Professional Goals
DPT Program Goals
In order to achieve the School of Rehabilitation Sciences mission, the DPT program offers professional physical therapy education that:
1. Attracts students who are interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy within a Christian environment.
2. Empowers students to become primary health care providers ready for contemporary professional practice in a variety of settings.
3. Inspires servant leadership in the area of health promotion and advocacy.
4. Endorses evidence-informed practice.
5. Promotes professional behavior consistent with current ethical and legal standards.
6. Develops understanding and respect among individuals from a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
7. Encourages compassion for the patient/client as a whole person, taking into account physical, mental, spiritual and social needs.
8. Prepares students to communicate effectively with patients/clients, colleagues, health care providers and other community members.
9. Contributes to the physical therapy profession through research and creative scholarship.
10. Facilitates faculty educational and professional development.
DPT Faculty Goals
In order to provide professional physical therapy education consistent with the program goals, the faculty will:
1. Integrate Christian values into the physical therapy classroom.
2. Connect to their profession through licensure and professional membership.
3. Hold a postprofessional degree at the doctoral level.
4. Cultivate contemporary knowledge/practice expertise in assigned teaching area.
5. Develop, review, and revise the physical therapy curriculum plan collectively.
6. Admit students into the DPT program who have an appropriate balance of prerequisite courses and the ability to successfully complete the DPT program and practice in the profession.
7. Maintain currency in instruction and teaching methods including course content, design and assessment methods.
8. Pursue an on-going scholarship agenda which culminates in the peer-reviewed dissemination of original contributions.
9. Serve the department, university, profession and/or community.
10. Model professional behavior.
DPT Student Goals (Expected Student Outcomes)
In accordance with the School of Rehabilitation Sciences mission and program goals, DPT graduates will:
1. Model behavior which reflects Christian values, including an understanding of the role of prayer and faith in the complete healing process.
2. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relevant to physical therapy, both in their fundamental context and in its application within professional clinical practice.
3. Provide primary care to patients/clients within the scope of physical therapy practice.
4. Demonstrate entry-level competency in clinical skills necessary to perform a comprehensive physical therapy examination, and evaluation, establish a differential diagnosis, determine an appropriate prognosis, and establish intervention and/or prevention activities.
5. Understand and value the capabilities of other health care providers and determine the need for referral to those individuals.
6. Participate in practice management including delegation and supervision of support personnel, financial management, business planning, marketing and public relations activities.
7. Possess the critical inquiry skills necessary to evaluate professional knowledge and competencies in relation to evidence-informed physical therapy practice.
8. Demonstrate legal and ethical behavior consistent with professional standards.
9. Demonstrate sensitivity to individual and cultural differences when engaged in physical therapy practice.
10. Demonstrate professional behavior.
DPT Graduate Profile
Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates have the requisite knowledge and skills to successfully pass the National Licensing Examination, be prepared for autonomous practice, and provide contemporary evidenced-based service throughout the continuum of care. They will be the practitioners of choice for patients/clients with a physical therapy diagnosis and provide culturally sensitive care distinguished by trust, respect and an appreciation for spirituality in healthcare.