Course Descriptions
PTH700: Scholarly Writing & Research (2 Cr)
This course is dedicated to the development of doctoral quality writing skills through guided practice of writing a literature review for a scientific paper in preparation for publishing work. This is a degree orientation course, which includes introduction to the degree(s), being oriented to the James White Library, including endnote training and instruction to the APTA Guide to Physical Therapy Practice. This course is available on-campus and interactive online.
PTH705: Lifespan Considerations in Women's Health (1 Cr)
Pertinent physiological, psychosocial, and biological milestones will be addressed through childhood, adolescence, early-, middle- and late adulthood. This will lead to improved understanding of normal development and aging, as well as special considerations for wellness, athletes and emerging health conditions for various life stages. This course is interactive online.
PTH707: Leadership in Women’s Health (3 Cr)
This course serves as a foundational exploration of personal and organizational leadership to empower women at various stages of their healthcare careers to succeed in leadership positions, transforming organizations and positively impacting health outcomes. The following topics in women's leadership are included: theory and application of complexity sciences to organizational management; examination and application of leadership styles; developing talent in others to expand opportunities for women’s growth; dynamic and persuasive communication; harnessing social media to promote healthcare leadership goals; emotional intelligence; building and leading teams; and negotiating difficult conversations. Additional content focused specifically on the needs of women and their relevance to leadership in women’s health include: Epidemiology; Population health-focused screening; Telehealth/Digital health; Health Policy; Global WH issues; Nutrition; and Self-care. This course is interactive online.
PTH708: Post-Operative Management of Common Orthopedic Surgeries (2 Cr)
An online course covering the most common surgical procedures in orthopedic clinical practice and principles for successful postoperative management in physical therapy practice. This course is only available interactive online.
PTH709: Evidence Based Orthopedic Clinical Practice: A Research Review (2 Cr)
An online review of research methodology and design and data analysis designed to allow an objective analysis of the literature concerning aspects of clinical practice. Covers the current research evidence regarding orthopedic clinical practice with analysis toward clinical utilization. This course is only available interactive online.
PTH713: Women's Health and Human Rights (1 Cr)
This course provides fundamental instruction in human rights, the human right to health, and explores the meaning of applying a human rights framework to healthcare. It further applies these concepts to the experience of women and girls, addressing gender equity, gender-based violence, maternal health, and education. This course is interactive online.
PTH714: Pregnancy and Postpartum (2 Cr)
Biopsychosocial case-based approach to maternal health for the physical therapist, from preconception through postpartum for low- and high-risk populations. Course will include current evidence and practice guidelines, physical examination, integrative interventions and wellness. This course is interactive online with a two day on-campus intensive.
PTH716: Clinical Pharmacology (2 Cr)
Develops a non-prescriptive knowledge of specific medications including indications, contraindications, precautions, adverse reactions, and dosage, especially as related to physiological effects of physical therapy interventions. This course is only available interactive online.
PTH723: Pain Science and Persistent Pelvic Pain in Women’s Health (2 Cr)
Differential diagnosis and intervention of complex pelvic pain syndromes. The current evidence in pain science application to the pelvic region including examination, differential diagnosis of peripheral vs. central mediated pain algorithms and intervention techniques specific to this population. This course is interactive online with one day on-campus intensive.
PTH724: Surgical and Oncological Considerations in Women’s Health (1 Cr)
Anatomical and physiological changes leading to and resulting from surgery specific to females due to oncological and other diagnoses. Presentation of the pre and post-operative course of common women’s health conditions including the examination and intervention of post-surgical sequelae including tissue changes, lymphedema and wellness. This course is interactive online.
PTH732: Clinical Research (2 Cr)
This course provides an introduction to clinical research methods. Course content includes: formulating a research question, defining variables, designing the study, instrumentation, validity and reliability of measurement and design, data collection procedures, basic data analysis, and ethical and legal responsibilities of the researcher. This course is available on-campus and interactive online.
PTH741: Physiological Basis for Exercise Prescription: Level I (3 Cr)
Using the system of Medical Exercise Therapy founded by Odvar Holten, this course covers the physiological basis for exercise prescription specifically related to the healing process. Testing strategies, formulas for exercise dosing and equipment conducive to this approach will be presented along with computer software developed to assist dosage and patient tracking. This course is available only as blended learning with on-campus intensive and interactive online.
