Post-Professional t-DPT: Course Descriptions

Please Note: Not all courses are offered each semester.
Please refer to the course offerings by semester page for specific information.

Core Courses

Elective Courses

 

HAY 529 Principles in Pharmacology
(4 credits)
Examines the general principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology of common drugs used in clinical medicine. Explores the implications of the use of pharmacological agents for the central nervous system, cardiovascular, neuromusculoskeletal, and endocrine systems, as well as chemotherapeutics, as it relates to physical therapy patient/client management across the lifespan. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 530 Differential Diagnosis
(3 credits)
Introduces students to the role that health screenings and systems review play in the process of making physical therapy diagnoses. Evidence based clinical decision making consistent with the patient client management model will be the foundation upon which differential diagnoses are made. Case studies will be used to integrate screening information in determining a physical therapy diagnosis and making decision regarding intervention versus referral. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 531 Motor Learning
(3 credits)
Synthesizes and analyzes current theory and research related to skill acquisition through examination of historical and current literature. Places emphasis on determining the implications of this work for future research, educational and/or clinical practice. Includes early and contemporary theory, skill acquisition facilitation, practice, feedback, transfer of training, modeling, part vs whole training, imagery, implicit learning, explicit learning and memory systems. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 536 Introduction to Motor Control
(3 credits)
Establishes historical context for major explanatory concepts applied to issues of coordination and skill during the last century. Presents readings of original work of leading theoreticians and researchers who have made significant contributions during this period. Students will critically evaluate papers related to reflex theory, serial order, servocontrol, information processing theory, motor programs, dynamic pattern theory and computational models. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 545 Ethics and Health Care for Physical Therapists
(3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the ethics of health care in a rapidly changing society. Explores ethical issues surrounding health care changes and public health policy. Includes an overview of the ethics within patient education and discussions involving the physical therapy professional codes of ethics and standards. The student will learn how to approach ethical dilemmas using theoretical frameworks and decision-making processes. Introduces the student to the ethics within physical therapy and other health care professions, through the use of case studies. Includes a review of classic cases in health care ethics, involving issues such as euthanasia and organ transplants, from an ethical, legal and historical perspective. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 548 Medical Imaging
(2 credits)
Introduces equipment, procedures and use of medical imaging for examination and evaluation of dysfunction. Examines topics such as radiographs, arthrography, CT scans, MRI, and nuclear studies. Case studies will be used to integrate imaging data into the patient/client management plan. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 551 Research Design
(3 credits)
Introduces basic concepts of scientific design and methodology for the critical examination of scientific literature. Explores the relevance of research application and evidence-based practice in physical therapy. Introduces concepts of dependent, independent variables, hypothesis testing, sampling, and experimental controls. Addresses ethical issues, informed consent and human subject constraints. Measurement reliability and validity will be emphasized with application to outcomes management. Explores a variety of research designs including experimental, quasi-experimental, descriptive, correlation, qualitative and single case study designs. Basic concepts of statistical analyses will be integrated through discussion and literature learning projects. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 553 Computer Literacy and Evidence Based Practice
(2 credits)
Addresses the foundational skills practicing therapists need to effectively manage, integrate, and communicate information for clinical practice, research and professional activities. This course exists in three parts. Part I focuses on accessing and evaluating clinical information. Part II focuses on information organization and manipulation. Part III focuses on the management and professional communication of information. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 556 Outcomes Measurement and Analysis
(3 credits)
Introduces students to various outcome measures relating to impairments, functional limitations and disability, general health status, and patient/client satisfaction used to guide physical therapy practice across the lifespan. Measurement properties will be explored and strategies discussed to appropriately assess and select various outcome measurement scales. Critical appraisal of the literature will provide the basis for making clinical decisions regarding selection of the most beneficial outcome measure for an individual patient/client, service and/or program. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 558 Evidence Based Practice Seminar
(3 credits)
Explores a broad spectrum of research literature examining physical therapy practice. Uses literature as a tool to integrate students critical inquiry skills and depth of knowledge in biomechanical analysis, musculoskeletal measurement, cardiopulmonary functions, motor control and motor learning theory. Students judge the strength of the evidence of each paper and draw conclusions regarding its clinical significance in neuromotor and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. When lacking evidence, challenges students to suggest ways to strengthen the current evidence. Requires each student to facilitate a class discussion. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 563 Teaching and Physical Therapy Practice
(3 credits)
