Saint Francis University

 Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are professionals, practicing in concert with members of related health professions. Three terms define the practice of physical therapy: (1) health promotion, (2) prevention, and (3) rehabilitation. Physical therapists evaluate and treat patients using a variety of physical therapeutic measures (such as thermal agents and exercise) and education versus medicine or surgery. Patient treatment is goal oriented, focused on enhancing awareness of good health habits and a proactive approach to a health life style, preventing physical disabilities, and rehabilitating persons disabled by pain, disease, or injury.  Physical therapists are recognized as specialists in movement dysfunction.

The Saint Francis University physical therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 706-3245.  Saint Francis University physical therapy graduates are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Licensure Examination.  Licensure is required to practice.

Saint Francis University graduates have excelled on the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE).  Our graduates have a three-year average first-time pass rate of 93.89%.  This quality indicator places our program in the top tier of all accredited programs in the country!  By comparison the three-year average first-time pass rate is 85.56% for all Pennsylvania schools of physical therapy and 87.1% for candidates from all U.S. institutions taking the exam for the first time.

Students enroll as freshmen in this six-year entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program.  Three years of pre-professional coursework are followed by a three-year professional curriculum.  Advancement to the professional curriculum is guaranteed provided the student meets the progression criteria by the end of spring semester of the junior year (with the exception of #4):

• A minimum grade of "C" in major and collateral requirements 

• Achieve a minimum cumulative 2.75 QPA

• Achieve a science and math QPA of 3.0

• 80 hours of documented volunteer experience or paid employment in two different physical therapy practice settings, completed prior to the fall semester of the junior year

• A grade of "C" or higher on the retake of a major or collateral course requirement

• Completion of the pre-professional curriculum in three years (six consecutive semesters)

All Physical Therapy majors enrolled in the three-year professional curriculum must meet the following academic requirements:

• Achieve a minimum 3.0 QPA each semester of the professional curriculum

• A minimum grade of "C" in all major courses.
  No more than one "C" per semester
  No more than three "C" grades allowed in the professional curriculum

• Pass all competency exams

• Pass all clinical education courses

• Perform essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodations, while practicing safely, ethically, and in a legal manner

• Meet generic abilities standards

Failure to meet the progression standards will result in dismissal from the major.

Freshman applicants should have strong backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science.  Clinical volunteer or paid employment experience, while not required for freshman admission, is recommended to provide students with exposure to physical therapy practice.

Upon successful completion of the fourth or senior year, students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree will be awarded after successful completion of the sixth year.  Students are prepared for physical therapy practice as generalists.

Those students holding an earned baccalaureate degree with the necessary prerequisite coursework may be admitted to the first year of the professional curriculum based on space availability.  Saint Francis University non-physical therapy majors and students enrolled at other institutions may apply for admission into the physical therapy program.  Details regarding the undergraduate transfer application process are available from the Office of Admissions.

The Physical Therapy program provides three years of pre-professional study where students complete the general education studies and collateral requirements, followed by three years of study in the professional curriculum which includes clinical experiences.  While the entire six-year curriculum is taught on campus, selected education experiences may occasionally require short-distance travel to local health care facilities.  All clinical education coursework is full-time and requires travel to clinical sites for practical experience under the supervision of a physical therapist.  Clinical education sites will be available locally, regionally, and nationally.

Essential functions are the activities that a student physical therapist must be able to perform in partial fulfillment of the requirements for successful completion of the professional curriculum.  Every student must be able to perform these essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodations, while practicing safely, ethically, and in a legal manner. Further information.

Please consult the departmental handbook for detailed information about internal policies and standards.  Professional courses are open to physical therapy majors only. 

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For more information about the Physical Therapy program at Saint Francis University, please contact:

Kay Malek, PT, PhD
Department Chair
Saint Francis University
Department of Physical Therapy
P.O. Box 600
Loretto, PA  15940-0600

Phone: 814-472-3123  
Fax: 814-472-3140

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