PTH744: Principles of Contemporary Leadership (3 Cr)
Theory and application of complexity sciences to organizational management; exploration of key leadership roles and changing paradigm; presentation of methods to maximize personal and professional life. This course is available on-campus and interactive online.
PTH748: Education Techniques for Health Care Professionals (2 Cr)
Examines and applies educational theory to skills utilized by the physical therapist in the classroom, community, and clinical facility. Topics include the educational role of the physical therapist, the taxonomies of learning, learning styles, multiple intelligence, and education technology. This course is available as on-campus and interactive online.
PTH750: Professional Communication and Consulting (2 Cr)
An introduction to the integration of the physical therapist as a consultant. Discussion will include applying physical therapy consultation to services to individuals, business, schools, government agencies and/or other organizations. This course is available only as interactive online.
PTH755: Female Sexual Health & Function
This course adopts an evidence-based and sex-positive approach to the understanding of female sexual health and function and explores the role of the physical therapist in meaningful care related to this topic.
PTH764: Physiological Basis for Exercise Prescription: Level II (3 Cr)
Advanced clinical reasoning and application for precision therapeutic exercise design, dosing, and delivery. Topics: hand-held dynamometry, exercise design, optimal improvement, 4 outcome domains, lower quadrant, spine. This course is available only as blended learning with on-campus intensive and interactive online.
PTH774: Physiological Basis for Exercise Prescription: Level III (1 Cr)
Mastery of the application of precision therapeutic exercise design, dosing, and delivery is demonstrated through a comprehensive theoretical exam and a lab-based oral practical with clinical discussion derived from case studies submitted by the student. Upon satisfactory completion, Certified Manual Exercise Therapist (CMET) credential is awarded. This course is available only as blended learning with on-campus intensive and interactive online.
PTH775: Advanced Gastrointestinal Health and Dysfunction (2 Cr)
A comprehensive approach to gastrointestinal disorders including bowel and digestion dysfunction. This approach allows for the consideration of management of multiple factors including nutritional, psychosocial, medical-surgical decisions, and physical therapy examination/intervention advanced intervention. A multifactorial approach can often lead to improved management of this complex patient as a varied intervention approach may be required to be successful. A comprehensive understanding of the physiology and symptom manifestation can improve the ability to develop a comprehensive intervention strategy tailored to each patient's needs throughout the episode of care. This course is available only as interactive online.
PTH790: Topics in ________Physical Therapy (1-4 Cr)
Exists to allow independent direction in the elective track. Topic decided by student and advisor.
PTH830: Medical Diagnostics (2cr)
Addresses imaging, body chemistry values and data derived from musculoskeletal, neurologic, vascular, cardiac and pulmonary testing with the purpose of understanding the disease process. Application of knowledge will determine differential diagnoses.
PTH835: Holistic Care in Physical Therapy (1 Cr)
This course will give the physical therapist a method of analysis and a wealth of practical information to evaluate more than just mechanical factors that affect pain, symptoms and disease progression. Application of this material will allow the therapist to be more effective with the same number of physical therapy visits. This course will provide the knowledge and skill needed to bring confidence in treating more complex patients and patients that do not respond to mechanical treatment only. Course content includes functional medicine, chronic pain physiology, traumatic brain injury and post-Concussion Syndrome, and other challenging dysfunctions physical therapists treat in the complex patient. This course is available only as blended learning with on-campus intensive and interactive online.
PTH836: Medical Screening and Clinical Differential Diagnosis (2 Cr)
Knowledge and clinical skills designed for screening patients for medical conditions. Differential diagnosis is addressed trough comparison of systematic signs and symptoms. This course is available only as blended learning with on-campus intensive and interactive online.
PTH840: Advanced Topics in Clinical Research (3 Cr)
This course is designed to prepare students to match research questions with study design, perform the appropriate statistical analysis, and report results. Students use SPSS to run descriptive and inferential statistics including measures of central tendency and variability of a frequency distribution as well as tests of difference or relationship: t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations, regression analysis, Chi-square and non-parametric equivalents. This course is available as on-campus and interactive online.
