 1 lab course. 1 anatomy and 1 physiology course or 2 combined A&P courses with lab (8 semester hours) 2 chemistry courses with lab (8 semester hours) 2 physics courses with lab (8 semester hours) 1 statistics course (3 semester hours) 3 social science courses with a least 1 psychology course (9 semester hours) 1 medical terminology course or approved self-study course 1 composition or technical writing course (3 semester hours)
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline is required; however, most students find it easier to pursue their prerequisites by majoring in biology, exercise science, or kinesiology.
Minimum grade-point average of 3.0 GRE scores of: 150 verbal and 150 quantitative are preferred, but not minimum requirements. Document at least 40 hours of observation, volunteer or paid work in two physical therapy settings in order to ensure your familiarity with the profession. Record of involvement in service must be submitted along with two personal references: one from a teacher/professor addressing your academic aptitude and one from a physical therapist, former supervisor, coach, or service activity sponsor addressing your attitude and/or work ethic. Sign up and take a personal competency assessment administered by CASPer: takealtus.com/casper/ Qualified applicants will be invited to campus to interview. Interview dates are typically scheduled at the end of October and the first part of November. At least one week prior to the interview date, applicants may be asked to submit an introductory video. For enrollment-related questions, contact enrollment@andersonuniversity.edu.
Why AU for Your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree?
Competitive Cost
Our program has a comparable cost to the publicly funded programs, and if you’re out-of-state, you won’t pay additional tuition fees
Shorter Program
AU’s program takes fewer semesters to complete than other DPT programs, so you get into the job market sooner
Early Clinical Exposure
You’ll be able to hit the ground running as you gain exposure to a variety of clinical sites and interact with other health care professionals.
Clinical Education Experiences
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy student, you’ll participate in part-time and full-time clinical experiences at healthcare facilities in South Carolina and selected out-of-state sites. Overall, you’ll complete 32 weeks of supervised, full-time clinical experiences in physical therapy facilities and another two weeks of part-time or service-learning experiences. These experiences will expose you to patient populations, from newborns to older adults, and give you the opportunity to interact with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds with a range of physical illnesses and disabilities.
During the first year of the program, you’ll be assigned to weekly, half-day experiences in local healthcare facilities and community agencies where you’ll observe and interact with other healthcare professionals and advocacy groups.
In year two, you’ll complete two clinical practicums in an outpatient setting, and a variety of other settings including inpatient.
In the summer of year three, you’ll participate in a week long service-learning experience, such as serving on a medical mission trip, at a camp for people with disabilities or special needs, or at a free, local clinic. In addition, you’ll complete an eight-week experience. During the final semester (fall of year 3), you’ll complete another eight-week experience. You will have the opportunity to identify a specialty practice area to complete for one of your final experience.
Estimated Program Cost
Program Costs (estimated):
Tuition = $770 per credit hour; total program $96,250 (125 credits) Student fees = $500 per semester Technology fees = $200 per semester Books and other instructional materials = $500-600 per semester in first 2 years
Travel costs = variable depending on location of clinical practicums Living expenses = approximately $20,000 in Greenville; may be less if commuting from nearby communities or sharing expenses with a roommate
Course Descriptions
Broken down by year and semester, you’re able to see your course load throughout your time in the program.
Year 1 Summer Session - 16 hours total
This orientation course provides an introduction to the physical therapy profession including its history and trends, core values, role delineations, and organizational structure. Program policies and procedures are reviewed along with medical terminology, isolation techniques, emergency procedures, and HIPPA regulations. Strategies for effective learning, interpersonal communication, and team-building are also introduced.
This advanced anatomical study allows students to develop an in depth knowledge and appreciation of the intricate design of the human body including the structure of the extremities, spine, thorax, and internal organs and their embryonic derivations. Through gross cadaver dissection, students will also have an opportunity to detect anatomical anomalies or pathological changes and relate these deviations to movement dysfunction.