Introduces students to adult learning principles and strategies for teaching in the academic and clinical environments. Explores teaching/learning philosophies, characteristics of the adult learner, learning styles, self-directed learning, and reflective practice. Discusses the clinical environment as a community of practice, with emphasis on the student, clinical instructor and community as a learning triad. Students will be given the option to become credentialed clinical instructors through the American Physical Therapy Association. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 576 Clinical Decision Making
(3 credits)
Explores various theories and concepts of clinical decision-making and physical therapy diagnosis. Clinical reasoning includes hypothesis generation and refinement applied within the context of the NAGI Disablement Model and patient/client management model as outlined in The Guide to Physical Therapy Practice. Clinical cases will be used to explore the diagnostic practice patterns across the lifespan. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 580 Practicum
(3-6 credits, tutorial; May be repeated twice for credit.)
A limited number of students may enroll in 3-6 credits of independent study in research, education, clinical practice, or management/administration. Each practicum project is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the student. Each student will be mentored by faculty with expertise in the area of study. Acceptable projects must include design, implementation and analysis phases. 3-6 credits by permission of the Program Director. Entry-Level and Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 602 Issues in Health Care Administration
(2 credits)
Provides an understanding of the role of manager/supervisor as it relates to the goals and objectives of a physical therapy practice or department. Topics include communication skills in business management; ethical decision making in physical therapy practice; delivery systems; legislation and regulation; business planning; marketing and public relations. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 608 Orthopedic Examination & Intervention I
(3 credits)
Combining lectures, demonstrations, and hands on laboratory sessions, this course will emphasize the application of evidence-based practice in all areas of spinal management. Where little evidence exists, a pragmatic approach integrating basic principles of biomechanics and pathokinesiology will be used. An introduction to the biomechanics, dysfunction types, and their respective terminology will be provided. An integrated model of physical therapy examination and evaluation of spinal disorders will be presented. Then, a physical therapy management approach of manual therapy of the spine and pelvis combined with patient education and exercise will be discussed and incorporated. The course will devote lab time to carefully monitor skills of palpation, examination, and interventions. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 610 Fitness and Wellness
(3 credits)
Examines and integrates the principles of strength, endurance, speed and agility training to formulate a wellness screening and program design. These principles will be used as a framework to examine the physical therapist's role in women's health, occupational health and injury prevention, sports medicine (pre-, post-, and in-season), obesity and athletic programs for the mentally and physically challenged. Students will explore the evidence for various fitness techniques. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 611 Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Rehabilitation and Wellness
(3 credits)
Examines and integrates the principles of complementary and alternative approaches such as Pilates, Yoga, T’ai Chi, Acupuncture, and Feldenkrais into physical therapy directed wellness programs. Explores the evidence for utilization of these techniques in selected patient populations. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 612 Sports Nutrition and Exercise
(3 credits)
This course integrates the concepts of nutrition, bioenergetics, and energy expenditure into a broad understanding of the role of nutrition in daily activity, wellness parameters, and exercise performance. Emphasis will be placed on the topics of macro- and micro- nutrients and their effects during exercise and training, nutrient bioenergetics, thermoregulation, ergogenic aids, body composition, energy balance and weight control, and optimal nutrition for healthy lifestyles. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 615 Applied Physiological Foundations of Exercise
(3 credits)
Explores literature related to the physiological basis for exercise, in healthy and at risk populations, and in patients with disease, at the multi-system level. Moves from substrates and their effects on exercise, through metabolic processes, to energy systems. Identifies various exercise states, and explores the body's immediate response and long-term adaptation. Nutrition and its impact on movement will be detailed. Information from metabolic gas analysis will be coupled with other clinical tests and measures to design exercise programs. Culminates in the application of principles of exercise physiology in the prescription of exercise for health and prevention across the lifespan and in the treatment of various patients and at risk populations. Current research will provide the basis for examining the evidence underlying principles of exercise for various populations across the lifespan. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 616 Exercise Prescription
(3 credits)
Presents issues related to exercise prescription for health, wellness and prevention in various healthy and at risk populations across the lifespan. Explores various physiological principles and topics in fitness and cardiopulmonary care through case studies. Examines various patient/client types and health and prevention settings (e.g. cardiac, high risk populations, obstetrics, occupational health and injury prevention, ergonomics, sports medicine (pre, post and in-season), obesity, athletic programs for the physically and/or mentally challenged, falls prevention in the elderly and cardiac fitness programs) and integrates general fitness. Post Professional DPT students only.
HAY 622 Current Topics in Pediatrics
(3 credits)
This course will emphasize the examination, evaluation, assessment, intervention and outcome measures of children with disabilities. Topics will enhance and challenge those physical therapists who practice in a pediatric setting. The use of current and future adaptive equipment in pediatrics as well as the role of the pediatric physical therapist in a variety of contexts and environments will also be explored. Post Professional DPT students only.