Program Overview
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a six-semester, three-summer program that prepares students for careers as physical therapists. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and interdisciplinary collaboration to equip students with the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals with movement disorders. Graduates are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in physical therapy, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, and schools.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Overview:
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is an entry-level professional program that prepares students for careers as physical therapists. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and interdisciplinary collaboration to equip students with the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals with movement disorders.
Objectives:
- Achieve entry-level competence in all areas of clinical practice.
- Provide autonomous primary healthcare services within the scope of physical therapy practice, including screening, differential diagnosis, and referral.
- Provide care to rural and underserved populations.
- Engage in evidence-based practice and critical inquiry.
- Facilitate patient progress towards improved outcomes.
- Engage in physical therapy roles in prevention, health promotion, wellness, and fitness.
- Assume professional roles in education, administration, consultation, and research.
- Demonstrate generic abilities outlined by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and adhere to its ethical guidelines.
Description:
The DPT program is a six-semester, three-summer program that consists of 112 credit hours of coursework. The curriculum includes a blend of didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the field. Students have opportunities to engage in clinical rotations at a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, and skilled nursing facilities, to gain real-world experience and develop their clinical skills.
Outline:
- Summer Semester 1st Year (8 credits)
- Professional Development I (DPT 726)
- Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy (DPT 727)
- Gross Anatomy I (DPT 744) and Gross Human Anatomy Lab I (DPT 744L)
- Gross Anatomy II (DPT 745) and Gross Human Anatomy Lab II (DPT 745L)
- Fall Semester 1st Year (20 credits)
- Foundations of Observation and Assessment (DPT 730) and Foundations of Observation and Assessment Lab (DPT 730L)
- Musculoskeletal I: Orthopedic Principles (DPT 741)
- Clinical and Pathological Physiology (DPT 742)
- Neuroanatomy (DPT 746) and Neuroanatomy Lab (DPT 746L)
- Professional Development II: Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy (DPT 774)
- Clinical Research in Physical Therapy (DPT 790)
- Spring Semester 1st Year (17 credits)
- Therapeutic Exercise (DPT 732) and Therapeutic Exercise Lab (DPT 732L)
- Functional Training Lab (DPT 735L)
- Applied Exercise Physiology (DPT 749) and Applied Exercise Physiology Lab (DPT 749L)
- Musculoskeletal II – Assessment of the Spine and Extremities (DPT 754) and Musculoskeletal II – Assessment of the Spine and Extremities Lab (DPT 754L)
- Neurophysiology (DPT 756)
- Summer Semester 2nd Year (9 credits)
- Movement Science (DPT 740)
- Pharmacology (DPT 748)
- Modalities (DPT 752) and Modalities Lab (DPT 752L)
- Supervised Clinical Education I (DPT 761)
- Fall Semester 2nd Year (17 credits)
- Professional Development III (DPT 720)
- Wound Care (DPT 757)
- Musculoskeletal III – Rehabilitation of the Spine and Extremities (DPT 785) and Musculoskeletal III – Rehabilitation of the Spine and Extremities Lab (DPT 785L)
- Neurological Rehabilitation (DPT 786) and Neurologic Rehabilitation Lab (DPT 786L)
- Applied Research Statistics (DPT 791)
- Spring Semester 2nd Year (15 credits)
- Prosthetics and Orthotics (DPT 750) and Prosthetics and Orthotics Lab (DPT 750L)
- Diagnostic Testing and Imaging (DPT 758)
- Pediatric Rehabilitation (DPT 759) and Pediatric Rehabilitation Laboratory Experience (DPT 759L)
- Acute Care & Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (DPT 770) and Acute Care and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Lab (DPT 770L)
- Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation (DPT 780)
- Summer Semester 3rd Year (8 credits)
- Supervised Clinical Education II (DPT 762)
- Physical Therapy Administration (DPT 772)
- Musculoskeletal IV (DPT 789)
- Fall Semester 3rd Year (9 credits)
- Supervised Clinical Education III (DPT 763)
- Supervised Clinical Education IV (DPT 764)
- Spring Semester 3rd Year (9 credits)
- Directed Research (DPT 798)
- Supervised Clinical Education V (DPT 765)
Assessment:
Students in the DPT program are assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Written exams
- Quizzes
- Practical exams
- Clinical evaluations
- Research projects
- Presentations Grading is based on a 4.0 scale, and students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing.
Teaching:
The DPT program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education. Faculty members use a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Small group work
- Case studies
- Simulation labs
- Clinical rotations The program also provides students with opportunities to engage in research and scholarly activities.
Careers:
Graduates of the UNLV DPT program are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in physical therapy. They can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Home health agencies
- Schools
- Sports medicine clinics
- Fitness centers Physical therapists can also work in research, education, or administration. With additional training, physical therapists can specialize in areas such as pediatrics, orthopedics, geriatrics, or sports medicine.