This course applies previously learned physical and biomechanical principles to the human body to develop a working knowledge of the osteokinematic and arthrokinematic motions that produce functional movement patterns.Students begin to develop the palpation skills needed to locate specific bony or soft tissue landmarks as well as assess joint play, end feels, muscle tone, and postural alignment. Components of the gait cycle are introduced as students also learn to differentiate normal and deviant gait patterns.
Persons with physical disabilities which are vocational handicaps are eligible for financial aid from a State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Information may be obtained from the Vocational Rehabilitation Department in the student’s home state.
Year 1 Fall Session - 19 hours total
This course is a continuation of PT 721 with an emphasis on the normal and abnormal physiological function of the skin, bone, muscles, joints, nervous and reproductive systems. The influence of the endocrine system on human movement system is explored along with selected multi-system pathologies. Techniques for measuring body composition are also introduced.
This course provides an overview of various drug classifications, their mechanism of action, and indications for use.Pharmacokinetics, therapeutic dosages, drug actions and interactions, and common side effects will be examined with an emphasis on how they affect cognitive and motor function.
This course teaches students to accurately, efficiently, and reliably perform basic assessment skills including skin integrity, goniometry, muscle testing, sensory and reflex testing, analysis of posture and balance, and rating scales for pain and activities of daily living (ADL).
This course covers the prescription and application of a variety of orthotic and assistive devices that are commonly used to prevent contractures, facilitate transfers and gait, and improve the mobility of patients with joint deformities or muscle weakness. Progressive functional training and outcome assessment will be emphasized.
This course covers the physiological rationale for designing a progressive exercise intervention to improve muscle strength, motor coordination, cardiovascular endurance, joint and muscle flexibility, and balance. Theories and principles of motor learning are applied to selected patient scenarios.
This course introduces the clinical reasoning process as well as the components of evidence-based practice. Students learn to locate, critique, and apply evidence to support clinical decision making as well as pose relevant clinical questions of their own.
This course teaches students how to conduct a thorough patient interview, formulate functional goals, and properly document all patient interactions. Principles and strategies for effective communications and conflict management are presented along with an overview of health informatics and the ICF model.
Year 1 Spring Session - 18 hours total
This course provides a focused study of the structure and function of the peripheral and central nervous system including the cerebral cortex, brain stem nuclei, spinal tracts, peripheral plexuses and nerves, and autonomic ganglia. Theories of brain organization, information processing, and pain perception are introduced along with screening procedures for cranial nerve and cognitive function.
This course emphasizes relevant information gleaned from the patient history, systems screen, physical exam, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging which help distinguish between pathologies of a neuromusculoskeletal versus systemic origin. Lab practice and case studies are used to structure clinical decision-making and discuss appropriate referral mechanisms.
This course covers the physiological rationale, indications, contraindications, and treatment parameters used to safely administer various thermal, mechanical, sound, light, and electrical modalities to augment the effectiveness of other physical therapy interventions. In addition, soft tissue mobilization techniques such as massage, myofascial release, Graston technique (instrument-assisted mobilization), manual traction, and dry needling will be introduced.
This course applies theories of learning and health behavior to patient education. Students will assess the learning style of their patients and design appropriate instructional and motivational strategies to complement their patients’ needs. In addition, students will have an opportunity to develop teaching media and participate in health promotion activities within the local community.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions such as myocardial infarction, valvular dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, and restrictive and obstructive lung diseases. Specific evaluation and treatment procedures include stress testing protocols, auscultation techniques, breathing exercises, cardiac rehab, lymphedema management, airway clearance and resuscitation techniques. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented in relation to the physical therapy management. Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
This course provides students with early exposure to a variety of healthcare settings where they have an opportunity to interact with patients and other members of the healthcare team.Through these weekly clinical experiences, students gain knowledge of, and an appreciation for, the variety of patient care services that fall outside the realm of physical therapy.
Year 2 Summer Session - 13 hours total
Various clinical research methods are described including single subject designs, surveys, experimental designs, cohort studies, and systematic reviews. Measurement theory is reviewed and applied to the interpretation of various statistical procedures.
