The mission of Ithaca's physical therapy department is to graduate physical therapists prepared for autonomous practice that renders compassionate, evidence-based, ethical, legal and culturally-competent care to maximize the function, health and wellness of their patients, clients, and society. Our program promotes American Physical Therapy Association Core Values and prepares graduates to become life-long learners, and reflective clinical educators, scholars, administrators, and consultants, responsive to the challenges in a rapidly changing health care environment.
We achieve this mission through a high quality program that is evidenced in part by the following:
- Consistent outstanding performance of our graduates on the National Physical Therapy Licensing Exam (see sidebar at right)
- The extensive teaching experience of the faculty; all full-time core faculty have doctoral degrees
- The academic profile of our incoming students; PT majors typically rank in the top 20 percent of their high school class
- Our students obtain a strong liberal arts background that fosters intellectual growth: the first three years focus on basic science and liberal arts courses and the opportunity to explore other disciplines through a minor
- Intense and varied professional and clinical education experiences on and off campus
Clinical Doctorate
The doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program is designed for freshman entry and completion of all undergraduate and graduate requirements for a DPT in six years of study. Accepted students are guaranteed eligibility for the graduate portion of the DPT curriculum, provided academic requirements have been met. An additional application or GRE exam are not needed.
Study Abroad and Extracurricular Activities
Throughout the undergraduate years in Ithaca, opportunities exist for students to fulfill minors or concentrations in other fields of study, as well as to study abroad. Our students are also very 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.
Abundant Clinical Education Opportunities
We affiliate with over twelve hundred clinical sites throughout the country for four required courses that involve hands-on educational experiences in various patient care settings. Clinical activities on campus in Ithaca include "grand rounds" elective courses with faculty in the Ithaca campus OT/PT clinic, aquatics and electrodiagnostic electives, a performing arts injury screening clinic, and a "Center for Life Skills" course for interdisciplinary work with individuals having longstanding neurological conditions at Longview which is a residence for senior citizens adjacent to the IC campus.
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