PTH 841 - Gateway to Musculoskeletal Therapy: Lumbopelvic & Cervical (3 cr)
Application of clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis through formulating illness scripts based upon a comprehensive musculoskeletal examination of the lumbar and cervical spines. Evaluation to determine the appropriateness of physical therapy, need for a referral for signs and symptoms of serious pathology and generation of a provisional differential diagnosis of lumbar and cervical spinal dysfunction. Appraisal and application of pain science, including acute and chronic nociceptive mechanisms through clinical scenarios. Introduction to intervention techniques and management of common spinal pathologies, including soft tissue techniques and joint articulation techniques. Introduction to neuromuscular reeducation and therapeutic exercises to reinforce manual therapy treatment. Exploration of Dr. James Cyriax principles, including selective tissue tensioning examination. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 842 - Upper Quadrant Evaluation and Management (3 cr)
Application of safe and effective comprehensive biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation of the upper quadrant (cervical spine, upper thoracic, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand). Heavy emphasis on biomechanics, introduced by Michael MacConnail and functional anatomy. Development of diagnosis and prognosis through clinical reasoning, recognition of signs and symptoms of upper extremity pathology, formulation of differential diagnosis, demonstration of ruling out serious pathology which may mimic upper extremity musculoskeletal dysfunction. Demonstration of appropriate interventions, of the upper quadrant, utilized by the physical therapist including joint articulation stability and mobility techniques, manipulation, neuromuscular reeducation, and therapeutic exercises prescription. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 843 - Lower Quadrant Evaluation and Management (3 cr)
Application of safe and effective comprehensive biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation of the lower quadrant (lower thoracic and lumbar spines, hip, knee, ankle and subtalar joint). Development of diagnosis and prognosis through clinical reasoning, recognition of signs and symptoms of lower extremity pathology, formulation of differential diagnosis, demonstration of ruling out serious pathology which may mimic upper extremity musculoskeletal dysfunction. Introduction to lumbar spine locking techniques to navigate complex lumbar pathologies. Demonstration of appropriate interventions, of the lower quadrant, utilized by the physical therapist including joint articulation stability and mobility techniques, specific lumbopelvic stabilization and graded mobilization techniques, manipulation, neuromuscular reeducation and therapeutic exercises prescription. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 844 - Integrated Evaluation and Management: Thorax (2 cr)
Investigation of the visceral and biomechanical functions served by the thorax. Appreciation of the interplay between thoracic biomechanical and visceral problems. Analysis of essential normal function of the thoracic region for musculoskeletal health of the entire axial and appendicular skeleton. Comprehensive examination of the ribs and thoracic spine. Demonstration of interventions including mobilization and manipulative techniques, neuromuscular and therapeutic exercise prescription. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 845 - COMT Practical Comprehensive Examination - 0 cr
This oral practical comprehensive examination requires the participant to demonstrate proficiency in clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis, including proper screening for serious pathology. Testing content includes examination, evaluation, and management techniques: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacroiliac scanning examinations, Cyriax’s STTT principles, localized spinal stability testing and appropriately graded mobilizations followed by neuromuscular reeducation and therapeutic exercise techniques for all spinal involvement. Additionally, surface anatomy and deep friction massage techniques to localized structures may be assessed, as well as peripheral joint stability, specific graded mobilizations and manipulations followed with the proper instruction of neuromuscular and therapeutic exercise prescription. Course format: On-campus practical examination.
Prerequisite(s): Prior to registering for the COMT Practical Comprehensive Examination, students must successfully complete NAIOMT Levels I-IV and the CMPT exam.
PTH846: Integration of Spirituality in Health Care (2, 3 Cr)
A discussion of individual spiritual values; spiritual values from a Christian perspective; how faith and spirituality facilitate the healing process, and how these can be incorporated into patient care. Attention will be given to discerning/addressing the spiritual needs of the patients/clients, family members and ancillary medical staff in a professional environment. This course is only available interactive online.
PTH 850 - Supervised Clinical Practice (Repeatable up to 4 credits)
Using a 3-to1 model, students will apply hands-on advanced manual therapy techniques on patients/clients under the supervision of an approved, certified manual therapy clinical instructor, or FAAOMPT. These hours can be split into increments as agreed upon by the student and CI, however, no less than 15 hours (1 semester credit) can be registered for at any given time.
