Byren A.

Derr
Fipps
English 4
6 October 2016

Senior Paper

I chose to be a Physical Therapist because after i had surgery on my knee i liked how they
helped me to get stronger and become a better athlete. I also chose this job because they make a
lot of money per year and I get to help other athletes get better and stronger so they can come
back stronger and better than before. When I was in therapy it made me feel better the way they
encouraged me and was helping me to get better, the day that they told me i could get back on
the court I was very ecstatic and the way it felt to be able to run again and jump and just be able
to play again was the best feeling. So now im working harder to get my leg stronger so ill be
faster and jump higher so I can hopefully play in college.

According to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics physical therapists held about 210,900 jobs in
2014. The industries that employed the most physical therapist were as follows: Offices of
physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists 34%, Hospitals; state, local, and
private 27%, Home health care services 12%, Nursing and residential care facilities 7%, Offices
of physician 5%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for
physical therapists was $84,020 in May 2015. (bls.gov) The median wage is the wage at which
half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest

10 percent earned less than $57,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,790
(bls.gov). Most physical therapists work full time. About 1 in 5 worked part time in 2014.
Although most therapists work during normal business hours, some may work evenings or
weekends.

Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or ill people improve their
movement and manage their pain. (bls.gov) These therapists are often an important part of
rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or
injuries.Physical therapists typically do the following: Review patients medical history and any
referrals or notes from doctors, surgeons, or other healthcare workers, Diagnose patients
functions and movements by observing them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns,
among other methods, Develop individualized plans of care for patients, outlining the patient's
goals and the expected outcomes of the plans, Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on
therapy, and equipment to ease patients pain, help them increase their mobility, prevent further
pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness, Evaluate and record a patients progress,
modifying a plan of care and trying new treatments as needed, Educate patients and their families
about what to expect from the recovery process and how best to cope with challenges throughout
the process.(bls.gov)

According to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics In 2015, there were more than 200
programs for physical therapists accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical
Therapy Education (CAPTE). All programs offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
degree.DPT programs typically last 3 years. Most programs require a bachelors degree for

admission as well as specific educational prerequisites, such as classes in anatomy, physiology,

biology, chemistry, and physics. Some programs admit college freshmen into 6- or 7-year
programs that allow students to graduate with both a bachelors degree and a DPT. Most DPT
programs require applicants to apply through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application
Service (PTCAS). Physical therapists may apply to and complete a clinical residency program
after graduation. Residencies typically last about 1 year and provide additional training and
experience in specialty areas of care. Therapists who have completed a residency program may
choose to specialize further by completing a fellowship in an advanced clinical area.

The basic requirements for curricular programs (Health Sciences Admissions excepted) are as
follows: The College requires high school graduation or the high school equivalency diploma for
all Associate in Arts and Associate in Applied Science degrees and for most diploma and
certificate programs. Selected diploma and certificate programs require students to have at least
eight units of high school work or special permission. An official high school transcript is
required.(pittcc.com) According to the Pitt Community College website, the estimated tuition
and fees are about $1,979, Estimated room and board charges $7,200, Estimated cost of books
and supplies $1,200, Estimated other expense $4,600,Estimated total cost of attendance $14,979,
Estimated Net Price After Grants and Scholarships $4,440. (pittcc.edu)

According to ecu.edu the DPT is a three-year, 106 semester hour program that includes 32
weeks of clinical education.Program starts the 11-week summer session of year admitted (May)
and terminates with completion of the 3rd spring semester. Variations in the length of specific

affiliations may alter actual date of program completion.The classes i would have to take are:
First Year
Summer Semester
PTHE 8008 Gross Anatomy (5)
PTHE 8007 Functional Anatomy (3)
PTHE 8009 Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy (2)
Fall Semester

PTHE 8100 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I (4)

PTHE 8101 Neuroscience (5)
PTHE 8103 Introduction to Patient Care I (2)
PTHE 8104 Pharmacological Agents and Pathological Processes (3)
PTHE 8702 Research Design (2)
Spring Semester

PTHE 8105 Introduction to Patient Care II (2)

PTHE 8200 Clinical Biomechanics (3)
PTHE 8203 Clinical Education I (3)
PTHE 8301 Motor Control & Movement Disorders (3)
PTHE 8201 Electrotherapeutic Diagnosis and Treatment (3)
No Spring Break
Second Year
Summer Semester

PTHE 8300 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II (3)

