Recommendation from the Academic Standards Committee of the Graduate Council

Transcription

1 Recommendation from the Academic Standards Committee of the Graduate Council School of Physical Therapy Request for Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-dpt) Waiver of Minimum Hours for a Doctoral Degree for Experienced Physical Therapists with the Baccalaureate as the Professional Degree Background In June 2007, The University of Texas System Report from the Task Force on Doctoral Education and the Postdoctoral Experience provided a clear differentiation of existing doctoral degrees, which they considered to represent the highest level of knowledge and achievement in a particular field of study. They defined the PhD as that which prepares scholars to conduct research and/or use research-related skills in academic, government, business, or other settings. They defined professional doctorates, such as those in medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), physical therapy (DPT) or law (JD), as the training of skillful practitioners of a discipline; the degree does not usually require extensive original research. They also posited that applied doctorates, such as those in education (EdD), public health (DPH), and nursing practice (DNP), conduct research in a very specific setting that may be aimed at solving a problem encountered primarily in that context. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) put forth a vision for the profession of physical therapy stating physical therapists will be doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice. (APTA Vision Statement for HOD 2020) The strategic plan of the APTA was to achieve this goal by the year 2020, and currently all but two accredited U.S. programs are approved to offer the professional doctoral degree. TWU was the first state school in Texas granted approval for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) professional program and degree in TWU also currently offers the transitional DPT (t-dpt) degree program to professional physical therapists to ensure enhanced practice competence in areas such as imaging, evidencebased practice, health promotion, and management. This degree award is based on achievement of competencies expected in a doctoring profession. There remains a specific group of therapists with baccalaureate degrees, highly respected in the profession and with many years of experience, that have contributed to the ongoing development and advancement of the physical therapy profession throughout their careers. It is in the state s best interest to protect the public by advancing the knowledge and skills of experienced physical therapists with these entry-level baccalaureate degrees by providing quality post-professional education that leads to the current professional degree. However, current TWU policy requires a minimum of 90 graduate hours for a doctoral degree. Currently two programs in Texas, located at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene (which are both SACS-accredited universities), award transitional DPT degrees to clinicians with either baccalaureate or master-of- 1

2 science professional degrees after semester credit hours of instruction in those new areas of expected competency for a doctoring profession. These programs are similar to others nationwide. (See Appendix.) Dr. Barbara Lerner, TWU SACS Liaison, has determined that such programs are not out of compliance with accreditation policies, in consideration of information sent from a current SACS official. Based on this background information, the School of Physical Therapy requests approval of the following t-dpt program requirements for clinicians with the baccalaureate degree. The mission and outcome statements have been previously approved in the original t-dpt proposal. However, admission requirements for these baccalaureate-educated clinicians will include a portfolio demonstrating their professional growth and experience. The degree requirements listed are greater than those for clinicians that graduated with master s degrees, since the latter students could transfer six hours from those programs and take a minimum of 24 hours of additional, specific DPT coursework. Mission for the t-dpt Program The mission of the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is to provide a postprofessional education for licensed physical therapists that will enable them to think critically, engage in evidence-based practice, and advance their diagnostic skills in preparation for autonomous practice. Outcomes for the t-dpt Program 1. Integrate research evidence with clinical expertise to meet needs of consumers/patients/clients with optimal efficiency and effectiveness in an ever changing, complex health care environment. 2. Apply human resource management skills and knowledge to assume leadership positions for the provision of optimal care. 3. Demonstrate critical thinking, reflection, and problem-solving skills in order to achieve optimal outcomes. 4. Apply interventions that address/promote prevention, health, wellness and management of chronic conditions. 5. Advocate for public policies that promote and protect the health of all people. 6. Engage in professional activities to advance practice, research and education in physical therapy. 7. Demonstrate social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy including participation in community and human service organizations and activities. 8. Provide relationship-centered care that balances individual, family, professional, and organizational needs. 2