Students will work in small groups, under the direction of a faculty mentor, to develop a proposal for conducting an original scholarly project related to some aspect of physical therapy practice or education. The proposal will include a comprehensive review of literature and description of methods that will be used to complete the project.
This course explores legal and ethical issues affecting health care delivery in the U.S. Specific topics include ethical principles, duties, and decision making; physical therapy practice regulations in the State of South Carolina; fraud and abuse; negligence and malpractice; ADA legislation. Current ethical issues related to topics such as genetic testing and engineering, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, right-to-life and right-to-die issues, and resource distribution will be debated and discussed.
This course prepares students for clinical practice by providing experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with musculoskeletal conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine and TMJ regions such as disc herniation, facet joint dysfunction, spinal stenosis, ligamentous instabilities and sacroiliac dysfunction.Specific evaluation and treatment procedures include postural correction, joint mobility assessment, neural tension testing, orthopedic special tests, joint mobilization and manipulation techniques, ergonomic modifications, work conditioning and post-operative orthopedic protocols. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented in relation to the physical therapy management.Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
This course prepares students for clinical practice by providing experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with musculoskeletal conditions affecting the upper and lower extremities such as muscle strains, tendinopathies, fractures, ligamentous instabilities, arthridities and joint arthroplasty.Specific evaluation and treatment procedures include joint mobility assessment, neural tension testing, orthopedic special tests, joint mobilization and manipulation techniques, work conditioning, and post-operative orthopedic protocols.Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented in relation to the physical therapy management.Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
Year 2 Fall Session - 17 hours total
This full-time, 8-week clinical practicum provides students with an opportunity to apply previously learned knowledge and skills on patients seeking physical therapy care in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Students will evaluate and treat individuals of all ages, with simple and complex health conditions, under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
This full-time, 8-week clinical practicum provides students with an opportunity to apply previously learned knowledge and skills on patients seeking physical therapy care in an outpatient, inpatient, long-term care, or specialty setting. Students will evaluate and treat individuals of all ages, with simple and complex health conditions, under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
This course provides an overview of normal motor development across the lifespan. Students will explore the stages of motor development including developmental milestones and reflexes as well as changes associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and the aging process. Laboratory experiences will provide opportunities to analyze gross motor development, play skills, motor coordination, pelvic floor exercise, and balance.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with common metabolic and immunologic disorders such as diabetes, hormonal deficiencies, rheumatic diseases, malignancies, chronic liver and renal failure, AIDs, and infectious conditions. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will be presented along with options for end-of-life care such as hospice. Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
Year 2 Spring Session - 14 hours total
Following approval of the Institutional Review Board, students will work in small groups, under the direction of a faculty mentor, to collect data related to the previously proposed scholarly project.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of children with congenital disabilities, traumatic injuries, or other pathologies that impair normal development. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented along with information related to genetic counseling. Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of adults with brain trauma, stroke, and progressive neuromuscular conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonism, and dementia. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented in relation to the physical therapy management. Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
The course provides students with an opportunity to discuss assessment and support strategies for interacting effectively with patients who exhibit stress, anxiety, depression, changes in body image, chronic pain, dementia, loss and grief. In addition, students will learn how to recognize and report signs of abuse, addiction, and caregiver stress including referrals to counselors, social workers, clergy, and support groups.
This course introduces various marketing strategies and management principles and applied them to a variety of physical therapy practice settings. Specific topics include regulatory policies and procedures, billing and reimbursement, personnel management, advertising, budgeting and equipment purchasing, strategic planning, liability and risk management.
This course provides students with an opportunity to pursue advanced knowledge and skill in a specialized area of clinical practice. Courses will be taught in a concentrated, continuing education format; topics may vary from year to year, depending on student interest.
This course focuses on the epidemiology and social determinants of population health problems affecting the U.S. and other countries. Emphasis is placed on health education and health promotion initiatives that physical therapists can engage in at the community level.