PTHE 8302 Adult Therapeutic Intervention I (4)
PTHE 8102 Physical Therapy Modalities and Instrumentation (2)
Fall Semester

PTHE 8501 Prosthetics (2)

PTHE 8502 Muscle Physiology (3)
PTHE 8703 Geriatric Physical Therapy (3)
PTHE 8801 Seminar in Physical Therapy (Seminar Intro) (1)
PTHE 8403 Clinical Education II (4)
No Fall Break

Spring Semester

PTHE 8500 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy III (4)

PTHE 8401 Pediatric Therapeutic Intervention (3)
PTHE 8402 Adult Therapeutic Intervention II (4)
Electives (students select two electives = 4sch)
PTHE 8900 Advanced Concepts in Sports Physical Therapy (2)
PTHE 8901 Advances in Muscle Research (2)
PTHE 8902 Advances in Lower Extremity Evaluation (2)
PTHE 8904 Advances in Prosthetics and Orthotics (2)
PTHE 8905 Advanced Seminar in Evidenced Based Practice (2)
PTHE 8908 Advanced Topics in Pediatric Physical Therapy (2)
PTHE 8909 Geriatric Balance Gait Disorders (2)
PTHE 8910 Muscle Plasticity (2)
PTHE 8911 Advanced Concepts in Spine & Manual Therapy (2)
PTHE 8912 Pain Mechanisms and Treatment (2)
PTHE 8913 Measurement and Analysis of Human Movement (2)
PTHE 8914 Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation (2)
PTHE 8915 Pathomechanical Approach to Treatment of the Injured Runner (2)
Third Year
Summer Semester

PTHE 8603 Clinical Education III (4)

PTHE 8907 Research Concentration (Experimental Design) (2)
PTHE 8906 Clinical Specialty Concentration (Design) (2)
Fall Semester

PTHE 8700 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (3)

PTHE 8701 Administration of Physical Therapy Services (3)
PTHE 8702 Research Design (3)
PTHE 8704 Health Promotion for Physical Therapists (2)
PTHE 8907 Research Concentration (Data Reduction) (2)
Spring Semester

PTHE 8803 Clinical Education IV (5)

PTHE 8801 Seminar in Physical Therapy (Seminar Advance) (1)
PTHE 8906 Clinical Specialty Concentration (Clinical Interpretation) (2)
PTHE 8907 Research Concentration (Research Interpretation) (2)
Comprehensive Examination

 Oral and Written Presentation of Research

Only one course of PTHE 8203, PTHE 8403, PTHE 8603, or PTHE 8803 may be repeated once.

At the time of application to the program, students must:

Be eligible for admission to the Graduate School
Four year degree or a senior on track to graduate from an accredited university or college with a
minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Minimum prerequisites score - GPA of 3.0 - A Grade of 'C' or better is required in each
prerequisite course.
Present evidence that the required prerequisite course work will be completed before the start of
the program in the summer. Applicants should have no more than two prerequisite courses left to
complete in the spring semester of their application year.
Have satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores--verbal, quantitative and
WRITING.
Provide evidence of exposure to the practice of physical therapy. This activity must be
supervised by a licensed physical therapist. A minimum of 100 hours is required. A variety of
clinical experiences is suggested including: in-patient, out-patient, rehabilitation, long-term care,
geriatrics, and pediatrics. This experience must be documented.
Have two of the three letters of reference be completed by licensed Physical Therapist who
supervised the applicant's PT experience (ecu.edu)

Required undergraduate prerequisite courses:

General chemistry (I & II), 8 semester hours with lab (CHEM 1150,1151,1160,1161)
General physics (I & II), 8 semester hours with lab (PHYS 1250,1251,1260,1261)
Biology, 12 semester hours to include:
8 hours of biology (I & II) plus 1 semester of human or mammalian physiology with lab OR

 4 hours of biology (BIOL 1100, 1101) plus 2 semesters of human physiology and anatomy with
lab (BIOL 2140, 2141, 2150, 2151)
College algebra or higher
Statistics (Students must take the statistics course from the math department at their institution.
Exercise science statistics courses are not acceptable.)
Psychology, 6 semester hours to include general psychology
*AP Class will receive credit for the prerequisite list if it appears on a transcript, however the
course will not be considered in the GPA calculation.
The above courses must be taken through their respective departments unless prior agreement
has been made with the Department of Physical Therapy. (ecu.edu)