Departmental Regulations

Physical Therapy

Major Adviser: Ernest Nalette, Chair of Graduate Studies, enalette@ithaca.edu

The physical therapy department offers a five-year dual-degree program in clinical science and physical therapy. Students receive a bachelor of science degree in clinical science after four years of study at the Ithaca campus, and a master of science degree in physical therapy after the fifth year of study at the Rochester campus. Students must complete the fifth year to be eligible for physical therapy licensure. The five-year program is designed for both freshman entry and undergraduate transfer applicants. The undergraduate component of the five-year program is described in the Ithaca College undergraduate catalog. Applications are in the College's admissions prospectus.

The graduate program in physical therapy is an extension of the B.S. in clinical science curriculum. The graduate program builds on the undergraduate program's depth and breadth in the liberal arts and basic sciences, independent study skills, and understanding of theory, communication, and critical thinking. The graduate program is approximately 12 months in duration and takes place at Ithaca College's Rochester Center on the University of Rochester campus. Students participate in classroom and clinical learning opportunities at Strong Memorial Hospital and other diverse clinical and research facilities in the Rochester area. In addition, there are select experimental-learning opportunities for physical therapy students in Ithaca College's Movement Analysis Laboratory. Eighteen weeks of full-time clinical affiliation are served in clinics located throughout the country.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the graduate program, applicants must have completed the Ithaca College B.S. program in clinical science and have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.

Departmental Regulations

Academic Warning

In the event that a student finishes an academic block (12 credits) at a GPA below 3.00; or fails to remove a grade of incomplete (I) in the allotted time; or withdraws from a required course; or fails, drops, or withdraws from a clinical education course, she or he will be placed on academic warning by the Division of Graduate Studies. Students may be allowed to progress in the curriculum only under conditions specified and approved by the department. Remediation for removal of academic warning status will be determined by the graduate faculty. Graduate students on academic warning may not be allowed to progress to clinical education courses. Warning will be removed when both of the following criteria are met:

1. The student's GPA for the following block (of 12 or more credits) is 3.00 or greater.

2. The student's overall GPA for the graduate year is 3.00 or greater.

If a student receives a grade of F in a clinical affiliation, he or she will be issued an academic warning by the Division of Graduate Studies. The student must remediate this grade in one or more of the following ways, as recommended by the graduate faculty:

1. Attend an equivalent affiliation and receive a grade of pass.

2. Perform remedial work under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

Upon successful remediation, the warning will be removed and the student will be allowed the opportunity to progress in the program.

Academic Dismissal

A graduate student in the Department of Physical Therapy can be subject to dismissal for any of the following reasons:

1. Receiving a total of more than six credits of C (C-, C, C+) during the graduate year

2. Receiving a grade of F for any course in the graduate year (excluding clinical affiliation)

3. Remaining on academic warning for any two consecutive blocks of 12 or more credits each

4. Failing, dropping, or withdrawing from any two clinical education courses (undergraduate or graduate)

5. Failing to complete departmental remediation as prescribed by the faculty within the allotted time

Housing and Transportation Arrangements for Clinical Affiliations

During the full-time clinical affiliation, students are responsible for making housing arrangements and transportation to and from clinical facilities.

For information, contact Division of Graduate Studies, gradstudies@ithaca.edu
Andrejs Ozolins, Office of Publications, 30. November, 2003