Year 3 Summer Session - 15 hours total
Working in small groups under the direction of a faculty mentor, students will use the appropriate quantitative or qualitative data analysis software to analyze their previously collected data and interpret the results.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries and compression syndromes. Students will learn how to prescribe wheelchairs, orthotics, and other adaptive equipment to maximize functional movement. Relevant medical, surgical, imaging, and electrodiagnostic procedures will also be presented, and the implications of new developments in regenerative medicine will be discussed.
This course provides students with experience in the physical therapy examination, diagnosis, management, and outcome assessment of individuals with integumentary conditions such as burn trauma, vascular ulcers. Relevant medical, surgical, pharmacological, and imaging procedures will also be presented in relation to the physical therapy management. Case studies will be used to integrate information and enhance the development of clinical problem solving skills and inter-professional collaboration.
This full-time, 8-week clinical practicum provides students with an opportunity to apply previously learned knowledge and skills on patients seeking physical therapy care in an outpatient, inpatient, long-term care, or specialty setting. Students will evaluate and treat individuals of all ages with simple and complex health conditions under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
Year 3 Fall Session - 14 hours total
Students will participate as volunteers in a week-long summer camp, mission trip, or community-based service learning experience which allows them to interact directly with children or adults who have special needs. A reflective journal will be used to assess the outcomes of this practicum.
This full-time, 8-week clinical practicum provides students with an opportunity to apply previously learned knowledge and skills on patients seeking physical therapy care in an outpatient, inpatient, long-term care, or specialty setting. Students will evaluate and treat individuals of all ages with simple and complex health conditions under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
Students will work in small groups under the direction of a faculty mentor to develop a platform or poster presentation that will be presented to their peers, faculty, and other invited guests during a formal scholarly forum.
This course provides students with multiple opportunities to engage in professional development and community service activities outside the classroom to demonstrate the core values of the physical therapy profession. Classroom experiences are designed to facilitate students’ transition to a professional role by preparing for the national licensure exam, formulating a career development plan, exploring professional service and leadership opportunities, and advocating for current issues affecting the physical therapy profession.
Graduate Outcomes
Measures | Class of 2021 | Class of 2022 |
|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 100% | 100% |
Employment Rate | 100% | 100% |
Ultimate Licensure Pass Rate | 96.4% | 88.9% |
Check out publications by Anderson University’s School of Physical Therapy Faculty
SPICE Mentorship Program
The term “spice of life” describes experiences that enrich/add flavor to our lives and make us more well-rounded. In the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, “SPICE” is an acronym: Senior Partners In Clinical Education. We pair each student in our Doctor of Physical Therapy program with an older adult in the community who will provide feedback to the student as they practice clinical skills, bring psychological and spiritual support throughout the program, and help celebrate our students’ success.
To apply to be a SPICE mentor or for more information, please email rhaulbrook@andersonuniversity.edu or call 864.231.2453
File a Complaint
Any individual or organization that is dissatisfied with his/her experience or encounter with any student, faculty, or staff member associated with the School of Physical Therapy may file a complaint against the offending party with the School of Physical Therapy Chair. The complaint must be made in writing to be considered bona fide. Complaints should be addressed as follows:
Curt Kindel, Chair
School of Physical Therapy
Anderson University
225 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Suite B-3
Greenville, SC 29607
Email: ckindel@andersonuniversity.edu
Phone: 864.622.6086
Complaints about the School or University related to compliance with accreditation standards must be submitted in writing to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). These complaints should be addressed as follows:
Director of Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Email: Accreditation@apta.org
Phone: 800.999.2782
Complaints about the School of Physical Therapy or the School of Physical Therapy Chair may be submitted directly to the Dean of the College of Health Professions at the following address:
Dr. Don Peace, Dean
College of Health Professions
Anderson University
316 Boulevard
Anderson, SC 29621
Email: dpeace@andersuniversity.edu
Phone: 864.231.2134