Information Provided by the School

This program is an expansion of the physical therapist education program at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida. The curriculum and expected outcomes are similar between the two programs, but the faculty and location are available in the city of San Marcos in San Diego County. The University offers a DPT as a first professional degree for those candidates who have completed a baccalaureate degree and the recommended prerequisites. There are two delivery methods: a 7 trimester full-time campus-based program and a part-time online/weekend 12 trimester program (4 years). The seven (7) trimester full-time campus-based program currently program admits students at the beginning of the fall, spring, and summer terms. Students attend classes and labs an average of 30-35 hours per week. The part-time online/weekend program takes the campus-based curriculum and offers it in smaller segments of 7 to 11 credit-hours per term. Via distance education course delivery and weekend labs, this model enables individuals to pursue a doctor of physical therapy degree, who for personal or financial reasons choose not to attend a full-time campus-based program. By substituting asynchronous and online education for most standard classroom participation and requiring no more than two weekends per month at the San Diego campus, an individual can earn the DPT degree in 12 trimesters. Successful completion of the program requires three full-time clinical internships. This “flexible” program admits a new cohort group in the fall and spring based on expected minimum enrollments.

At the San Diego campus, full-time students will participate in an orientation for different practice settings of physical therapy in their first trimester. These shadowing experiences emphasize professional behavior, communication and basic clinical skill competencies. Shadowing experiences in later terms expose students to other health professionals such as speech, occupational and respiratory therapists and orthopedic, neurological, and family practice physicians. Students will have three full-time internships that generally include clinical experiences in an acute care setting, a long-term care, or rehabilitation setting and an area of particular interest. These internships occur during the fourth and sixth trimester of enrollment. The part-time online/weekend students will participate in an orientation for different practice settings of physical therapy in their second trimester. Students will have three full-time internships that generally include clinical experiences in an acute care setting, a long-term care, or rehabilitation setting and an area of particular interest. These internships occur during the eighth and eleventh trimester of enrollment. At present, the DPT program has approximately 1,800 approved active sites for clinical education experiences. These sites are located nationwide.

At the San Diego campus there are 12 full-time and 2 part-time faculty members. Of the full-time faculty 50% hold post-professional doctoral degrees, four are certified as clinical specialists, and four are engaged in clinical practice. There are plans to hire at least 3 more full-time faculty, and 3-4 part-time faculty as the program grows. Faculty are actively engaged in clinically and educationally related research and are reviewers for scientific journals and of textbooks. The faculty to student ratio is 1:15. Faculty of the DPT Program in San Diego are responsible for all course management, up-dating of course materials, student interaction and assessment, course evaluation and curriculum planning, and coordinating lab activities with the lab instructor to ensure consistency in the part-time online/weekend program. Many of the lab instructors in the part-time program are local clinicians with training in content delivery, educational theory, and classroom/lab management.

The San Diego has a total student enrollment of 190 students to date, but have plans to increase gradually over the next two years to 350 students. Approximately 50 students are accepted into each class. For the part-time online/weekend program, the university plans to admit a maximum of 30 students twice a year.

The university is a private institution, and applications are welcome from students from all states. Application due dates are December 15 for fall term admission, June 15 for spring term admission, and October 1 for summer term admission. Applications received after these dates will be processed and considered on a space-available basis. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree prior to starting the DPT program. Recommended prerequisite courses are 6 semester hours in each: biology (anatomy and physiology, general chemistry), and physics (Kinesiology, Biomechanics). These science prerequisites should be taken within the past 5 years. Substitutions and advanced course standing will be considered. Candidates will be interviewed for each term generally within 6-8 weeks following the application due deadline. Notification of acceptance by the Admissions Committee occurs within 2 weeks of the interviews. Approximately 40% of qualified applicants are admitted to the program.

Based on outcome data from the St. Augustine program, in existence since 1998, 94% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); and 100% of those program graduates responding to surveys are employed (3-year average).

Tuition at the San Diego campus for the full-time on-campus program in the 2009-2010 academic year is $11,500 per trimester. In-state and out-of-state tuitions are the same. Average book, supplies, insurance, professional association expenses, and miscellaneous educational costs per trimester are approximately $1,300. Room and board costs are estimated to be $1500 per month. A limited number of scholarships are available. Information about scholarships and private loan plans can be obtained by contacting the Enrollment Services office. Tuition for the San Diego part-time weekend/online program for the 2009-2010 academic year is $6,800 per trimester. Average book, supplies, insurance, professional association expenses, and miscellaneous educational costs per trimester are approximately $275.

All San Diego campus university students reside off campus. General housing information is available from Enrollment Services, as well as a list of current rental properties. The university campus is located in northern San Diego county in the city of San Marcos. Located in two beautiful new buildings, the facilities include laboratories, classrooms, library, computer lab, student lounges, and faculty/staff offices. Opening in September 2010, the San Diego campus will add an additional 17,000 sq. ft. lab and lecture building with a fitness center for student use. Due to the regions moderate climate, recreational and sports opportunities are enjoyed on a year round basis.