3 Degree Requirements The requirements of the t-dpt program for a licensed physical therapist with a baccalaureate degree will be comprised of a minimum of 31 semester credit hours of current courses, which are divided into 16 hours of core courses and 15 hours of electives. Research in Physical Therapy is a highly recommended elective for students with minimal research education, but degree plans will be developed based on individual student needs. Other recommended electives include courses in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Women s Health, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Physical Therapy Academic Administration in various formats (online, onsite or a hybrid format). Students in this program will be required to take onsite courses that have the majority of class hours face-to-face for over 50% of their coursework. The core courses (16 credit hours) PT 6513: Topics in Evidence-based Practice in Physical Therapy PT 6123: Patient/Client Management PT 6143: Professional Management and Leadership in Physical Therapy PT 6153: Diagnostic Imaging for Physical Therapists PT 6163: Illness Prevention and Health Promotion in Physical Therapy PT 6021: Critical Inquiry III Degree Plan Example 6 core courses listed above (16 credit hours) PT 5233: Research in Physical Therapy (3 credit hours) 4 courses to achieve Certificate in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation (12 credit hours): o PT 5623: Anatomy and Function of the Upper Extremity o PT 5633: Problems and Injuries of the Upper Extremity o PT 5643: Evaluation of the Upper Extremity o PT 5653: Clinical Reasoning and Therapeutic Management in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Admission Requirements for the t-dpt Program (specifically for clinicians with baccalaureate degrees) Completed application Proof of valid and current PT license 3 letters of reference Curriculum Vitae 3

4 Professional Portfolio o Evidence of Professional development; may include continuing education courses attended, continuing education courses taught, program development, participation with Physical Therapy entry-level programs (such as clinical instructor for facility) o Evidence of service to the profession; may include: APTA membership, volunteer activities with the local, state, or national APTA, membership in other professional organizations, i.e., Multiple Sclerosis Society, Parkinson s Disease Association, Brain Injury Society, American Heart Association, American Cancer Association o Evidence of clinical and administrative advancement; may include achievement and maintenance of specialist certification, authored book chapters, published peer-reviewed articles, or published non-peer-reviewed articles o One-page typed personal statement describing professional goals Curricular Format for t-dpt Program Format/Delivery Method of Courses: Combination of onsite, hybrid and online courses with some evening or Friday/Saturday onsite options. Professional Project Requirement: All t-dpt students must complete a professional project during the curriculum that reflects use of information from Evidence-Based Practice in PT and knowledge gained from the program. This project will culminate in a final examination in Critical Inquiry III. Course Rotation Schedule: Students should be able to complete this degree in a minimum of 6 consecutive semesters based on the core course schedule. Other post-professional courses are available as electives on a rotating basis. Maximum time allowed to complete degree: All requirements for the transitional Doctor of Physical Degree (t-dpt) must be completed within a period of ten consecutive calendar years from the date the first t-dpt credit is earned. A maximum of 12 semester credit hours taken in a non-degree-seeking format may be applied to this degree if courses meet the curricular requirements. 4

5 APPENDIX: Texas t-dpt Programs and Semester Credit Hours From Hardin Simmons University Online Student Handbook: k.pdf tdpt Schedule of Semesters and Credit Hours The curriculum is scheduled in six consecutive sessions over a period of two years for a total of 23 credit hours. The first two sessions each year include three courses each. The third session each year consists of a directed independent study (DIS) that directly relates to each student s area of clinical practice. On-campus class sessions include approximately 9 hours of instruction per day and are generally scheduled as an extended weekend (Thursday through Sunday or Saturday through Tuesday). Class sessions usually begin approximately one month following the registration deadline. This provides students with time to complete pre-class assignments. Students are expected to complete additional post-class assignments and/or exams during the two months following the on-campus class sessions. From University of Texas Medical Branch School of Health Professions tdpt program: Post-Professional DPT Information UTMB offers an online transitional DPT curriculum plan consisting of 26 hours for students who have earned a Master s degree and 30 hours for students who have earned a Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy. In addition to a general degree plan, a post-professional degree plan with a pediatric focus is currently available through the STAIRS program. Sample Out-of-State t-dpt Programs and Semester Credit Hours University t-dpt Semester Credit Hours required for Baccalaureate-degreed PT Clinicians Drexel University 33 Rocky Mountain University 24 University of Kansas Medical Center 28 University of North Carolina 36 Boston University, Sargent College 22 New York University 36 University of California San Francisco 34 Northern Illinois University 24 Wayne State University 30 University of South Florida 30 5