The professional curriculum uses Problem-Based Learning rather than the traditional lecture method of teaching. Students are assigned to small study groups of five to eight students and guided by a faculty tutor toward independent study. Supervised laboratory sessions and assignment to physical therapy clinics are used for the practice of clinical skills. Because of the unique curriculum design, transfer of professional course work is not recommended. Beginning with the class of Fall 2003, the program has offered the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT).

Graduates of the program are prepared to take the physical therapy licensure examination, and have consistently attained a higher pass rate than the national average.

Professional study is a full-time endeavor for seven academic terms that span two calendar years. Enrollment in additional course work is not possible and employment is not recommended. Clinical education assignments often require travel and housing outside the Wheeling area.

The WJU Graduate Curriculum

SUMMER	FALL	SPRING	SUMMER	FALL	SPRING	SUMMER
TERM I	TERM II	TERM III	TERM IV	TERM V	TERM VI	TERM VII
Courses & Labs
6 weeks	15 weeks	15 weeks	9 weeks	15 weeks	9 weeks	1 week
Clinical Experience
	11 weeks	11 weeks	6 weeks		6 weeks	16 weeks
Basic Science I DPT 601-80 (online) 2 credits	Basic Science II DPT 611 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Basic Science III DPT 621 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Basic Science IV DPT 631 3 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Basic Science V DPT 641 2.5 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Basic Science VI DPT 651 1.5 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Professional Issues VII DPT 664 2 credits Independent Study
Clinical Science I DPT 602-80 (online) 1 credit	Clinical Science II DPT 612 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Clinical Science III DPT 622 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Clinical Science IV DPT 632 3 credits 5 hrs. per week	Clinical Science V DPT 642 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Clinical Science VI DPT 652 3 credits 5 hrs. per week	Pediatric Elective DPT 669-80 (online) 3 credits 8 weeks       OR
Physical Therapy Science DPT 603-80 (online) 2 credits	Physical Therapy Science DPT 613 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Physical Therapy Science DPT 623 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Physical Therapy Science DPT 633 3 credits 5 hrs. per week	Physical Therapy Science DPT 643 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Physical Therapy Science   DPT 653 3 credits 5 hrs. per week	Orthopedic Elective DPT 670-80 (online) or DPT 671-80 (online) 3 credits 8 weeks       OR
Profession Issues I DPT 604-80 (online) 1 credit	Professional Issues II DPT 614 2 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Professional Issues III DPT 624 2 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Professional Issues IV DPT 634-80 2 credits 2.5 hrs. per week	Professional Issues V DPT 644 5 credits 5 hrs. per week	Professional Issues VI DPT 654 3 credits 5 hrs. per week	Neurology Elective DPT 672-80 3 credits
	Integrated Seminar I DPT 615 1 credit 1 hour per week	Integrated Seminar II DPT 625 1 credit 1 hour per week	Integrated Seminar III DPT 635 1 credit 1 hour per week	Integrated Seminar IV DPT 645 1 credit 1 hour per week	Integrated Seminar V DPT 655 1 credit 1 hour per week
			Research Training Seminar I DPT 636 1 credit 1 hour per week	Research Training Seminar II DPT 646 1 credit 1 hour per week	Research Training Seminar III DPT 656 1 credit 1 hour per week
	Service Learning I DPT 617 1 credit part-time experience 2-3 hrs. per week	Service Learning II DPT 627 1 credit part-time experience 2-3 hrs. per week	Clinical Education I DPT 638 3 credits 40 hrs. per week	Clinical Education Stream IV DPT 649 1 credit 1 hour per week	International Service DPT 657 Learning IV (February or July) ten day experience (elective)	Clinical Education III DPT 668a 6 credits 40 hrs. per week for 8 weeks
	Clinical Education Stream I DPT 619 1 credit 1 hour per week	Clinical Education Stream II DPT 629 1 credit 1 hour per week	Service Learning III DPT 637 (elective) 1 credit Two day regional experience		Clinical Education II DPT 658 4.5  credits 40 hrs. per week	Clinical Education IV DPT 668b 6 credits 40 hrs. per week for 8 weeks
			Clinical Education Stream III DPT 639 1 credit 1 hour per week		Clinical Education Stream V DPT 659 1 credit 1 hour per week

The Knowledge You Need To Be A Successful Physical Therapist

Each term consists of the following academic courses:

1. Basic Science - During the Basic Science course, which meets for either 2.5 or 5 hours per week depending on the term, faculty guide the students to refine their learning in the fundamental sciences of Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Kinesiology, Pathology, Histology, Embryology, and Pharmacology.
   
2. Clinical Science - All courses (except PI and RTS) are centered on the clinical case/problem. This is a group tutorial session and meets for 2.5 hours two times per week. With the facilitation of the faculty tutor, the group determines what needs to be known to diagnose and treat a clinical case.
   
3. Physical Therapy Science (Terms II-VI) - This information is processed in Physical Therapy Lab with hands-on, practical experiences guided by the faculty. The course meets two times per week for 2.5 hours. The Physical Therapy Science aspect is the laboratory equivalent in traditional learning.
   
4. Professional Issues (PI) - In the Professional Issues course, students investigate their roles as professionals. Each term emphasizes a different aspect of professional behavior, including research.
   
5. Integrated Seminar - During these courses specific topics, which are related to the case, are addressed in a lecture-based format. These include topics of medical diagnostic techniques, medical and Pharmacological treatments, and physical therapy theories. Topics assist the student in understanding complex material.
   
6. Research Training Seminar (RTS) - Students work on the research process during Professional Issues courses in Term II and III. During Terms IV, V, and VI students begin to collect data and are responsible for presentations about their progress. Students are expected to submit their projects for a conference by the end of their two years in Term VII. Although students are encouraged to work on a faculty project, students may choose to complete an individual project.

As the terms progress, more complex and advanced material is added. Different clinical cases assist the students in learning the depth and breadth of information needed to be a competent entry-level physical therapy professional.

The Skills To Be A Master Problem-Solver
The Problem-Based Learning approach encourages students to view all material as part of the solution to a patient's problem. Adult learning theories have indicated that learning in the context of a problem increases retrieval of information in a similar situation. During the tutorials, students discuss different ways to solve the problem with the information learned. Therefore, in the clinical setting the student can recall the different options. Service Learning experiences during Terms II and III allow students to develop communication and patient interaction skills during the didactic portion. Two of the terms (Term IV and Term VI) are shortened so that the students can be placed in a clinical environment and can apply their acquired knowledge and practice their new skills. There are four clinical education experiences, a total of 28 weeks of clinical experience: DPT 638 and 658 (6 wks each), 668a/b (8 wks each). During this time, the student is supervised by a licensed physical therapist and works directly with clients. Supervision is gradually reduced so that by the end of the last clinical experience, the student can function independently as an entry-level clinician.