The mission of Ithaca's physical therapy department is to prepare graduates to meet the challenges facing the profession in today's rapidly changing health care system.

We achieve this mission through a high quality program that is evidenced in part by the following:

• performance of our graduates on the National Physical Therapy Licensing Exam; in the last three years the first-time test taker pass rate average for IC graduates has been 95 percent -- well above state and national averages of 68 percent and 80 percent respectively
• the extensive teaching experience and stability of the faculty; the 19 full-time faculty have an average of 13 years of teaching experience and average 12 years at IC
• the academic profile of our incoming students; PT majors typically rank in the top 25 percent of their high school class
• our students obtain a strong liberal arts background: the first three years focus primarily on basic science and liberal arts courses and the opportunity to explore other disciplines through a minor

Clinical Doctorate

Students entering as freshmen are able to fulfill the requirements for a doctor of physical therapy (D.P.T.) degree in six years of study. The hallmark of Ithaca's first doctoral program will be excellence in intellectual growth coupled with intense and varied professional clinical experience. Current students in the five-year B.S./M.S. degree program, as well as recent graduates, now have the option to obtain a transitional D.P.T. degree by taking additional courses following completion of the M.S. Transfer students are also accepted.

More details are available in the sections "Why IC  PT" and "D.P.T."

Study Abroad and Extracurricular Activities

Throughout the undergraduate years, opportunities exist for students to fulfill minors or concentrations in other fields of study, as well as to study abroad. Our students are also active in campus activities, including intercollegiate and intramural athletics, theater and music performances, campus employment, a wide array of campus clubs and organizations, and off-campus volunteer and outreach activities.

The Rochester Component

A vital feature of the physical therapy program is our dual-campus arrangement. Students in the D.P.T. curriculum will spend the summer prior to the senior year and the entire final graduate year at our Rochester Center, benefiting from the seven full-time IC faculty and outstanding new facilities maintained by Ithaca College. Additional learning and research opportunities are provided through the resources and staff of the University of Rochester Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital.

More detail are in the section Rochester Center

Clinical Opportunities

We offer over 1000 clinical education sites throughout the country. Clinical opportunities in Ithaca include "grand rounds" elective courses with faculty in the on-campus OT/PT clinic and at Longview, a nearby residence for senior citizens.

See OT/PT Clinic
See the Center for Life Skills at Longview