PTH860: Applications in Clinical Research (2 Cr)
This course provides an in-depth review of study designs and serves to develop researchers’ skills in evaluating both quantitative and qualitative research. Information is presented on grant writing and IRB application as well as disseminating completed research projects through manuscript, poster, and oral presentation. This course is available as on-campus and interactive online.
PTH855 Supervised Clinical Practice: Women’s Health (Credits – 1)
Advanced supervised clinical practice; must be concentrated in women’s health (for example clients with a diagnosis of obstetrical trauma/pregnancy/Post-Partum, Urinary Incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Gastrointestinal, Breast Cancer, Gynecologic Cancers, Pelvic Pain ). Supervision must be provided by an experienced women's health clinician (WCS or PRPC, preferred) and may include an experienced practitioner with > one domain of content expertise (Ex: female sexual health, pelvic pain specialist). The objective of this course is for students to seek supplemental and deeper knowledge in one or more areas of practice and does not require broad exposure to all aspects of practice. A minimum of 30 hours is required.
Pre-requisites : PTH 705, PTH 707, PTH 713, PTH 714, PTH 723, PTH 724, PTH 755, PTH 775
PTH890: Independent Study (2 Cr)
The student, working with their advisor and following degree/course guidelines will develop an independent 40 hour learning contract with a qualified clinical specialist to facilitate intensive focused clinical training in a field of study of their choosing.
PTH 891 - Integrated Evaluation and Management: Lower Quadrant (3 cr)
Examination of the regional interdependence of the lower quadrant. Development of global comprehensive advanced biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation skills, of the lower quadrant, utilized by the physical therapist in the clinical setting. This course builds on skills learned in previous courses to deepen the clinician’s understanding of the kinetic chain interdependence. Integration of examination and evaluation to formulate the causal or contributory role of remote dysfunctions. Topics include: gait analysis, psoas pyramid, detailed foot musculoskeletal assessment and management, sacroiliac joint assessment and management, integration of the individual lower quadrant and lumbar/sacroiliac joint examinations into a larger regional diagnosis picture for examination and management. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 892 - Integrated Evaluation and Management: Upper Quadrant (3 cr)
Examination of the regional interdependence of the upper quadrant. Development of global comprehensive advanced biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation skills, of the upper quadrant, utilized by the physical therapist in the clinical setting. This course builds on skills learned in previous courses to deepen the clinician’s understanding of the kinetic chain interdependence. Integration of examination and evaluation to formulate the causal or contributory role of remote dysfunctions. Topics include: Differential diagnosis of trigeminal sources of pain, TMJ, the functional hand, integration of the individual upper quadrant and cervical joint examinations into a larger regional diagnosis picture for examination and management. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 893 - Spinal Segmental Manipulation (3 cr)
Development of global comprehensive biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation skills, of the axial spine, utilized by the physical therapist in the clinical setting. Appraisal of spinal thrust indications and contraindications, development of a differential diagnosis of spinal pathology appropriate for manipulations, creation of adaptations techniques. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 894 - Integrated Advanced Clinical Reasoning (2 cr)
Development of a global comprehensive biomechanical musculoskeletal examination and evaluation of the entire body, incorporating regional interdependence, by the physical therapist in the clinical setting. Mastery of advanced clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis skills using a case-based approach. Formulation of evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and intervention while valuing regional interdependence in complex musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Course format: blended learning with on-campus lab intensives and online requirements.
PTH 895 - SMT Exam: Spinal Manipulative Therapist Exam (0 cr)
This oral practical comprehensive examination requires the participant to demonstrate proficiency in clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis, including proper screening for serious pathology. Examination focuses on clinical reasoning and the quadrant inter-relationships. Testing content includes joint mobilization/ manipulation (thrust) and soft tissue techniques to all parts of appendicular/extremity and axial/spinal skeleton, in addition to shoulder and pelvic girdles, as well as temporomandibular joint. The participant will defend each technique in terms of safety, specificity and grade and will articulate to the panel the neuromuscular reeducation and therapeutic exercises utilized to enhance the patient’s prognosis. Course format: On-campus practical examination.
PTH898: Dissertation Project (6 Cr)
Serves as an essential outcome component to augment the professional development and new learning that occurs in the DScPT curriculum. The completed Project demonstrates the ability of the graduate to make significant contributions to the physical therapy profession and/or serve as a change agent in the field of physical therapy.