California State University, Long Beach

Policy Statement
98-01
January 30, 1998

Obsolete Policy

Master of Physical Therapy (code 7-1226)

This program was recommended by the Academic Senate on March 12, 1993,
approved by the President on April 15, 1993 and
approved by the Chancellor's Office on December 8, 1997.

The Master of Physical Therapy program is designed to provide entry-level professional preparation in physical therapy consistent with national trends. The proposed curriculum consists of 60 units of didactic course work followed by 12 units of postgraduate clinical internship for licensure to practice physical therapy in the State of California. The professional course work is preceded by appropriate prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level. This program will provide an opportunity for the student with a baccalaureate degree in physical therapy or in a related field of study, or who currently holds a license to practice physical therapy, to pursue a professional masters degree in physical therapy (not an advanced clinical speciality degree). Graduates will be prepared to assume responsible clinical administrative and consultative roles in a broad spectrum of physical therapy practice settings; and be responsive to changing expectations, the expanding body of knowledge, and the physical therapy practice environment.

Requirements

The Master of Physical Therapy program requires completion of all prerequisite and professional course work described in the following:

Program Prerequisites

Natural Sciences: CHEM 111A,111B, 327; PHYS 100A, 100B

Biological Sciences: A/P 208, 341, 441; BIOL 211A, 211B; HHS 401, 460, 471

Biostatistics: BIOL 260 (or equivalent)

Behavioral Sciences: PSY 100; HHS 374

(Note: Computer literacy is expected.)

MPT Core Requirements

Core: P T 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 522, 523, 524, 604, 605, 606A, 606B, 607, 696, 698

Electives: 610-619

Postgraduate Internship Certification Requirements

P T 525 (Must be completed to be eligible to take the state examination for licensure)

Admission to the Master of Physical Therapy Program

The physical therapy masters program is open to all college graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy, or other disciplines, who have met prerequisite requirements and demonstrate academic promise and the ability to perform at a satisfactory level during their graduate studies.

To be considered for acceptance into the graduate program, the applicant must:

1. Complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum of "C";

2. Hold, or be eligible to hold, an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by an appropriate campus authority;

3. Have attained a grade point average of at least 2.5 (A=4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted;

4. Submit results of the General Aptitude Section of the Graduate Record Examination (quantitative, verbal, and analytical), taken within the past 5 years;

5. Provide academic and personal references as required;

6. Provide documentation of personal experience in a variety of physical therapy settings; and

7. Be recommended by the physical therapy faculty.

8. All candidates whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must demonstrate competency in English. Refer to the CSULB Bulletin for requirements for completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

The master's degree program is a 60-unit, four semester full-time course of study. Graduates who have not met licensure eligibility requirements or who do not hold a valid physical therapy license (have not completed the BS degree in physical therapy) will be required to take a post-graduate internship (6 units). The course of study is most appropriate for graduates with degrees in related fields but does not exclude the person holding a baccalaureate degree in physical therapy. For graduates holding the BS degree in physical therapy, courses may be petitioned for the purpose of waving them providing a similar or like course has been completed which meets licensure standards. The emphases in the curriculum is to prepare graduates who desire to practice in a variety of clinical settings, e.g., private practice, acute care, rehabilitation, home health and extended care.

Advancement to Candidacy Requirements

1. Classified graduate student status.

2. Satisfactory completion of the CSULB Writing Proficiency Examination.

3. A minimum 3.0 overall grade point average in all graduate level course work.

4. Be recommended by the faculty to take the comprehensive examination.

5. Enrollment in regular session.

Requirements for Admittance to Clinical Practice

1. Complete all requirements for the master's at the time of application to clinical practice.

2. Earn a minimum of 3.0 (B) in each professional course attempted.

3. Successfully complete a research thesis or project under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

4. Successfully complete a comprehensive examination.

EFFECTIVE: Fall 1998

The BS in Physical Therapy (code 3-1226) is discontinued and should be closed to all new students.