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2018-2019 Graduate Studies Bulletin
Columbia Campus
   
2018-2019 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Mar 29, 2024
 
2018-2019 Graduate Studies Bulletin [Archived Catalog]

Physical Therapy, D.P.T.



Learning Outcomes

  • Practices in a safe manner that minimizes the risk to patient, self, and others.
  • Demonstrates professional behaviors in all situations and practices in a manner consistent with established legal and professional standards and ethical guidelines.
  • The graduate is able to: 1) communicate in ways that are congruent with situational needs; 2) adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs; 3) participate in self assessment to improve clinical and professional performance; and 4) apply current knowledge, theory, clinical reasoning, and the patient’s values and perspectives in patient management.
  • The graduate is able to: 1) determine with each patient encounter the patient’s need for further examination or consultation by a physical therapist or referral to another health care professional screening; 2) perform a physical therapy examination using evidence-based tests and measures; 3) evaluate data from the patient examination (history, systems review and tests-measures) to make clinical judgments; 4) determine a diagnosis and prognosis that guides future patient management; 5) establish a physical therapy plan of care that is safe effective, patient centered and evidence-based; 6) perform physical therapy interventions in a competent manner; and 7) educate others using relevant and effective teaching methods.
  • The graduate will produce quality documentation in a timely manner to support the delivery of physical therapy services and collect and analyzes data from selected outcomes measures in a manner that supports accurate analysis of individual patient and group outcomes.
  • The graduates from the USC DPT program will demonstrate advanced knowledge in all four major content areas of the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam) above that of the national average: 1. Physical therapy examination; 2. Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis, and Prognosis; 3. Interventions; and 4. Non- System domains.
  • The graduates from the USC DPT program will demonstrate advanced knowledge in all four system specific content areas of the NPTE above that of the national average: 1. Cardiovascular and pulmonary; 2. Musculoskeletal; 3. Neuromuscular; and 4. Other systems.

Degree Requirements (123 Post Baccalaureate Hours)

A minimum of 106 post baccalaureate hours [typical program is 123 hours]. The exact number of hours will be determined by the Program of Study Committee.

Sequence of Study


The DPT program is a lock-step program in which required courses must be taken in sequence, as listed below, unless prior permission to vary the order is received from the program director.

First Year


Second Year


Third Year


Fourth Year